Endangered Animals
The earth’s sixth mass extinction is happening right now
Endangered Animals Read More »
Beef
The earth’s sixth mass extinction is happening right now
Endangered Animals Read More »
Beef
Do you need lots of acres to raise beef cattle? The answer is absolutely not! But you will need to be a little more prepared than farms who have several acres. You will need to have sturdier fences for one thing. Farms with several hundred acres have room for the cows to roam so they aren’t as likely to get out. I’m not saying they don’t ever get out on large farms but it is not as often. Smaller farms, the cows don’t have the room to roam. You need to make sure that your outer perimeter fencing is strong and tight. That can be barbed wire, woven wire, or the combination of both. This will keep you and your neighbors in good standing….lol
Land is the second thing that I want to talk about. With Dexters it doesn’t take as much as with “full sized” cows. It is 1.5-2 acres per TWO cow/calf pair of Dexters. But that doesn’t mean that you can stick them on any ole grass and they will grow well. You have to maintain your pastures. That is what I’m in the process of doing myself. I’m working to get my pastures into regenerative grazing. Which will help with how well my pastures stay.
Thirdly, you will need hay, which is something that all cattle farmers need usually. Unless you are in some states that you can grow it year round. But you need to make sure that you have good healthy hay. That is important for the health of your cows. You don’t want them to get sick.
One last thing, keeping your animal healthy is an overall, big or little farm, thing you need to do. I think as a small farm it is easier to keep a watch on things than a big farm. You have a more intimate relationship with your Dexters when you don’t have 100s to keep an eye on.
I am a small farm with not alot of acres, that is why I chose the Dexters at first. But as time as went on, they are so much more that good for small farms. But that is for another time.
So in conclusion, you don’t need acres and acres of land to raise beef cattle. You just need to make sure what you have is the best that it can be.
Do you need lots of acres to raise beef cattle? By Shelley Hatfield- WP Farm Read More »
Beef
Mike Baker describes features of market readiness for both finished and unfinished beef and dairy crosses.
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Beef Herd Health
Learn how to have 1/2 a cow butchered for your family to get the right cuts
Half a beef, What cuts to request Read More »
Beef Selling
This is the season for selling out at the farmers market!
SELLING OUT at the Farmers Market! Read More »
Beef Selling
In this episode I want to talk about the process of selling (what I refer to as) custom freezer beef/pork/lamb etc.
https://www.grazecart.com/blog/how-to-sell-freezer-beef-on-demand
How To Sell 1/4 Beef On Demand, Read More »
Beef Selling
Beef producers can realize major price premiums for grass-fed, pasture-raised, or local meat.
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BeefGood afternoon, I’m sitting down to write up an article for the Irish Dexter Cattleman website. I’m going to write this one up myself but I will include a few articles that you can go check out for yourself. I don’t feel that I have any experience with this production yet as I’m just starting it myself.
I have been reading and watching so many different farms that have been using this as their practice and it is amazing what happens. I’m talking about regenerative grazing.
There is a place in Greenfield, IN called Tyner Pond Farm. I was reading one of their articles this past spring and they had just pulled their cows off in March of this year. They had wintered all winter on their pastures!! They finally were feeding hay bales in March. Their location is in Indiana which is about 2+ hours from me, but it is about directly across from me. So, the temperatures are close to being the same. When I saw pictures, they had green grass still in March of 2024. I find that amazing!! That is something that I want to strive for.
Another place to find information about this practice is Greg Judy at Green Pastures Farm. There are several videos that you can find on YouTube about how he does this practice.
There is also Joel Salatin, Polyface Farm, who practices these methods.
I’m still getting my perimeter fences all put in, hopefully they will all be put in by next spring. Once you have your perimeter fences put in, you will separate those into small paddocks. You will move your cattle every day through those paddocks. As you watch Greg Judy, he has water lines run out to each paddock. And most other people do, too. That will be a down the road option for me.
This practice is a lot of work, but I believe that it will be well worth my time!! Moving the cattle helps keep the microbes in the ground going. It also helps to keep you from overgrazing your pastures, which is what I’m doing now. Over grazing lets so many weeds in that it isn’t funny!! This regenerative grazing also cuts down on the weeds.
Another reason that I just learned this week is when you get your pastures going, you make sure your grass cocktail is good. If you have a good cocktail of grasses that will keep the fly problem down!!! Greg Judy has a Youtube video out that shows his cattle out on pasture with hardly, if any, flies on the cows. It was amazing to watch!!! The cows were sleek and shining with hardly any flies. He talks about it with the guy who oversees it. It is amazing!!!
I hope to come and write another article in about 3 years or so and tell you how it is going. I know that it will be hard work, but it will be so beneficial in the end!!
Check out these farms to learn more information. I believe this is so important for our pastures. We need to preserve them as much as we can.
Shelley Hatfield
An article for the Irish Dexter Cattleman website Read More »
Beef Farm ManagementThe loss of upward momentum is the result of two negative headlines affecting US beef exports to China.
Setbacks in US beef exports Read More »
BeefValerie Tate shares management solutions, including planting warm-season annual forages such as pearl millet and sorghum-sudangrass
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BeefThe Randall Line back, Galloway and Dexter chewed up nearly as many first place votes as any of the other breeds tasted.
Renown chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oilver, indicate they’ve found something better…and just like diamonds… it comes in small packages. Introducing Dexter cattle.
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BeefCattle-based beef is still chosen in the marketplace about three times more often than plant-based protein alternatives
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BeefThe early Dexters adapted to the challenging conditions of open, mountainous Irish countryside and developed the hardy animals that are valued today.
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Beef HistoricalDexter beef is a breed of cattle that is known for its quality and taste. It is commonly known in foodie circles that Dexter beef is some of the tastiest around and really good to eat.
The Quality of Dexter Beef Read More »
BeefThe native home of the Dexter is in the southern part of Ireland where they were bred by small holders and roamed about mountainous districts.
Breeds of Livestock Read More »
BeefDexter cattle are generally docile creatures and if they’re around people a lot, they’re easy to halter-train. Kids enjoy walking them like a dog.
Raising Dexter Cattle Read More »
BeefWe Want to Help Consumers Connect with America’s Cattle Producers.https://usabeef.org
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BeefEarly one morning during the second week of February, as I unrolled a bale of hay, I heard the weak little bawl of a newborn calf. There, in the edge of the woods, stood the tiniest red calf I’d ever seen, seemingly crying for its mother.https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/shaky-the-calf-may-be-small-but-he-s-mighty?NL=WFP-01&Issue=WFP-01_20220603_WFP-01_122&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_7_3&utm_rid=CPG02000008134788&utm_campaign=68130&utm_medium=email&elq2=2725fa8635c2476e960c5618cf55b174&sp_eh=fa4c5a9f6558e8315d03961b48ed51c472abd90080ea57a89515bab2aa8a9023fa4c5a9f6558e8315d03961b48ed51c472abd90080ea57a89515bab2aa8a9023&sp_eh=fa4c5a9f6558e8315d03961b48ed51c472abd90080ea57a89515bab2aa8a9023
Shaky the calf may be small, but he’s mighty Read More »
BeefDexter Cattle are a small breed of cattle which originate in Ireland, its the smallest of all European breeds. In recent years its been making a revival on Irish beef farms as the quality of its meat stands alone. In this video we go to the farm of Mike Frazier who rears cattle, slaughters and sells this beef which is now so sought after
Beef Farming in Ireland — Dexter Cattle Read More »
Beef