Author: Eliena Bodtke
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Social Media
https://www.producer.com/farmliving/ramp-up-your-social-media-game/?utm_source=Glacier+FarmMedia+LP&utm_campaign=56770ea7f6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_12_01_02_54&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_be8da64209-56770ea7f6-91362076&mc_cid=56770ea7f6
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milking machines
The milking machine market can be so confusing. In an effort to help you wade through what is currently on the market, I created this spreadsheet. For the budget conscious, make sure that it has a true pulsation, an added bonus is ease of cleaning. While I have tried to include everything on the market,…
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Raw Milk Summit in Tennessee
There was a Raw Milk Summit in Bon Aqua, TN. Several guest speakers included politicians, local producers and Dr. Ken Berry. This video is of the organizer Dawn Gorham of The Gorham Homestead. She has an interesting story and message for people who are trying to sell their milk thru herd shares in Tennessee. You…
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Man vs Machine When Milking a Cow
I believe that you should learn to hand milk your Dexters and other dairy animals. For me the journey was to master hand milking. I moved on to a machine after I was milking several Nubians and Dexters. My body was telling me I needed help. I have never regretted this, as you have to…
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What Do I Need to do Before I Drop off my Meat for Processing?
In this podcast, we learn about things we need to consider before we even schedule our meat for processing. Interesting fact is the return on the Dexter is higher than what is stated here. We experience much closer yields to 70% and our carcasses are smaller…so the freezer space issue is not as significant with…
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Preserving Irish Dexter Dairy and Beef
By Eliena Bodtke, Stay’N Put Farm Since many of us are homesteaders or practice some kind of preserving, I thought I would take a moment to discuss an alternative to canning, pressure canning and dehydrating. Are you scratching your head, thinking where is she going with this? Consider freeze drying. While the initial cost seems…
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Liquid Gold Trend!
Make sure you’re collecting it! Submitted by Katie Sears https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/27/health/colostrum-supplements-pros-cons-wellness/index.html
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HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF BOVRE?
This the name used to describe chèvre cultured cow milk. Traditionally made chèvre is done with goat milk, but the process can be made with cow and sheep milk also. When made with sheep milk it is called brebis. We have experienced all three and love each of them. Give it a try and see…
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Have You Considered Fodder To Feed Your Livestock?
Sprouts (also known as “fodder” when used for animals) are economical to produce. Typical cost of production is less than 6 cents per lb. This includes seed, water, and electricity. Although sprouts cannot replace 100% of an animal’s diet, they have been scientifically proven to increase the digestibility of other feeds in the gut. That…
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USDA: No payment for heifer retention
There was a lot of speculation about a heifer retention program to deal with the screwworm issues.
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Why you should salt your steak.
A discussion on salting your steak. Enhanced crust is just one of the tips. https://www.chefsresource.com/how-to-tenderize-meat-with-salt/#How_to_Tenderize_Meat_with_Salt_A_Deep_Dive
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Grass Fed Beef Biggest Scam?
Even if you feed a little grain…it is way better than what is in store and being passed off as grass fed. Check out this video from a well known doctor.
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Farm Sales…A Way I Find works
I think one of the hardest things for farmers, ranchers and homesteaders is when they need to sell something off the farm. That journey should start well before you need to sell something. Let’s look at the model I use for selling of Dexter beef. I share all of the information about our wonderful breed I…
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DID YOU KNOW AN INSTANT POT CAN PASTEURIZE YOUR RAW MILK?
Not everyone is comfortable with consuming raw milk. No need to buy an expensive pasteurizer if you have an instant pot in your kitchen. This article covers a few ways of doing pasteurization in your home. It can be done even if you don’t have the yogurt button, but it definitely makes it easier if…
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MILK LET DOWN – HINTS AND TRICKS
For the first time milker or the heifer that is getting milked for the first time, there are some important things to remember for success. The article below goes over some of the basics. We have, thankfully, only had a few that were very stubborn. We found that putting the calf in front of the…
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Mastitis …while not common in Dexters an ounce of prevention can go a long way.
” The disease can be treated with antibiotics and supportive measures. The mastitis can be prevented by taking adequate measures like maintaining udder hygiene, sanitation of the cow barn, clean food and water supplement, and maintaining a milking schedule.” If you are looking for a more holistic approach, there is another article in the Gazette about…
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Feta dip from cows milk feta…easy and quick!
This was fabulous…while I made it with goats milk…I could have made it with Dexter milk, but I had it already made from goat. Don’t skip the rinsing or it will be too salty Sure to impress you with chips, pita, sourdough bread……. I use a version of the recipe below to make feta as…
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That tallow and milk is perfect for soap!
Here is a simple video that shows you how to make soap from tallow…you can replace the water part with milk or 50% milk and 50% water. Go ahead give it a whirl…your skin will love it!
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Do you know how to do a tail stick to get blood for Pregnancy and Tenet Beef testing?
Here is a video that Nancy Bowers, Lonestar Ranch did on blood testing one her Dexters. This the same technique that you will need for testing for Tenet beef tenderness, except you will need much less….lol. I have sent in 7 tenet tenderness tests to see if our Dexters have this genetic trait. Unlike other…
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Building history opportunity and a chance to win a copy of a signed book!
Do you have an amazing photo of a heritage breed animal? Share your best shot and help The Livestock Conservancy grow its photo library to support vital conservation messaging! You could win a signed copy of “Practical Color Genetics for Livestock Breeders.” Contest Rules: (This photo is Florida Cracker cattle; credit Steve Howell Jr.)
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Who knew? Milk is a good for dehydration!
If your trying to beat the summer heat, you might want to enjoy a tall glass of Dexter milk. ”Milk is a decent source of sodium and potassium, the two major electrolytes in your body. These electrically charged minerals are important for maintaining hydration (2Trusted Source).” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/milk-for-dehydration