”With the rise of farm-to-table eating and artisanal meats many diners are seeking out flavorful beef from non-commercial cattle breeds. One such breed gaining popularity is Dexter beef a tender, succulent meat from small, hardy cows native to Ireland.”
https://redtablemeats.com/fresh-meat/beef/what-is-dexter-beef
What is Dexter Beef? Read More »
Beef
This podcast covers some of the questions we all have when starting out with cuts from our Dexters. The cuts will be the same…just different overall yields.
They have some interesting ideas for selling to your customer base.
Cutting up The Beef podcast Read More »
Beef
When we started our homestead, we began with chickens. That feels like the natural order of things for most people. Later, we added rabbits. While it was a learning curve, now that we’ve figured out the best care and have our colonies settled, I can confidently make the case for rabbits over chickens.
Here’s why:
I’ll admit, fresh eggs from chickens are nice but meat chickens don’t typically provide eggs. Rabbits, on the other hand, offer consistent meat production year-round.
We raise ours colony style, though many prefer cages. Both methods have advantages, and it’s all about finding what works for you. All in all, raising rabbits is a rewarding endeavor for any small homestead.
Rabbits vs. Chickens: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Rabbits | Chickens |
| Space Needed | Minimal (stackable hutches or colony space) | Larger coop and run required |
| Noise Level | Silent | Clucking and crowing |
| Manure | Garden-ready immediately | Requires composting |
| Meat Yield | 200+ lbs/year (2 does + buck) | Varies; meat birds only. no reproduction of meat crosses |
| Eggs | None | Yes (layers only) |
| Processing | Easier, less messy | More labor-intensive |
| Breeding | Year-round, very prolific | Seasonal, less frequent. Meat crosses do not breed true. |
Why Rabbits Might Beat Chickens on a Small Homestead Read More »
Homesteading
Knowing the value of your milk, can help you value the products you make from your milk. Here is one person’s breakdown.
There is a wide range of raw milk dairy prices across the board, but how do you know your prices make sense based off a gallon of milk?
Here is a simple breakdown on price setting costs!
Starting point:
Milk value $15/gallon = $7.50/half gallon = $3.75/quart = ~$0.94/cup.
This is your base price to compare against, you can enter any value and adjust accordingly.
Pricing based on your $15/gal milk:
• Butter: $20–$25/lb
• Buttermilk: $5–$6/qt
• Cream: $12–$15/pint
• Yogurt: $5–$6/qt
• Fresh Cheese: $15–$20/lb
• Aged Cheese: $50–$80/lb
As always, know your state regulations for dairy.
Know your farmer.
Shop local.
Barter when you can!
Need Help Pricing Your Dairy Products? By Sunstone Orchard & Rabbitry. Read More »
Milking & Dairy
This is an interesting article on how people are returning to the old ways and using more and more of their processed beef. Healthier alternatives are growing in your pastures!
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/08/cowmaxxing-wellness-cow-tallow/683826
How much of your Dexter do you use? Read More »
Beef
Mike Baker describes features of market readiness for both finished and unfinished beef and dairy crosses.
Determining the Market Readiness of Beef Cattle Read More »
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
It’s tangy, it’s creamy, and it’s full of active probiotics: it’s kefir! – Submitted by Riley Wohlgemuth
https://www.maplehill.com/post/what-is-kefir-its-health-benefits-history
Why You Should Eat It, and How To Make It – Submitted by Riley Wohlgemuth
Clabber Milk – What It Is Read More »
Milking & Dairy
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 will need to check your State Laws, but has some great advice for everyone.
Raw Milk Summit in Tennessee Read More »
Milking & Dairy
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 the larger breeds.
What Do I Need to do Before I Drop off my Meat for Processing? Read More »
Beef PipeDreams
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 daunting, it really is an excellent way to preserve your Dexter milk, yogurts, cheeses, colostrum and beef for 25 YEARS! Think about when you’re over loaded with one veggie or another during gardening season. The veggies, herbs or eggs when they are abundant, can be frozen and put into the freeze dryer anytime. We still can and pressure can, but this gives us a whole new option.
We purchased a medium Harvest Right about a year and half ago and have been amazed at all the things we can preserve….it is less time consuming and in our opinion, and better quality product in many cases.
Canning of dairy is frowned upon by the USDA and in some cases consider unsafe, although people do it. Freeze drying on the other hand, processes the dairy at lower temperatures and therefore does not pasteurize it…so if raw is your goal, it is good alternative. If you pasteurize, you still follow the same method. We pour a quart of milk on each tray and let the machine do its thing. We have done it both with cream in and cream out…the choice is yours. We find it needs to be blended when reconstituted, or another favorite is dry in our coffee, just like coffee creamer!
If you’re into selling, freeze dried milk and other products can be a good source income. Take a look at the price of powdered milk in the store! It is not uncommon to see freeze dried milk for $30-40 a gallon. Let’s clarify this. One gallon of freezer dried milk reconstituted into one gallon of drinkable milk…almost quadruples in price.
And don’t forget your Dexter beef! Consider this scenario….you have some cuts left from your last processing and you would really like to eat it before you get into the next one. Well, freeze dry it and then you have preserved it for 25 years. It makes great gifts, as it is so light to ship.
How do you use this freeze dried beef? We like to pour some of our Dexter bone broth over it. Let it sit in refrigerator over night and then use it in the next day or so. The beef will only absorb as much broth as it can. It doesn’t get mushy, which can happen with veggies. Cook with it like you usually do.
Hope this article helps you on your farm, ranch or homestead. I just love this technology and thought I would share.
Preserving Irish Dexter Dairy and Beef Read More »
Beef Milking & Dairy
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 what you think.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF BOVRE? Read More »
Milking & Dairy
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 yours does.
DID YOU KNOW AN INSTANT POT CAN PASTEURIZE YOUR RAW MILK? Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Calling all Beef Breeders!!! For anyone who likes a bit of Beef in their dual-purpose Dexters here’s something for you! Have you ever wondered what the Live weight, the Average daily weight gain of live weight, Weight of dressed Carcass, Percentage of carcass to gross live weight, Weight of loose fat and Weight of hide was on a Dexter Kerry or a Kerry and a Dexter Kerry cross was at the formation of the Royal Dublin Society in 1890? I wish all fields were complete as some are missing but it’s a good start. Well, here are some answers for you, so let’s see how these weights compare today. Comments are welcomed. By the way Tommy Titmouse was an Angus Dexter Kerry cross.
LET’S TALK DEXTER WEIGHTS! Read More »
Historical
Too bad the photo of the top pick wasn’t used! Milk, meat and oxen….none of the other breeds listed are known for all three!
Look at what breed was the top one for cattle on a homestead! Read More »
Homesteading
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 well….bon appetite!
https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/1273-whipped-feta-dip
Feta dip from cows milk feta…easy and quick! Read More »
Homesteading
With all the talk about marbling and beef tenderness, here is something to consider…marbling does not equal tenderness…taste yes…tenderness no. And selecting for easy keepers can be a great step selecting the best beef from your herd.
A CONVERSATION ABOUT PERCEIVED VALUE:
A customer asked me how much it would cost for a gallon of raw milk .
I gave them a price of $15/gallon.
The customer responded: That’s seems really high.
I asked: What do you think is a reasonable price for this?
The customer answered: $4 maximum
I responded: Ok, then I invite you to do it yourself.
The customer answered: I don’t know how to.
I responded: Alright, then how about for $4/gallon, I’ll teach you how to. So besides saving you $11, you’ll learn valuable skills that will benefit you in the future.
The customer answered: Sounds good! Let’s do it!
I responded: Great! To get started, you are going to need some things. You will need a cow (≈$3000), 45# of dry matter quality feed A DAY, feeders, waterers, an area to let her be a cow, a shelter, a clean area to milk, a milking machine or supplies to hand milk into, preferably electricity for this indoor area and heated water, countless gallons of water, fencing to contain this cow, etc.
Not to mention, there is a very real possibility that your single cow gets sick and doesn’t produce, a bull or someone to AI her because no pregnancy, no milk. Injury, illness, and unexpected weather conditions are always present. Now, you are back to square 1 if she doesn’t breed, dries up, get sick, or dies.
The customer answered: But I don’t have any of those things and I can’t justify buying all of these for a gallon of milk.
I responded: Ok. Well then for an additional $11/gallon, I can rent my supplies, building, and supply hay/grain/minerals/pasture to you.
The customer answered: Okay. That’s fair.
I responded: Great! We will start the project on Monday.
The customer answered: I work Monday through Friday. I’m only available on the weekends.
I responded: If you want to learn from me then you will need to work when I work. We milk everyday, 2x day, so you will need to be here at least 2 hours every morning and every night year round.
The customer answered: That means I’m going to have to sacrifice a lot of my time!
I responded: That’s true. Remember, when you do a job yourself you need to account for unproductive factors.
The customer answered: What do you mean by that?
I responded: Milking a cow doesnt just take a couple hours morning and night. It takes time to muck out her area, town trips to pick up cleaning supplies/teat dip, trucking for hay. It takes time to bottle the milk cleanly, it takes jars, it takes more cleaning of equipment and facility, it takes wear and tear on your milking equipment and feeding equipment. And thats all on top of your other chores/responsibilities.
So we will see you Monday morning, 6 am.
The customer answered: At 6am?!! My work day doesn’t usually start until 8am!
I responded: A cow thrives on a set schedule, milking 2x day should be as close to 12 hours apart as can be, so if you want to start later, that’s ok. But you will need to come back in the evening after your full day of work and milk again at that time, so if you want to start at 8 am, you will milk again at 8 pm. After clean up and bottling milk… you can head home around 10 pm. Saturday and Sunday included. Blizzards or 100 F. No days off here.
The customer answered: You know, I’m realizing that a lot more goes in to quality food than what a customer sees in the finished project. Your proposal of $15/gallon is very reasonable. I would like you to milk and have it ready for me to just pick up..
CONCLUSION:
When you pay for a job, especially a custom job, (whether it’s a physical project or digital project or GROWING AND RAISING FOOD) you pay not only for the material and the work to be completed. You also pay for:
✔️ Knowledge
✔️ Experience
✔️ Custom Skills
✔️ Tools
✔️ Time to plan
✔️ Time to prepare
✔️ Professionalism
✔️ Work Ethic
✔️ Excellence
✔️ Discipline
✔️ Commitment
✔️ Integrity
✔️ Taxes
✔️ Licenses
✔️ Sacrifices
✔️ Liabilities
✔️ Insurance
If you desire fresh, healthy, locally grown food, please don’t disrespect a farmer by trying to get them to lower their prices.
If their proposal exceeds your budget, there’s nothing wrong with going elsewhere.
Just remember.. you get what you pay for.
👉🏼 FARMERS: Know your worth and be confident in it.
👉🏼 CONSUMERS: Recognize their worth and be respectful of it.
Sharing this to support all my friends, family and clients who are Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Business Owners and Tradesman.
-Unknown and edited
Perceived value ….true for dexter milk, beef and breeding stock Read More »
Selling
The influence of feeding either hay or silage on amounts of various milk components was investigated. – Submitted by Riley Wohlgemuth
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0958694621000522
Does feeding hay positively affect milk composition? Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Many uses for your fromage blanc cheese From crowd-pleasing entrées to decadent desserts, find and try some of the best Fromage Blanc recipes around the internet here!
11 Best Fromage Blanc Recipes Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Dexter Beef Podcast – Taste the Difference Read More »
PodcastsMaybe up until now you haven’t thought too much about what the animals you eat today were fed yesterday. That’s pretty common for most folks, but there really is a difference between grass-fed beef and the rest.
You may have heard the terms “grass-fed” or “open range” and “grain-fed,” not knowing the real difference between them.
Once you understand the vital differences between grass-fed beef and grain-fed beef, you’ll have a better understanding of why this distinction is so important.
6 Grass-Fed Beef Nutrition Benefits that May Surprise You Read More »
Beef
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
).”
Who knew? Milk is a good for dehydration! Read More »
Milking & Dairy
A Movement to Redefine Cheese as a Superfood – Submitted by Donna Grace
Bringing Back Traditional Cheese-Making Read More »
Homesteading Milking & Dairy
Recipe of the Month, Primo Sale, fresh cheddar cheese. – Submitted by Eliena Bodtke
Beef producers can realize major price premiums for grass-fed, pasture-raised, or local meat.
5 Tips For Finishing Cattle on Grass Read More »
Beef
This article is jammed packed with recipes…some I have yet to try and some great activities for children. If you have a favorite recipe, please comment with your recipe and help grow our recipe box and more.
DID YOU KNOW June is National Dairy Month? Read More »
Milking & Dairy
