A Deep Dive Podcast, brought to you by Irish Dexter Cattlemen, on topics of interest to all farmers and ranchers. Subscribe to the free, monthly Irish Dexter Cattlemen Tips & Tricks Guide to get early access.
Grazing Strategies Podcast Read More »
Podcasts
From what I could gather, the cattle loved winter. I didn’t get the impression that they were cold at all. I loved these Dexters.
I left the stable doors open so that they could come and go as they please. At times it seemed that they were playing musical chairs with the stables as one would enter and another would leave.
The cattle seemed peaceful and content. I couldn’t ask for anything better.
Then the rubbing began. My first thought is that they have an itch. Some would say I am very logical. Some would say I am not. But it was more than that. What began as an occasional rub against the stable door(s) morphed into a severe scratch party. It seemed as if all of the cattle were infected. Worse yet, the cattle seemed to be scratching their hides off!
Photos sent to our mentor. What is this? Yes. You have lice. Well, I didn’t, but our cattle did. How can the cattle have lice in winter? Apparently is it common. After telling me what medicine to buy at rural farm store, I was ready to end their misery.
Piece of cake. I am a cattle farmer. I can handle this. I touch and pet each one every day. The medicine was a pour on variety. How hard can it be?
It was easy! Walked right up to each of them, petted them and poured the medicine right on their back. I got this! Per the directions, I will have to give another dosage in a couple of days. I am such a seasoned pro. That will be no problem.
The itching seemed to be less. Seemed to be. It could have been my imagination or me wanting versus being, but it was time to apply again. I walked out into the turnout with a big smile, the medicine bottle and asked each by their name to come over and get their prize.
The reaction was just a bit different this time. They ran. All of them. The first one I approached, Bitsy, started and they all followed. A couple had, dare I say, some kicks and jumps that would have impressed bulls who star in rodeos. The cattle seemed to be having fun at my expense.
Willow, my hugger heifer, would be no problem. I went for it. Slow at first, I walked up to her with the bottle behind my back. She waited. She looked. I brought the bottle around to pull on her back and poured. Wide right and on my jeans. I didn’t have lice, but if I did, it would be gone now.
My wife questioning my supreme athletic ability was snickering in the cheap seats as I valiantly ran, jogged, skipped, and walked up to each cow and got as much product on as I could. An amazing display if I do say so myself.
The moral of the story is that these Dexter cattle learn. To this day, I can walk out to each and pet them without any problems. They might lower their head, but they come around. If I show up with anything else in my hands, besides a bucket, they are cautious. It still makes laugh and yet admire these wonderful animals at the same time.
For those wondering, the medicine worked. Lice gone and hair grown back. Life is good.
A little bit about the author. I own and operate a small farm called “Our Yellowstone LLC” in Illinois. I couldn’t do it alone, but will keep my wife’s name out of it to protect her innocence.
DEXTER CATTLE – JOY, LAUGHTER, AND HEARTBREAK – PART 6 Read More »
Herd Health
The article below was written by Matt McCollum, a concerned Dexter breeder. The numbers are a collaboration of a few folks from the three registries. While there maybe duplicates and possibly a few triplicates in the numbers w are working on identifying those animals that were dual or triple registered, but it will take some time to get these all identified.
The point is the numbers are in decline. Another important point is there is only ONE facebook site that does not support or welcome accurate discussions about a foundation trait of the Dexter.
Thank you to Matt McCollum for addressing the concerns of the dwindling numbers and for some photos of your dwarf dexters.
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In 2016 a Dexter Facebook group was created to spread awareness and propaganda about the Dexters that carry Chondrodysplasia. The creator of this group was also banned from many other online Dexter Forums prior to the creation of this group. This Facebook group also promotes the elimination or culling of Dexters that carry this genetic mutation to is 45,000+ followers. This group is also a Public Dexter Facebook group, so Google will scrub this site for data on questions searched about Dexters. Newcomers searching for Google answers are now getting inaccurate information that fits an Anti Chondro narrative. The fear based propaganda is filled with misinformation sprinkled with some 1/2 truths.
Chondro+ dexters carry a genetic mutation which makes leg bones shorter. Many people call Chondro+ dexters their short legged cattle. These short legged dexters fit the dexter breed description and were apart of the original breed in the early 1900’s. Prior to genetic testing breeding two Chondro+ Dexters together created a Bull dog calf that would be delivered pre-term, deformed and deceased 25% of the time. Today we easily test for the gene mutation and can breed a Chondro+ cow with a Non Chondro Bull. This recommended breeding results in a 50% chance of a non Chondro calf and 50% chance of Chondro+ calf. One thing to note is that every living creature carries some sort of a gene mutation other than this specific gene mutation that we are discussing. Sometimes a gene mutation doesn’t show up or isn’t noticed in breedings.
Chondrodysplasia in particular was noticed due to the deformed dead calves being born. They are also commonly identified by visual appearance of being short and stockier.
So back to the original question. Are short legged registered ADCA, Legacy and PDCA Dexters in decline over the last 10 years? And does this 2016 Dexter Facebook group have any influence from its efforts in the elimination of Chondro+ dexters? I’ll let you be the judge.
I’m not sure but it’s definitely time to hit the alarm bells before it’s too late. So we know that Chondro+ Bull calves probably won’t get registered and will end up mostly going to beef. And it’s a 50/50 chance of a boy or girl and this will affect the total number of registered Dexters we see today. Also we know that only 50% of the time when proper or advised breeding is done we can get a Chondro+ calf. We also know that testing for Chondro+ isn’t required for ADCA, Legacy or PDCA registration, only required if you want to have it listed on the animals certificate. Some people will register their Dexter cattle and NOT share the Chondro test data results with ADCA, Legacy and PDCA. This could be for a number of different reasons such as privacy of data. All three registries view all forms of dexters to be deemed of equal value when registering including Chondro+ dexters. The only requirement to register is parental verification of the calfs Sire and Dam. Since the advent of testing I believe more breeders are shying away from using a Chondro+ Bull because they want bigger steer beef carcasses and avoid having to deal with testing each individual offspring. Also the ADCA has software that is currently being updated to provide more accurate information on each registered Dexter. Breeders may also be behind on paperwork or just decided against registration due to higher beef prices and quicker sales. We can definitely make many more possible assumptions as to why we are seeing less Chondro+ dexter being registered with the registries. Feel free to add your thoughts or comments.
Below is a 10 year history of Chondro+ ADCA, Legacy and PDCA registered Dexters calves born.
One site …all the links!
Have you ever wondered what that little blue button thingy is on the home page of our website? For me it is gold! One site and the links to EVERYTHING DEXTER.
If you think we are missing something let us know
Here is the key.,,,,
P = PDCA
L = Legacy
A = ADCA
I = Irish Dexter Cattle Society
The others should be easy…they are our social media links
TikTok
YouTube
So, I have the Irish Dexter Cattlemen as a favorite and then when I need register, check out a registration from another association or registry…I just click the the button in the semi circle thingy. Sorry, I don’t have more technical term…it is just the best explanation I have for this powerful tool I use. 😂
irish Dexter Cattlemen website Read More »
General
I’m not sure if horns, polled or the dwarf incite more spirited conversations in the Dexter world. I am proud to have all of those in our small homestead farm, truly, experiencing all the Dexter has to offer even on our small acreage.
I have become frustrated and even angered by some of the reactions to all of these traits, that are all part of our amazing breed. Diversity was defined in our breed standards and have existed since the “birth” of our breed.
We have so many things to celebrate… like a unique color mutation in our stunning duns. Our duality, some of the richest milk that is easily digested like the goat. And at the same time some of the best beef, that has found its way into restaurants of the famous Chefs like Ramsay. And a unique BD1 gene, that has given birth to many many other breeds!
BD1 is a treasured genetic report on our farm. Our experience with the dwarf has been purely positive, for both dairy and meat. We never breed a carrier to a carrier. So we have never experienced some of the awful things that one person beats to death on one of the FB pages. I do love our non carriers too, as it takes one of each to make the dwarf!
It’s interesting that most of the folks that speak out about the dwarf negatively , have never experienced the dwarf…they rely on the propaganda of one! And standing up to him on his site…well the comments disappear or they go into forever pending. He must control the narrative!
We have not experienced the arthritis in the Dexters which could occur in both the carrier and the non carrier…or could it be the result of tick borne disease, that affects us humans. There are not good recordings of deaths of all Dexters, so the reports that dwarf pass earlier than non carriers, is only a guess, without documented proof. Again something, that fits a narrative.
And let’s talk about the associations and their responsibilities to protect the dwarf and it’s heritage… both have members and board members that share some or all of the detrimental beliefs about the dwarf, hopefully, a balance will be maintained in beliefs or the dwarf is doomed.
I have changed my opinions on some aspects over the last 14 years, but one thing I have never changed are my feelings about are the dwarf. The dwarf or carrier, it’s all just terminology that describes a Dexter that truly has stolen my heart.
DEXTER CATTLE – JOY, LAUGHTER, AND HEARTBREAK – PART 5 Read More »
General
Bulletin 6. Source provided by Judy Sponaugle.
The American Kerry And Dexter Cattle Club Read More »
Historical
Milk Yields Record taken from a Dexter Cattle Society BookletNo date was given in this pamphlet but if we consider the Dexters that are pictured we can get a close idea of the date. The top Dexter is Atlantic Alision, she was born Jun 12, 1956. A very beautiful Dexter, but her milk yield was not recorded in the data. The second Dexter looks to be either Atlantic Sprat or his son Atlantic Alistair, I lean towards the latter due to the angle of the legs. You can see some pedigree information on Atlantic Alistair here Legacy | World Dexter Information and it will show you a picture that looks very similar. He was born Jun 9, 1957. The Atlantic Herd was owned by Mrs. W. R. N. Tanner of Hock End Checkendon. Spratt was first in his class and went on to win the Silver Challenge Sheild. Atlantic Alision likewise was a prize winner. Mrs. Tanner had many prize winning Dexters and had a memorable herd of Dexter cattle. Both examples are great pictures to represent Dexter cattle.
Butterfat Content in Dexter cattleIt is interesting to note that many of these cows had higher butterfat contents. Much higher than a Holstien and some producing as much as some Jersey cattle. The Dexter milk separates cream out slower than a Jersey and some of the butterfat remains in the milk retaining richness to the milk even after skimming the thick cream off the top. These records are a testament to those high butterfat amounts. In order to have a proper milk tests all cows should stay in milk for the same duration of time and ideally be fed a very similar diet. It is very rare today that people will keep their cows in milk for ten months. I however can attest to milking Dexters for 10 months during many lactations and can say there are still Dexters today that will hold a lactation well.
The final consideration I must only discuss for those who may be new to Dexters, so this article does not confuse someone into thinking that Dexters must have a genetic problem that causes them to lose offspring. Some Dexter cattle carry a genetic trait that when two carriers are bred together can be lethal. At one time it was common to breed towards what was considered a Dwarf type. Dwarf being exactly as it sounds, having short and broad features. This trait was widely favored by Dexter breeders and at one time selected for, even eliminating Dexters that were not of the Dwarf type (Chondrodysplasia negative) or so called “long legged”. Of course, during this time there was no test for Chondrodysplasia, so not every Dexter that was selected for that had short legs was Chondrodysplasia positive, but many would have been. Very early on observant breeders recognized that there were sometimes bulldog calves that were being produced from the mating of one dwarf type to another dwarf type, while at times other short and broad looking Dexters when mated together were not producing bulldog calves. With “selective breeding” some people have sought to retain and select shorter and still broad looking Dexters without having bulldog calves. These mid-legged Dexters as some people called them were shorter than the long-legged Dexters but were Chondrodysplasia negative. The long-legged type (Chondrodysplasia negative) some people called the Kerry type. The mid-legged Dexters though they were shorter and fit the breed standard better than the long-legged Dexters still look a little different than Chondrodysplasia positive Dexters. Chondrodysplasia positive Dexters have a look to them that is unique, and there are still people to this day that like them and choose to breed them to retain their unique traits. The two Dexters photographed in my opinion were most likely Chondrodysplasia positive but of course without testing we will never know as there are many short Dexters that have short and broad features that do not have Chondrodysplasia.
Breeding Chondrodysplasia positive Dexters is now simpler than ever because a genetic test was created that identified the gene and now breeders can test to know if their Dexter is Chondrodysplasia positive or negative. With this knowledge comes the ability to breed without the negative outcome of a risk of a bulldog calf. If you only breed a carrier to a non-carrier, you will never end up with a bulldog calf, but instead you have a chance of getting either a Chondrodysplasia positive or negative Dexter from the mating. So, breeders who still like the Chondrodysplasia type can have the chance of obtaining it through wise breeding choices with never having a risk of a bulldog. For anyone who may be reading this who does not know the Chondrodysplasia status of their Dexters you can find the test here. Simple to test and fairly inexpensive but will save you a lot of loss because knowledge is power. Bulldog Dwarfism (Chondrodysplasia) in Dexters | Veterinary Genetics Laboratory
The other benefit of testing is that if you do not want to breed Chondrodysplasia carriers, you can likewise use testing to select for Dexters that do not carry Chondrodysplasia while still maintaining the breed standard. Today with testing being so affordable it makes sense to test all Dexters to make informed breeding choices and help buyers evaluate the genetics of each Dexter a breeder has to offer. From great milk yields, butterfat content, excellent beef and the choice of breeding the dwarf type (chondro) or not, Dexter cattle have a variety of genetic traits that can please people with a various goal.
This article was written By Danielle of Bryn Mawr. This article cannot be copied or reprinted without prior consent.
Dexter Milk records Read More »
Historical
A Deep Dive Podcast, brought to you by Irish Dexter Cattlemen, on topics of interest to all farmers and ranchers. Subscribe to the free, monthly Irish Dexter Cattlemen Tips & Tricks Guide to get early access.
Sustainability Podcast – The Irish Dexter Read More »
Podcasts
A Deep Dive Podcast, brought to you by Irish Dexter Cattlemen, on topics of interest to all farmers and ranchers. Subscribe to the free, monthly Irish Dexter Cattlemen Tips & Tricks Guide to get early access.
Calving Management Read More »
Podcasts
Irish Dexter Cattlemen is about farmers & Ranchers. A critical design feature of the website was to connect farmers & ranchers with each other using the latest technology. For example, whenever you list an item for sale in the MarketPlace, you instantly become connected to the buyers interested in your item. Buyers can directly message you and ask questions about the cow you have just listed. As the seller, you begin to collect the names and email addresses of all your potential buyers. This is one way farmers & ranchers become connected to each other..
Announcing the Documents Vault, a new way farmers & ranchers can share information with other farmers & ranchers, plus a unique way to dramatically simplify the sale and transfer of your Irish Dexter. In fact, you can use the Documents Vault to sell and transfer any item you have on the farm. The key feature is how it can share.
Casual users browsing the Irish Dexter Cattlemen website, users who have registered for free on the website, and members who have registered and then have become members, all have access to the Documents Vault in increasingly feature rich ways depending on their chosen level.
To access the Documents Vault, mouse over Dashboards on the main menubar, then select My Documents Vault. If you are a casual user, this will open the Public Documents Vault containing folders and documents relevant for public viewing. If you are a registered user, this will open your Private Documents Vault where you can create you own personal folders where you can upload files and documents plus you will have acess to folders and files shared with you by other farmers & ranchers. If you are a member, you will have access to the same files and folders as do registered users plus you gain access to significantly more valuable documents that enhance your farming operation.
The Documents Vault is no different than an ordinary file system except in one important way. It provides you with file and documents sharing. To begin, use the New button to create folders or upload files. In this example, a new folder was created and labeled Irish Dexters which you can see on the left under Dashboard. Clicking on this folder allowed for it to be opened and four more folders were created as you see above. Click on the Cows folder and here you can create a separate folder for each of your cows. Click on a specific cow’s folder and you can begin uploading the documents for that cow. What kind of documents? The system accepts Word documents Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, text files, pdf documents, images, and photos. This means you can upload a photo of your brucellosis certificate provided to you by your vet. Upload your cow’s registration certificate provided to you by your registrar. Upload the genetic tests provided by your genetics testing lab. Upload your cow’s photos. Collect all the documents as they occur. Use your smartphone to capture your documents. What’s the benefit? When time comes to sell your cow, or heifer, or bull, one simple click of the Share button transfers all your cow’s information to your new buyer. This is how you build value for your farm and your buyer will instantly see that your farm is where they want to buy more cows.
Click on the folder then click on the Share button. It’s as easy as that. In the Share window (shown above) you can enter the buyer’s email address (they must complete a free registration on the website first) and then choose how you want to share your folder. Your choices are View Only, View and Upload, or Full Access. Any folder or for that matter, any single document can be shared. Sharing does not remove the folder or document. You continue to have full access to it, just as before. This new tools makes it even easier to sell and transfer your Irish Dexters and you have a direct record of who bought your cow. They buyer has a direct record of where they bought each animal. They are sure to buy more from you again.
Your fundamental, underlying goal in the operation of your farm is to build value. The Documents Vault does just that. It keeps you organized and it demonstrates to your buyers a significantly higher degree of trust. They are assured that they get everything they bought. This means that your buyers will be contacting you first for all their future purchases. The example here was for your Irish Dexters, but anything on your farm can be documented and shared in the same way. Also, you can add new information on how you farm and capture information you think is valuable and easily share it with everyone at Irish Dexter Cattlemen by selecting All Users in the Share window. The Documents Vault is how Irish Dexter Cattlemen connects farmers & ranchers.
Announcing The Documents Vault Read More »
General
A Deep Dive Podcast, brought to you by Irish Dexter Cattlemen, on topics of interest to all farmers and ranchers. Subscribe to the free, monthly Irish Dexter Cattlemen Tips & Tricks Guide to get early access
The Climate Cow Podcast – Who Knew This Little Cow Could Do So Much? Read More »
Podcasts
Dexters may only rank 5 in this dual-purpose breed list, but when you consider their size, they come out as number one for the small farm. Practical and versatile in being great for beef and milk. Often times people consider Dexters mini cattle, but the whole breed is naturally small with some individuals being extra small. It is interesting to note that Dexters make the list even though they are small in size and no one can discredit them for their diminutive size as though they are nothing more than a toy breed as they hold their own with the big boys.
Click the link below to read the article
Dexters are a TOP-RANKING DUAL-PURPOSE BREED Read More »
Beef
A Deep Dive Podcast, brought to you by Irish Dexter Cattlemen, on topics of interest to all farmers and ranchers. Subscribe to the free, monthly Irish Dexter Cattlemen Tips & Tricks Guide to get early access.
Homesteading and Irish Dexter Cattle Podcast Read More »
Podcasts
When marketing niche products, customers
expect the marketer to cater to their needs and be
responsive to their desires. This means producing
products with unique characteristics and using those
characteristics as a basis for marketing. Under this
form of “product” marketing, the goal is to create a
product that is different from other items on the
market.
Niche Marketing of Cattle/Beef Read More »
Selling
