Thursday, May 15th: early
check-ins arrive
Friday, May 16th: educational seminars & clinics, youth showmanship
clinic, and free dinner
Saturday, May 17th: show
begins at 8:00 am
https://ovdba.com/show-information
ohio valley dexter Breeders assoCiation 2025 show Read More »
There is definitely a faction of the population trying to get raw milk for their pets and family. There are also many folks trying to provide this to their community and both are struggling to make the connections.
Here are two links that can help you get to the source or get listed as a source.
I would also have you check with your local and state laws to make sure that you are in compliance with them. Each state is different, with more and more changes coming down the pike. Be prepared if you are providing it for folks to just show up, for many phone calls and emails..the movement is in full swing.
Dexters provide a rich and creamy milk preferred by many! Happy milking!
Where can I get raw milk or get help to sell mine? Read More »
Milking & Dairy Selling
Are you struggling to sell your Irish Dexters? Their Beef? Farm made products?
I think one of the hardest things for the Dexter owner is to sell their products. I have a background in marketing, sales and science, which seems to have helped us find our niche. The Irish Dexter dairy and beef are a niche products and should be marketed with that in mind. We happen to be grass fed, grass finished another niche market. I think if you take a step back and look at your market, you will be able to carve out a niche for your Dexter products. I use the chef Ramsey card all the time….do you know that he prefers Dexter beef and uses them in his restaurants.
Did you know that Crest Point Farms, also a member of the IDC online stores is a supplier to the restaurant market. Take a look at his marketing on our website and you will see his marketing of both his Irish Dexter beef and Kune Kune pork. Using the systems put in place for you at the Irish Dexter Cattlemen ( IDC) website you should be able to create this niche for you and your products in your area.
Take a look the products available from Stumpys Acres and Ashron Acres? They are selling Dexter beef and handmade farm items.
Also take a look at Maple Creek Dexters, they have no ads currently running, but a lovely write about their farm. Lucky them, they have nothing at the moment that they are trying to sell. This happens with repeat customers and word of mouth selling from happy customers.
But if an online store is not right for you at this time in your marketing…then look to the IDC Marketplace. To receive a free ad for the marketplace all you need to do is register first and then fill out the information as it prompts you thru the process. The end result is a beautiful professional looking ad. You can then copy and paste that link anywhere like FB, IG or an email. I have found that by using the ad link I look more professional and now have a wait list for my Nubians, Dexters and my soap business has certainly taken off in a big way, as I am now shipping more and more! It’s no longer just a local sale. One important feature for me is…it lets me know when my inventory is low by item. This is helping me produce what I need for my growing business.
The IDC website is so much more than just a marketplace and free monthly newsletter. With an entry level membership you have access to practically everything in the cattle industry, specific Dexter articles, and access to all three registries….I no longer need to remember other website addresses. The IDC website is a one stop shop for everything I need, and provides access to anything Dexter.
We can help you sell your Dexters and farm products Read More »
Selling
Hope this simple spreadsheet shows you the different levels that you can participate.
An example of an entry level participation is … access to our gazette and all the past articles in the Tips and Tricks Newsletter, many magazines , the ADCA, PDCA and Legacy publications in clipboard formats with an easy to use search feature…you will need to spend $20. This feature has allowed me to help so many when they have a specific question about a topic we have already covered.
You will need decide your level of participation, register and then enjoy your subscription benefits.
We are always looking for people to help. If you want to join an exciting and dynamic team…reach out!
Do you want to subscribe, but you don’T know at what level? Read More »
General SellingBy Kasie Williams of K Williams Ranch
Her determination paid off! A Dexter milking journey…. Read More »
Milking & Dairy
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, I am sure I have missed a few.
https://1drv.ms/x/c/c79950faab991348/EUgTmav6UJkggMeSOwAAAAABhxnazfsIBA0-qpk3ObFlAQ
Written by Riley Wohlgemuth of Bar Dubya Ranch
Over the last week, I’ve dedicated part of my daily life to training Marieke to milk… We weaned her 10 month old bull calf and separated them so that she could begin to recover some condition. For the previous two months, I have been casually working on her haltering and handling in preparation for this moment…
As always, it takes some adjustment and determination to get into a routine, to be mindful of my actions and responses when training a cow, and just overall persistence despite the odds. Once separated from Connor, Marieke became a little waspy with milking while standing freely, so I quickly decided to start tying her up while I milked for both of our safety.
Milking is not easy. It’s a chore. It requires consistency (after the calf is weaned), determination, patience, and a lot of grace.
But… it’s amazing. To work with a cow and receive raw milk. It is an amazing thing to be able to provide your own milk… to know exactly what goes onto it, where it’s coming from, and get the cow kisses while you’re at it.
The other thing apart from feeding ourselves that brings me so much joy… is the connection to the community, providing the connection to their food that so many are craving. We don’t currently sell our milk as we are still trying to find our own rhythm, a place to purchase, and some other variables which just make that out of reach right now…
A couple of days ago, a neighbor requested to try some of our milk. Her toddler absolutely cannot have cow milk (not even the lactose-free), a sip of it will send her into tummy aches and throwing up within 30 minutes. Her little girl could drink our Dexter milk! Absolutely zero issues. So neat!!
Then, today, we milked Marieke this morning. Getting a full, creamy half gallon jar of delicious raw milk to take home. We decided to stop at a Christmas tree farm on the way home and one of the employees pointed out our lariat rope, which turned into conversation about roping, and then cattle… did we raise any, what do we use them for, etc. We raise our cattle for milk and beef. My husband pulled out the jar of raw milk to show them and they were so fascinated and intrigued! So we offered for them to have a little sip. We have so much at home that it wasn’t too terrible a loss to sacrifice some milk for the sake of curiosity.
They were amazed! At the flavor, the texture, remarking on its creamy sweetness and how the flavor lingered on their tongues. Then there were immediate questions about did we sell, could they buy, etc. The excitement, the chattering. It made me so happy to provide that experience and connection to them!
Farming is difficult, but so rewarding… for ourselves, for the connections we cultivate with friends and strangers, to nature and God’s provision for us… We are feeling extra grateful this season.
God bless and happy holidays!! 🥰❤️
If you have dun cattle, esp golden dun or dark dun and would like to help with genetic testing see link below.
By Eliena Bodtke, Stay’N Put Farm
I have had a small soap business for years. It has been a very manual order process. So, when someone was needed to test the GrownBy site for the next phase of the Irish Dexter Cattlemen website, I decided it was time for me to have an easier way to order. It also gave me the added benefits of being able to sell my Irish Dexter cattle and Nubian goats without having to set up my own website. Everything in one place, with no knowledge of set up or having to maintain my own website.
Well I have to tell you….this has been a most enjoyable experience. From the ease of using the site, to the help that is available from the GrownBy team at the drop of a hat. I can edit, add or remove things with little effort. But the really exciting thing was having metrics to be able to see if the site was working for me. The first time I checked how many had clicked on my site it said 163…WOW! I started working on my site in May and had yet to check the metrics out. I shared it on my FB page and on the IDC site once, well maybe twice and boom a week later 193 visits. The other notable is that my order size increased. Not by a little, a lot! We are still working on GrownBY handling the shipping component, but the problem is at my end, not theirs, everything has to be weighed and then the zip code has to be taken into consideration. The work around is pick up at farm and handling the shipping afterward…or adding to the price the average shipping…but I’m working on that.
The long and short of it is, not only is the site working for me for selling my soaps and shampoos. It provides an easy link for my customers to go to and see what I have available …and helps me with driving what needs to be made and stocked. And maybe they will consider some of the adorable bucks we have currently for sale!
I didn’t need to learn another language or program, all I had to do was share it, so people know where to look.
Another added benefit is, you can see other farms in your area …that you might want to visit or buy from. It’s farmers! Yup, farmers, you are working with other farmers. So if you have a soap business like me, or just a few animals to sell, or a CSA, you really should check it out.
I hope you have the same experience as I have had….now off to make another soap and build that inventory.
Check out my new online e-commerce store https://grownby.app/farms/stay-n-put-farm/shop
Growing my business with GrownBY Read More »
Selling
There is this thing that happens when you have Dexter cattle and really any kind of cows. It’s called cow math. The cows just keep multiplying and it’s all your fault.
In my Dexter journey this happens 2 ways. I got my fist Dexter cow, she had her yearling steer by her side and was pregnant. I thought cool, 3 for the price of one. Who doesn’t love a sale?
The new calf was born, another steer (not at birth but after a bit (was removed)). I know I’d have 3, but I didn’t know how much I would love being a milkmaid. I loved milking, processing the milk, and making all the fabulous dairy products. When the calf was weaned, my avocation as a milkmaid did too. No more dairy goodies and now I knew what real dairy was and I couldn’t bear to buy the junk stores have and call dairy.
I bought a second Dexter Milk Cow, with a steer by her side so I could milk year round with Spring and Fall calves. Now there were 5 cows. One steer went to freezer came and I was down to 4. Good for me. But then the new heifer calf was born and we were back up to 5.
Here I became foolish and bought a 3rd Dexter milkcow for emotional reasons. ( I did not need a 3rd Dexter Milk cow) She did not come with a calf at her side hooray. So, we were up to 6, I sold the heifer calf and we were down to 5. The new cow had a heifer calf and we were back up to 6.
It’s all my fault. I bred the cows, bought the cows. I will sell the new heifer calf and be back down to 5 but I have 2 calves due this Spring, but I will send another steer to freezer camp next month so I will stay at 6 until the 2025 Fall calf will make it 7 unless I sell 1 or both Spring calves.
Cow Math is real. So you will have to consider how you want to manage your herd size.
Sue Pollington
Selling Dexters by Sue Pollington Read More »
Farm Management SellingBy Eliena Bodtke, Stay’N Put Farm
Whit Ashe of Circle A Ranch in Savannah, Tennessee , has been our cowboy, AI tech and friend for over ten years now. Our nick names for him, include Man With The Golden Arm, Mr. One And Done and My Favorite Cowboy to name a few. But, wouldn’t you use those names to describe a perfect heifer record and he only had to come back twice for redos in 10 years. We recommend him for anyone in the area. But after several conversations, it appears that much of our success as team, is not just his technique.
Minerals
For both Circle A Ranch and our little homestead, Stay’N Put Farm, it started with the management program. We both use Vitaferm Concept aid minerals. Whit recommended these right from the beginning, including when we were doing live cover on and off. It is set out free choice for them to utilize at their pleasure. With the success rate like ours, proper nutrients to help them take with one attempt has to be one of the key components . Seeing others succeed when switching to it, seems to us to be part of one of the keys to success. But this is just one of components to this success.
Timing
Timing is very crucial as well. Each Dexter will have its own cycle. Ours are between 18 and 21 days. Signs of coming into heat differ from cow to cow. Some of the signs we look for are loose poops, change in behavior…extra sweet or standoffish behaviors. You will often times see the cows standing close to each other, one appears to be more affectionate than the others. These for us are the start of of the heat cycle and duly noted.
Next we watch for jumping or restless behavior. This could include a nursing calf, jumping on mom or behaving weirdly with mom. If you’re milking, you may see an appreciable drop in milk, we do.
This is when your observation skills are most important. Cows will jump cows. Cows will jump bulls. This behavior is referred to as bulling. If you only have one cow in your herd and no other Dexter or bovine friend, this can be troublesome.
It can help you know that a cow is in heat, but it can’t tell you whether it is in a standing heat.
Telephone conversations and texts happen with Whit Ashe when we see behavior changes, poops getting loose or a milk drop and then we keep in close contact until we are sure that we are in standing heat.
Standing heat
Standing heat is when the cow stands for anyone to mount her. It is at this point you should be ready. We try to AI within the next 12 hours…and close to the 12 hour mark.
When your tech arrives, you should have your cow either in the barn or in the milking stanchion or shoot. You will need to have your straw selected that you want to use. The tech will warm the insertion device, by placing close to their body…down their shirt. The straw will be warmed in a special straw warmer. Once it is thawed, the device will let you know and the fun begins. The attached video will show you what it typically looks like.
Whit Ashe has only had to make two trips back in 10 years, and I would have to say one was probably the semen , which is rare to have a problem with it and the other was my timing. We chased it…knowing it would probably result in a bull, but we were unsuccessful. As of the time writing this article we have only received two bulls by AI, and that was from another AI tech, Weston Williams. Whit Ashe has a perfect heifer record here, very hard to believe, but true.
Here is a video of it
Artificial Insemination at Stay’N Put Farm Read More »
Farm Management Herd Healthsession 01
Session 01 in the Online Training Series. Contact the secretary email below to sign up
ADCA online-Dexter cattle intro Read More »
Ohio Valley Dexter Breeders Association Annual show May 16-17,2025 Lebanon, Ohio
Ovdba lebanon show 2025 Read More »
Good 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 Management
Remember to keep those troughs clean…especially if your milking your Irish Dexters. – Submitted by Riley Wohlgemuth
Clean Water Requirements Read More »
Milking & Dairy
