Here is an interesting article from a fellow Dexter milker, Michele Parsley. Real facts about how it varies and why. Don’t forget, some of our cream stays behind and never completely separates, making two incredible products, cream and still some pretty creamy milk for drinking or making something else. Celebrate your Dexter milk and cream!
https://www.mountainheritagefarm.com/blog/cream-variation
LET’S TALK CREAM AND DEXTERS Read More »
Milking & Dairy
COVID. It sucked. No matter what aisle of the plane that you sit in, even if you just want to stand in the middle, it sucked. There was tragedy, heart ache and despair. Some are still recovering. Some never will. All that said, it was eye opening for me. An introvert by nature (though very few of those that meet me will agree with that description), COVID was somewhat of a respite. It forced, for better or worse, solitude. For me, it brought peace. It got me thinking about our world and my place in it. It was time to start questioning old habits and accepting the norm. It was time to start doing.
Where do I start? As my late Dad would say, at the beginning. I started to look for property in a rural area. That was my first mistake. I didn’t have a solid foundation as to what I wanted to do. I looked at field, woods, and pastures. Some had homes, and others did not. About all of the properties were a good distance from where I lived and some were located in other States. After becoming exhausted and frustrated, I realized that my search was futile. I needed to establish what I wanted to do and with what animals.
My initial thought was horses. My thought is I could breed horses, and/or run a boarding business. It was my wife, ever the cynic, who asked the first pointed question. “Do you know how to ride a horse?”
Contrary to popular opinion in my household, I was a seasoned equestrian and rodeo champion. At least in my mind I dreamed I could be. That said, I scheduled horse back riding lessons. While I enjoyed the lessons, and riding, I started to think it was going to take a lot of time and experience to take other people’s horses in and provide appropriate care. But alas, fate had other plans. My wife quit asking about trivial things such as my ability to take care of horses and we sold our home and bought a home with horse stables and acreage. For me, it was heaven.
Then reality set in. I remembered what the goal was. The goal was to raise our own food. Horses would be welcome, but horse meat will never be in our diet.
The internet, love it or lump it, is a source of a great deal of information. I play the game. In that, I mean, I disregard all the “great” comments, and all the “terrible” comments and seek the middle, I tried to not seek articles that I favored but cast a wide net looking for neutrality. Just the facts, ma’am. What I found intrigued me. Dexter cattle. Ideal for beef, milk, and smaller areas of land. Hearty animals and docile in nature. Not miniature, but smaller in stature. Less intimidating for the new and not an animal that has to be considered a pet.
I compared to different breeds. I was intrigued by grass fed and milk that many argue is better suited to sensitive stomachs. Not only for feeding my family, but the potential of feeding others. I was not looking for marketing gimmicks but trying to fit a niche. My niche. I was told finding the acreage was the hardest part of raising cattle. I can say with 100% certainty, that is a lie. But I am having so much fun living my dreams with our Dexter cattle.
A little bit about the author for those who have read this article or maybe even the first article and scrolled to the bottom of this article just to see if someone had the guts to admit writing this. 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 II Read More »
Selling
The old saying “No feet, no cow” is a phrase that denotes the importance of a cow’s ability to walk. Without good feet there can be no cow to stand on them, thus causing peril to the health of the cow. No Udder, no cow could be a similar maximum, denoting the importance of the cow’s udder. Without a good functioning udder, a cow cannot fulfill her role to nourish a calf or humans thus degrading her value as a cow. Not every Dexter needs an udder like Atlantic Alison, but the quality of a Dexter cow is tied up in the function and quality of her udder.
This scale of points as seen above, is the first scale of points written for Dexter cattle and the most authoritative in breed history. It makes it clear what values can be attributed to a Dexter cow. As you can see udder traits are very important to the Dexter breed. There is no room in the Dexter breed for cows with truly bad udders, as it’s not agreeable to the standard scale of points. So, you see, 40% of a Dexter cows value of points is wrapped up in the quality of her udder, where only 25% goes for her body. That 25% is not just shortness or depth alone but “body, top line, under line, ribs, setting of tail, shortness of leg &c.” The point is cows with good udders are very important to the breed. A cow that lacks valuable udder points would scale very low as a Dexter in general. A cow that is not perfectly short could still score quite high as a Dexter if all other traits were ideal. A short Dexter with a bad udder would easily be beat by a taller Dexter with good conformation and an excellent udder.
Come check out our growing TikTok account and join the fun! Our content is a great mix of cute, fun, informative, and everything in between—there’s something for everyone. Be sure to follow us so you don’t miss out.
Want to see your Dexters or your farm featured? We’d love that! Feel free to send photos and/or videos to
📧 tiktok@irishdextercattlemen.com
We’ll also be posting new ads on TikTok. I’m currently catching up on existing ads, and once we’re up to date, your ad will be posted as soon as it goes live on the website.
Have content ideas or interesting Dexter facts to share? Photos, videos, and suggestions are always welcome, just send them to the email above.
Let’s show off our Dexter community! 🐄💚
We’re on TikTok! 🎉 @idc79807 Read More »
General
Let’s face facts. Some of our Dexter gals have some pretty hairy udders. All that hair is not something we want if we are trying to milk them and provide a clean product.
I use these handy dandy scissors pictured below, but some folks also use electric clippers, as in the short video below.
What ever method you choose, make sure you do it, it makes cleaning the udder sooo much easier!
Is Your Dexter Udder Hairy? Read More »
Milking & Dairy
After many nights of interrupted sleep, due to monitoring a heifer and her first calving, I decided to let technology given it a try. I purchased a Moo Call device. Of course it arrived and she went into labor, but I decided to given it a try on my Dexter due.
It was pretty simple. I followed the instructions and had to cut off to sections on the red rubber grip to get a proper fit. After that I attached it to her tail and monitored during the day, like I always have. I figured she was a few days out and mostly used it at night, so I could sleep.
After a brief phone call with them, to make sure it was working properly, I relaxed and decided to give it a chance. He due date came and went, but all of my experience told me she was not ready and I slept like a baby.
The next morning while finishing up miking, my husband said…Did you just get an email like this? I grabbed my phone only to have it MOOO at me! I had received the email and text…but now it was mooing at me from the APP I had downloaded.
We quickly finished up and went to check on her…and yes she was in the beginning stages of labor. The Moo Call said she would calf within the hour…and she did! The alerts started at 7:34 and the calf arrived at 8:18. Here are some visuals of our experience.
A little help from TECHNOLOGY can help with calving… Read More »
Technology
Did you know that we have given everyone a free ad to try out the Irish Dexter Cattlemen Marketplace? That’s right! Give it a try!
I have found it a great place to produce a professional looking ad that can be shared anywhere.
Recently, we have tweaked some of the features to make it easier to use. The pictures are automatically resized to work with the system. No pre approval process. We can tweak it later if we need to. And also a team behind you that can help you make it what you want it to be.
Here are some recently posted ads. Check them out!
The Irish Dexter Cattlemen Marketplace..have you tried a free ad? Read More »
General
Pound for pound, no bovine can match the diversity of Dexter cattle, one of the smallest cattle breeds.
Ideal Small Farm Cows: Dexter Cattle Read More »
Homesteading
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
Many may not know that the Dexter at one time was known to have milking properties of equal merit as the Kerry, a known dairy breed, though they are a dual-purpose breed. Mr. R Tait Robertson was to of said ” The milking properties of both breeds may be said to be of about equal merit”. Who is R. Tait Robertson? He is the son of James Robertson, of whom bred or collected a large portion of the foundation Dexters sold to England and other places. He was an influential breeder. For an interesting photo reference of the amazing similarities of Dexter and Kerry cattle see Aicme Check (Dexter cow) and Greenah Florah 2nd (Kerry cow). I did not have to hunt far and wide to find examples that looked closely related. All I had to do is go to the 1901 Herd book and find the only available photos of an example Kerry and Dexter cow. And by the way note the classic white Dexter udder marking on the Kerry cow as this was a common Kerry trait feature too. Nose to nose as you can see in the photo comparison they do look quite alike.
Historically looking at the Dexter milk properties! 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!
Top Homesteading Breed! Read More »
Homesteading
Born Survivor – Story of the Dexter – Heritage Cattle.
Dexter Cattle Return to Ireland Read More »
Historical
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
Minerals are a small, but mighty, nutrient requirement for cattle. These elements cannot be made by the body and they are essential for proper function of the skeletal, immune, and muscular systems.
Cattle Nutrition – Minerals Matter Read More »
Herd Health
Grass Fed beef is higher in beta carotene, vitamin E, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega 3 fatty acids
Health Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef Read More »
Beef
Dexter 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 »
Beef Selling
”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
The mama is #116 Briarhook Juno Legacy # L03860LH-19HH and bull calf born September 29 with Fitz’s Golden Legacy Dillen. Dillen is our current sire, and he is the progeny of Colorado Chief and Chautauqua Demelza.
About the author…
Angie Gaines grew up in the Sandhill Piedmont of North Carolina. As a child she accompanied her grandpa to cattle auctions. They raised feeder stock in the wonderful sandy loam. Her mother and father raised registered Polled Hereford cattle and their favorite standing bull was called Jerry Justin Banner 3rd. Almost twenty years ago Angie decided to be part of the preservation of the Irish Dexter cattle loved in Ireland. When she shared a photo of her beginning herd her mother aged 78 exclaimed; “Wow, look at those horns”. Angie responded with “ Mama, if a cow wants to hurt you they don’t need horns to do it”. Angie now resides in Texas with her wonderful Irish Dexters and Curly Mustangs.
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I gaze out my window on a rainy day and see three beautiful Black horned Irish Dexter cows, Juno, Flora and Faye grazing on the lush Spring grass in the Lone Star State. I wonder what it was like when their ancestors grazed just outside a little hamlet known as Argyle about 100 miles Northwest of Dallas, Texas of me. Their ancestors were the foundation for a line of Irish Dexter cattle that 50 years later would be known as the Legacy “Colorado” line and I am intrigued that these wonderful cows have made an interesting journey back to Texas.
“Mark and Marge (Davis) were living in Colorado when they first read about little cows known as Irish Dexters. Mark borrowed a trailer and traveled to Argyle, Texas to purchase his first cow and calf and a 14-month old heifer. ‘The cow was milking, but she was very wild”, he said with a chuckle. “A rancher friend of ours taught me to milk.” The couple later purchased a herd bull from Decorah, Iowa and in 1966, they and 5 cattle moved to Delaware. Mark Davis was a past President of the American Dexter Cattle Association.” He was also the Delaware registered agent for PDCA incorporation until recently.
The oldest Colorado cow owned by Mark and Marge Davis listed in our wonderful resource the Legacy Irish Dexter Registry is Colorado Queen (circa 1967). She goes back to Lady Knight who was bred by Dr. Harvey Goettsche in Dallas, Texas and Edmonde LeRoux, Argyle, Texas. Dr. Goettsche, was a well-known dentist who enjoyed the ranching life as a hobby. His partner Edmond LeRoux, had a beautiful ranch in Argyle, Texas and was a retired American Airline pilot with an impressive history of helping U.S. troops fly to destinations including the Far East, Japan, Australia and more with the Military Airlift Command and American Airlines.
Lady Knight has awesome ancestors who are beloved in our Irish Dexter community including Grinstead and Peerless. She is also the dam of the well-known bull Colorado Chief whose sire was an Irish Dexter bull Mark Davis went to Iowa to and brought back to Colorado. Marge Davis shared this in a phone conversation. She shared the wonderful journey that has become the foundation for the Colorado herd.
Since we have explored how Lady Knight and her heifer left Argyle, Texas and became the foundation of the wonderful Colorado herd, let’s go back and explore how the Irish Dexter cattle came to be found in Texas. Lady Knight was the progeny of a nice bull registered as Captain Fortune and bred by Otto C. Jensen. Captain Fortune’s ancestors were direct registered cattle from the Peerless herd. “The foundation for the Peerless herd at Decorah, Iowa, was obtained by John Logsdon from the Elmendorf Farm, August A. Busch and James J. Hill, in 1919. Later, two bulls were obtained successively from Daniel Guggenheim, owner of Hempstead House herd. In 1944, when the Peerless herd had their first public sale, the herd numbered 150 head of cows and heifers! Peerless herd is the oldest Dexter herd in the United States. “ (Remember the Busch name as we continue this journey through history.)
With the tireless work, Judy Sponaugle has put together a researchers dream, creating the Legacy Irish Dexter Registry. Within a few short strokes on my keyboard and a quality internet connection, I am able to see that Lady Knight’s dam was the beautiful Black Duchess who was born in 1958. Edward Lord bred her with Atlantic Cornelius as her sire and Framfield Roda 7th as her dam. Both of Lady Knight’s parents were registered in the Dexter Cattle Society (DCS) founded in the United Kingdom. Both Atlantic and Framfield’s dams were the well-lovedGrinstead dams and going back till the beginning of the DCS (Dexter Cattle Society) conception circa 1892.
Back to the Lone Star state, we find a handsome Black Bull named Mark Anthony. His parents are Black Duchess and Atlantic Cornelius. His owner and breeder is a well know colorful character in the history of Texas, Clint Murchison. In my search, I have found little documentation about Irish Dexters, but it was well known that Mr. Murchison loved ranching. Ernestine Orrick Van Buren points out in her book Clint: Clinton Williams Murchison: A Biography : “In the late 1930s Murchison began diversifying his investments. He acquired numerous life-insurance companies, banks, bus lines, publishing firms, heavy industrial building materials companies, and an assortment of companies serving such leisure activities as hunting, fishing, travel, and gardening. He was a cattleman throughout his life and acquired extensive ranches in Mexico and East Texas. He experimented in improving cattle strains and in developing superior grazing grasses.”
Yes, millionaires loved our Irish Dexters, too! Speaking of millionaires let’s go back and visit the Anheuser Busch family and their involvement in Irish Dexter cattle and Texas. I ran across a 1916 newspaper article from Waco, Texas where 14 Irish Dexters belonging to Anheuser Busch Dexter Cattle. The cattle was transported via train to show their exhibit known the Bevo during a “tick” quarantine. The event appears to have hugely popular. We do know from well-kept records that , “In 1914, August A. Busch of St. Louis, Missouri purchased Dextersfrom C.D. Gregg of St. Louis and established the Grant’s Farm Herd. Additional animals were purchased by August Busch in 1915 from Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. The Elmendorf Herd was dispersed in 1917.” Perhaps a few of these wonderful cows stayed in Texas.
The Colorado herd of Irish Dexter cattle that Mark and Marge Davis created has an amazing history and enjoyed passage with many friends they encountered along the way. I feel fortunate to be friends with those who continue this line of Irish Dexters including Judy Sponaugle (owner of the Legacy Registry and Preservation Project ), The Mendenhalls, Lori Goldman and several others. I am especially grateful to Pam Baker, for the opportunity to add Juno, Flora and Faye in our herd and welcome them back to the Lone Star state where their ancestors once roamed.
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.
Winterizing Your Homestead Irish Dexters Read More »
Podcasts
Dexters are well known as Irish Dexters even if many other points about them are debated. The above bull though registered with the Dexter Cattle Society is an Irish Dexter with a “fine type and constitution” as the article states. I checked, he certainly was owned and breed by Mr. W. Lindsay Everard of Ratcliffe. This article holds true to the fact that Dexters are known to be of a small type of cattle. That very small cattle were known to roam Ireland before “Mr. Dexter” was ever penned in History. In Kerry there was known to be some of the smallest type of cattle one can imagine, long before Dexters were ever established or organized into a true breed. So small of an animal that it is mentioned in this paragraph, but yet still producing 2 gallons of milk a day is a marvel indeed. The brown article was written on 14 Nov 1929, it’s from the Western Daily Press Bristol. The picture was taken from a later newspaper published in 1930. Though the Dexter was well known to produce ample milk and was “closely allied to the Kerry breed and very similar to it in general appearance.” The differences being that “Dexters are “more stoutly built and rounder in their contours”.
The Dexter has a “stronger head than the Kerry, but very clear cut, shorter below the eyes and broader at the muzzle”. The description of her horns are as follows ” Her horns are thicker and usually after rising upwards bend backwards towards the points”. It is interesting to note that she is even fleshier than the Kerry but was thought to look a better milker than the Kerry. Short cows with large udders seem to showcase the udder in a much more extreme way than a longer legged cow though the udder could be of the same size. The article really goes on to highlight the excellent milking attributes of a Dexter to great lengths. A point worth mentioning is that “there is hardly a prettier sight than a herd of Dexters grazing in a park”. I personally can’t help but look out at my hills and know this rings true to me today, just as much as it must have to the writer of this article in the past! Dexters truly are practical and beautiful when bred for all these amazing Historical traits!
Breeders have long been concerned with breeding to “type” and a few points to mention in this last photo that align with the Standard Description of a Dexter is the color being “Whole black or whole red”. The “Head short and broad” with “great width between the eyes”, and “tapering gracefully twords the muzzle. Dexters definetley impress with their specific beautiful traits and charming ways which took hold of many a wealthy land owner who could aford to buy any exotic cattle they chose. In conclusion Dexters and their “pretty little calves are very fascinating”! They are Irish and Proud of it and those of us who breed them, have been taken by their Irish Charms.
Dexters ARE Irish and Proud of It Read More »
Historical
Dexters have long been hailed as hardy and thrifty even adaptable to locations from Africa to snow laden areas. This article I am sharing was written by R. Tait Robertson; he was a famous and most influential Dexter breeder for his day. He was not just any armature Dexter owner, since he was a foundational breeder of Dexter cattle and a generational farmer. He explained that” I have on my farm over 100 of them (Dexters) lying out at present, and they will continue so all winter, getting nothing beyond what they can pick up and a small portion of hay night and morning”. What this means is that Original Dexters could get by on just a little, but of course they could thrive on even more. It was often said that when the Dexters of Ireland went to the manor lands of England they grew greater in size due to the surplus. Dexters can do well on just forage and hay alone with no grain needed. They can excel on the best rations and produce even more, but if times get tough, they can more than get by.
Mr. Roberston was a very influential breeder, breeding in Malahide, County Dublin, Ireland. His family later had Church Farm in Babraham, Cambridge. His Dexters were esteemed as quality and were very sought after by the English who wished to keep them. He is the son of James Robertson. They were not just multigenerational farmers but multi-generational Dexter farmers who helped shape Dexters in their early years by breeding and selection. Dexters as we know them then owed a great degree of tribute to this influential family. Mr. R. Tait Robertson was also a judge for Kerry and Dexter cattle. He judged them by the merit that this article speaks to. Someone may say that Dexters are a beef breed that can milk, but Mr. R Tait Robertson said they have “equal merit” to Kerry cattle. They were not transformed in England to a milking breed but rather selected and bred by breeders like the Robertsons for great dual-purpose traits and were heavy in exceptional dairy traits. When R. Tait Robertson speaks to their equal merit remember that he was a judge for both Kerry and Dexter cattle and those judges gave prizes and entered both Kerry and Dexter cattle into the foundation herd books for the Royal Dublin Society. Dexters are not, nor have they ever been a beef breed that can be milked, but rather a dual-purpose breed with equal merit in milking traits to an ancient breed of dairy cattle (Kerry cattle) that can excel at grass-based feeding.
Mr. R. Tait Robertson was the owner and or collector of the cattle in the La Mancha Herd. He or his family may not have bred them all but rather selected some as foundational cattle for the Dexter breed. You will often see La Mancha Dexters registered to him, his father or Robertsons and sons. His Dexters traveled to many countries and those Dexters that could be found “Lying out all winter long, getting nothing more than what they can pick up and a small portion of hay Night and Morning” run in the veins of our Dexters today. This article I shared was written on 16 December 1899 and La Mancha Love Lost was born in 1897. She was qualified by inspection most likely by Mr. R. Tait Robertson and would have spent time in his field while this article was written. It’s nice to think of such a beautiful cow lying out in your pasture all winter long, getting nothing more than what she can pick up and a small portion of hay night and morning then still looking so beautiful! That’s the kind of Dexter I want.
Dwarfing within the Dexter breed is entirely hereditary and does not occur in an individual as a result of a mutation.
Genetics of the Dexter Breed Read More »
Historical
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
For some years a number of herds of Kerry and Dexter Cattle have existed in America.
The First American Dexter Cattle Club Read More »
Historical
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
By Judy Sponaugle of Legacy
Another registry “innovation” finds the US herd a hodgepodge of mediocre and forgettable initialed herd names. The US is the ONLY country in the world that has so little respect for Dexters they guarantee breeders basic anonymity by using initials of farm names as herd identifiers! Goodness but it IS forgettable.
Here’s an example. I was trying to convince a new breeder about to register a first calf NOT to use the initials encouraged by the US registries for it all but determines anonymity for their herd. Truth be told. . . . there are only two initialed herds in the US I remember by initials, both because the owners were/are prominent in the breed. So, . . . I gave this person examples of wonderful and imaginative herd names, and then I looked at the state of Virginia ( where the owner lived) and picked out three herds with initials. I know most herds and owners by heart through constant research. . . and I looked at the initials and began the process of trying to remember the herds. It was a struggle! One of the herds I knew very well because my own bloodlines founded the herd and it was a perfect example of how even a constant researcher will NOT recognize herd initials. Almost guaranteed anonymity and obscurity unless the person becomes a huge long-term breeder with a large herd.
Woodmagic was chosen by Beryl Rutherford because it was based on a favorite book from childhood, and all her Dexters were named after woodland creatures and birds. Grinstead brings a smile to one’s face, with or without the beautiful photos of that herd and it’s dominance in pedigrees through the years. Most English herds were named after the homes or estates or towns where they grazed. It would be interesting to know the history of the choice of La Mancha for the Robertson family’s Dexter herd, but Round Chimneys leaves little to the imagination. Parndon was a parish in Essex, England, and the origins of Ypsitty is still a mystery to me. My least favorite herd name in the English records is Bryn-y-pin because it was difficult to type.
American herd names prior to the 90’s were also imaginative and memorable. Peerless certainly lived up to it’s identity, and every Missouri Dexter owner would immediately know the roots of “Shome”! Shamrock immediately brings to mind the hallowed green leaf of Ireland, while Rainbow and Rainbow Hills are colorfully soothing to imagine. Talisman is a herd name I always liked, and there is a Virginia herd that lives in literal “Paradise”. The Lone Star and Cascade herds identify their geographic locations but also denote history, and Chautauqua identifies an area of NY where the herd is located. ( Another typing challenge for me).
Then we have SGF and SMD. These herds are owned by long-time well known breeders. Can you immediately identify these herds or do you have to stop and think as I did with a herd I knew as well as my own? In England, or Australia, or even Canada, you would most likely know these herds as Spruce Grove or Silver Maple and the identifier would be far more memorable.
One registry started this and the other continued this nonsense of encouraging owners to use initials and give US Dexter herds guaranteed mundane, boring, and unimaginative herd identifiers. This is an “only in America” tradition that needs to fade into the obscurity IT deserves. Please registrars. . . . STOP . .. . .suggesting to owners to use initials. If you are fairly new to the breed. . . . . then CHANGE those initials to a memorable herd identifier and INSIST on it.
IF. . . you are a new breeder and happen to read this page. . . . . . . . . . . . . your Dexter breeding program deserves a unique identity. I strongly urge you not to be led down the initialed path to anonymity.
THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT YOUR HERD IDENTIFIER. A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY! Read More »
Historical
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
Here is a great video from Greg Judy about the benefits of grazing cattle through snow. He includes tips on keeping water from freezing, looking out for parasite issues, and keeping your operation profitable.
Grazing Through Snow Read More »
Farm Management
Many thanks to Judy Sponaugle of the Legacy Registry for providing the Irish Dexter Cattlemen with this valuable information. This is the first in a series of excerpts from The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club.
It is a great find for all you Dexter history buffs! Seeing some of the old advertisements and recognizing some of those herds was a thrill for me.
The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club ….series 1st Installment Read More »
Historical
Cattle expected to live outside during the winter should remain outside to adjust to the changing conditions as winter approaches.
https://extension.umn.edu/beef-cow-calf/preparing-your-cattle-severe-winter-weather
Cattle and Severe Weather Read More »
Herd Health
A chute that fits the unique type and size of livestock.
The Ideal Squeeze Chute Read More »
Farm Management
Now’s the time to start planning ahead. Here’s a checklist to help you plan and prepare to improve
Calf Refresher & A Checklist Read More »
Herd HealthHere is the second installment in the series of The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club brought to us by Judy Sponaugle of Legacy. Hope your enjoying the series!
The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club….series 2 Installment Read More »
Historical
How much dairy should we put in to a Dual purpose Dexter cow. If you were to consult the English herd books they would say 40 percent for the “Bag” with the remaining percents being 15 for the “Head and neck”, 25 for the “Body, top line, under-line, ribs, setting of the tail, shortness of the leg, ect.”, 10 for “Quality and Touch” and 10 for “Colour”. So 40 points goes to the quality of the udder while 25 points gets divided up between the “Body, top line, under-line, ribs, setting of the tail, shortness of the leg, ect.”. It seems to me that in Dexters the focus today tends to fall primarily on mostly two aspects alone: shortness of leg and body type with general conformation coming in at the end. Even with 3 aspects it only accounts for 25 points for a Dexter. So there is a hyper focus on 25 % of a Dexter while the 40 percent in often neglected. The length of a cow’s leg and it’s depth are not the only traits that define a Dexter. Of course, we can’t forget the other traits that almost no one talks about, the “Head and neck”. You don’t get much meat off a head but it adds a distinct breed defining trait to a cattle type to set them apart.
It’s interesting to note that Kerry cattle that became a distinct dairy breed separated from the dual-purpose Dexter also list 40 points for the udder. The only difference is that more details are mentioned about the bag, “Udder, size, situation of teats, milk veins and escutcheon”.
Now before major concern sets in, consider that this point system is based on an ideal cow. There will always be cows in a breed that are not ideal, but the goal is to breed for the ideal cow. If you look at the 3 pictures of Kerry cattle, I will share you will see that Walton Bashful is listed as ideal and her udder is the best of the three cows shown. I’d say if an udder is ideal enough for a Kerry it can likewise be good enough for a Dexter that uses the same 40 percent system. Of course, there is no problem with having an even better udder than this cow does! The next Kerry is Valencia Eileen III. You will immediately see that she could improve on her forward attachment, but she was a Kerry all the same. The final cow is Ard Caeina Una. You will see she has some attachment issues, and you will tell that her udder is hanging lower by her hocks. The placement of her teats are too close and awkward but they were still put to use, as you will see by reading her milk record. Her yield 14,562 lbs with her butterfat at 4.33 percent. Still a valuable Kerry cow. With Dexters we need to seek generational improvement in dairy traits as Dexter’s udder points are just important as Kerry cattle, but we also need to remember that improvement is generational and culling cows with good production and butterfat won’t instantly fix a problem. It could lead us to a breed full of cows with very tight nonproductive udders just because new people think a tight looking udder is an aesthetically pleasing udder.
The Dual Purpose Dexter And The Kerry History Read More »
Historical
Of Irish origin, the Dexter was highly valued by peasant farmers of the 1800’s
The Smallest Breed – a Long History Read More »
Historical
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
Legacy Dexter Cattle Registry seeks to preserve Irish Dexter bloodlines from the English upgrade/appendix registry. Support Legacy Irish Dexters by registering your Irish Dexters.
The Gift From Our Ancestor Read More »
Historical
Preparing cattle to travel to their new home can be overwhelming. Reliable transportation, health papers, disease testing – here’s what you need to know before shipping livestock across state lines.
https://www.agproud.com/articles/61584-cattle-drives-preparing-your-livestock-for-interstate-travel#:~:text=Tagging%20along:%20Identification,before%20shipping%20recently%20sold%20livestock
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 can, on social media …especially things like, dropping the names of famous chefs that have come to appreciate the quality of our beef. I also share podcasts, articles and pictures of Dexters in the field, on the plate and in its packaging from the butcher.
So now you have some beef that will be ready to be processed in a few months and you don’t need it for your family. This is when you need to start looking for potential customers.
How to get started
The first thing you need to do is decide what you are going to sell and its value. One of the easiest ways to do this is to look at the market…check out sites like the Irish Dexter Cattlemen, Craig’s List and local social media sites. By comparing what you see on these you will be able to determine what the price point of what is selling in your area.
Things to keep in mind are is it grass-fed and grain finished or grass-fed and grass finished. The grass-fed grass finished tends to command a higher price. Another consideration is vaccinated, as more and more folks are looking for unjabbed…this is a term I see more and more. The more specialized your finished product is, the more you can ask. I say you can ask…because not every customer values that. It’s about building the clientele at this point.
Build your own customer base
Once you start to get customers, you will then need to retain them and encourage them to tell their friends. We always follow up immediately after they get their first quarter or half. Your butcher can also be a big help to you. He sees and works with a lot of different breeds and will have a much bigger customer base than you. A really good butcher is so important to your finished product and especially your yield. My butcher is wonderful about sharing what we have produced and bragging on it for us!
Not everyone knows what Dexter cattle are and that we have, well in my opinion and many of our customer’s opinion, one of best dual purpose , beef and dairy breeds. So, how do you get them to see the value of your beef and our breed? For us, it was finding like minded folks. People who were not looking for meat from the local grocery store. Someone who understood, that by buying the whole, half or quarter of the Dexter they would see an overall better value than the price of just the burger. Our burger is ancestral beef, another differential that sets us apart from many of the other farmers in our area. It includes a percentage of organ meat. This maybe valued by your customer, if they are health conscious…or maybe not important to others or even a put off, to some.
Once they have bought from you, you need to ask them when they will need more. You want to retain that customer and build on that base. If they rave about it…ask them to tell their friends and family. Word of mouth is so much less work and keeps your pipeline full. If you can’t fill their needs, find another Dexter owner who you can work with and help each other. For us, it’s about getting them to buy Dexter.
Dealing with objections
Common objects are:
I don’t know if I have enough freezer space…or how big a freezer do I need. We have many articles, videos and personal writings on the this in the IDC Gazette But the amount of beef produced is a huge selling feature, as the Dexter doesn’t give the average family, too much to deal with.
In many states they need to pay you for the Dexter and the butcher for the processing. In other states, they are done at USDA facilities and payment can be made to you including the processing. Or it can be sold as individual cuts. If selling individual cuts, more homework will need to be done determining the prices of those individual cuts. So, money can be a factor, as some will need to accrue for it unless you are selling individual cuts.
And my all time favorite objection …I need to talk to my husband or my wife…and then you hear crickets. You still need to follow up. Understanding objections can only help you hone your selling skills and prepare you for crazy objections like this last one….lol
Using the Irish Dexter Cattlemen Marketplace
I use the ad I generate using the Irish Dexter Cattlemen for selling. Why? Because it’s looks professional, I don’t have my own website and I don’t want to write a bunch of different ads.To best utilize the ad, I take a picture of it, so they have something to look at and then copy and paste the link of the ad into different social media groups and sometimes even Craig’s list. Not everyone uses social media or Craig’s list. So, by using the IDC Marketplace, I have exposure there on the website and in the FREE monthly newsletter, giving me two more vehicles for selling. By doing it this way, I only write the ad once and then copy and paste, giving it a professional and consistent look. Feed back from some of the buyers off the site have been very positive. They like that everything is in the ad…registration numbers if applicable, location, price and if it is negotiable and that they can have a private conversation.
When sharing on social media I choose local sites, as shipping, is not much of an option with cost of shipping and the need to keep it frozen. I also use the Irish Dexter Cattlemen featured post on FB and some of the cattle groups that serve my area, as it’s just not feasible for people to drive great distances for their beef.
Repetition
Just because you post something once doesn’t get it sold. People don’t typically look back through post from a week ago or a month ago. When they’re wanting to buy something they usually look back maybe a couple of days.
I suggest you post on Thursdays or Fridays and again on the weekend to get people looking at what you have available.
If you are keeping your pipeline full, and you are building your clientele, the repetition will not need to be as much. You will develop wait lists and those lists will need to be worked. Just because they’re on your waitlist doesn’t mean they’re going to buy again. You need to touch base with them periodically and keep it current because they may have decided to buy somewhere else. I find if you touch base with them monthly or every other month, you’re more likely to keep them on your list of potential buyers.
So in conclusion, the important things to remember are
Look professional.
Start to sell before your are taking your Dexter for processing.
Build up the quality of the breed and its beef….you never know you may sell breeding stock too to that beef customer.
Learn to deal with objections in a positive manner.
Remember, posting it once doesn’t get it sold.
Here is one of my favorite podcasts for educating buyers about our wonderful breed.
I sincerely hope this helps you…if you have more ideas, feel free to comment. I would love to hear some of your feedback or unique ways of selling your beef and breeding stock.
Farm Sales…A Way I Find works Read More »
Selling
Our journey to homesteading began about five years ago. My husband and I were searching for self-sustainability, a quieter life, and a deeper connection to the land. Raised in the suburbs with every modern convenience, we only knew which grocery store had the freshest beef. That was the extent of our food sourcing knowledge.
Once we acquired our acreage, we started, as many do, with chickens. At the time, I hadn’t even considered milking animals myself, so I went looking for farm-fresh milk. I found a local source, and with it, a whole new world. We began picking up a couple of gallons each week, but it didn’t take long before we wanted to produce our own.
That’s how we ended up with Nubian goats.
I was intimidated by the idea of milking and caring for them, but goats felt less daunting than a full-sized milk cow. Still, I had always loved and admired the Dexters at pickup. Just being around them brought a peace I couldn’t explain. They were a dream, something for “someday.”
Fast forward a few years, and someday finally came.
About a month ago, we brought home our first Dexters: a heifer and a steer. And how’s it going? In a word? beautifully.
The first thing I noticed was their peaceful nature. Just being near them calms my nervous system in a way I can’t begin to describe. I’m absolutely head over heels in love. I’ve started thinning down my goat herd to make room for more Dexters in the future.
I’m learning to be a pasture and grass farmer (also moving fencing, adding pastures) all to better serve my Dexters. I’m excited to contribute to the breed by selecting strong lines and continuing the work that’s already been poured into my girl, Fiona.
Am I still intimidated by the idea of milking them? Absolutely.
Will I do it anyway and love it once the time comes? Without a doubt.
There’s still so much to learn—about pasture management, breeding, and eventually milking—but I’m ready. With the right mentors and a heart full of determination, we’ll thrive. Fiona and Chuck are home now, and so are we. This is just the beginning of a lifelong journey with Dexters, and I couldn’t be more excited to walk it one peaceful step at a time.
I’m looking forward to many years alongside this incredible breed.
Dexter Arrival: A Homesteading Dream Realized, Hayburner Acres Read More »
Homesteading
When you consider that people in the past were a bit confused about the difference between a Dexter (Dexter Kerry) and a Kerry you understand why it confuses people now. The fact that Dexters were called Dexter Kerry for many years after the two breeds were split from each other, continued to confuse people, thinking that Dexters were still no different than the Kerry breed. It’s interesting to note that in the Royal Dublin Society Kerry cattle were described as shorter than other cattle, so short that a full-grown cow was said to be the size of just a yearling (that was in 1890 when most breeds of cattle were smaller than they are now). As you can see Dexter cattle were not the only short ones as Kerry cattle have a long history of being smaller in stature too. If you have Dexters you can recognize that there is a strong similarity in the description of size among many of them. I have people come to my farm and confuse a full grown dehorned cow for a yearling of another breed. Once the two breeds were separated there immediately would have been a breeding divergence. Very detailed breed standards were already created that defined Dexters before 1911 at the time of the first printing of The American Kerry and Cattle Club Bulletin one. Following those standards for all the years prior would have helped pave the way for the breeds to be separated and defined as their own, but yet the confusion remained as can be seen in the below picture, because the breeds had so many similarities.
The cow in this photo above is from Bulletin One of The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club. It was printed in October 1911. This is the old name for the ADCA (American Dexter Cattle Association). The cow photographed is named Waterville Violet and in her description the title Dexter has been crossed out. Was this just a scribble that someone made at a later date randomly or was it something scratched out to add a correction after it was printed?
If you check the records in the ADCA you will find no Waterville Violet mentioned. If you look for a Kerry cow by the name of Waterville Violet you will turn up multiple citations of her as a Kerry cow. It looks like Violet was a Kerry heifer who calved in 1902 so we can get an idea that she was already quite mature by the time she was mentioned in the 1911 Bulletin. As much as things can be confusing it’s fair to say Dexter or not there are still purebred registered Dexters of today that look like Violet.
James E. Butler owned the Waterville herd. Mr. Butler owned and bred both Kerry Cattle and Dexters, as many of the original breeders of Dexters did because in selection the black more dairy type became Kerry and the cattle a bit thicker, black and red, possessing dual purpose traits became Dexters. Butler was also one of the judges at shows for evaluating Dexters for the entry into the herdbooks. He had a long history in the area. James Butler would have been an excellent choice for a judge due to his first-hand knowledge of Kerry and the native cattle of the land. Waterville is known as Coirean in Gaelic or “Little Cauldron”. It is a village in Kerry. The ring of Kerry passes through this town. It’s good to know that Dexters and Kerry cattle were being selected and registered by men with first-hand knowledge like James E. Butler of Waterville. I would suppose they were far more confident in the difference between a Dexter and Kerry when they were making their evaluations. I hope this has shed a little more light into the past of Dexter and even Kerry cattle.
For Many the Dexter breed may have a confusing Past. Read More »
Historical
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 cow, so she can see it helps…but when nothing works…we have reverted to letting the calf nurse one side for a short time. I do say short time, as they can drain their moms with amazing speeds.
I have included photos of our calf let down gate to give you some ideas that have worked for us. You can see the calf thru the little gate on the first photo. On the second photo you see the pulley. When we need to use this system…which we thankfully have only had to a few times, we tie a rope the the gate, un hook the bungee, feed the rope thru the pulley and the whole gate goes up and down so we can quickly drop it once mom starts to let down.
MILK LET DOWN – HINTS AND TRICKS 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
After a small sampling from one herd, it appears that the Dexter breed does have this highly inheritable genetic marker. It appears that the marker is found in those cows with the most milk production. This makes total sense, as they refer to the genetic marker as found in most easy keeping cattle.
Unfortunately no bulls were part of the initial testing and semen is not able to be tested for this marker.
So, now that we know the marker is there for the Dexter breed and that it seems to be in cows with most milk…we need more folks to test. It has been suggested that it maybe easy to get a few drops at ear tagging time and a simple tail stick for the older ones.
If you would like more information on how to get your herd tested, please reach out to the Irish Dexter Cattlemen and we will help you get started. It requires only a few drops of blood on a Tenet card sampler. The card is then sent of for sequencing.
It takes 5 days to get to the lab and 10-30 days for the sequencing to happen after being received. They send your your results by email. Pretty simple procedure.
The thing that was most interesting was it was found in the cows with the most milk production. How cool would it be to be able to predict possibly milk production and beef tenderness? Duality!
In case, you need to brush up on this. Below is the podcast that started this adventure. This is NOT the Neogen testing that has been happening by a group of Dexter breeders.
This article written in Gloucestershire on 27th March 1986 represents a long memorable chapter of the pages in History of Dexter cattle. The Dexter in this article is being noted as truly dual purposed, possessing fine quality small joints of beef, all the while being able to suckle two calves at once and raise 8 commercial calves in one year. This all seems an even more amazing feat when you consider one of the cows being spoke of was 34 inches. Thirty-four inches, how many Dexters today meet these amazing statistics? This article when I compared to other historical information sites a higher average milk production than some historical amounts in Dexters that I have seen at 4.5 gallons per day. This figure is not rare by any means but not necessarily a given rate with some Dexters producing a bit less.
Dexters are being stated as being small and valuable for grazing under plum trees so as not to damage the trees. At the time of this article, Dexters are listed on the Rare Breed Survival Trust, but are no longer being listed as endangered as they once were prior to the articles printing. When we consider today with so many pedigree Dexters in great numbers it is hard for many to believe that Dexetrs were once so rare. But yet how many rare Jems are left like the Dexters being mentioned from these days, just back in 1986? Perhaps the Dexter of 1986 is rarer than we think.
SMALL CATTLE CARRY AWAY BIG HONORS Read More »
Historical
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
Article written by Dara Dixon as well as photos!
Dexter cattle, with their compact size and delightful appearance, are a top choice for small-scale farmers and homesteaders. The chondrodysplasia trait, resulting in shorter legs and a stout build, is a defining feature often criticized but offers significant benefits when managed responsibly. This article counters negative sentiments about chondrodysplasia by highlighting its advantages—calm temperament, successful calving, efficient pasture use, and aesthetic appeal—using research from agricultural universities and practical insights. Written for those eager to raise charming Dexter cattle but hesitant due to concerns about chondrodysplasia, it provides a clear, evidence-based case for the trait’s value.
Calm and Approachable Nature
Chondrodysplastic Dexters are celebrated for their gentle demeanor, ideal for farmers new to livestock. Oklahoma State University’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences notes that smaller cattle breeds, like Dexters, are typically less intimidating and easier to handle due to their reduced size (Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock, breeds.okstate.edu). The short stature of chondrodysplastic Dexters simplifies tasks like herding, milking, or veterinary care, reducing stress for both the farmer and the cattle. Their docile behavior fosters a safer farm environment, making them a practical choice for hobbyists or families. This temperament aligns with sustainable, low-stress farming practices, enhancing the appeal of chondrodysplastic Dexters for beginners.
Successful and Safe Calving
Critics of chondrodysplasia often cite the risk of bulldog calves, a lethal condition caused by inheriting two copies of the chondrodysplasia gene. However, modern genetic management eliminates this concern, ensuring healthy calving outcomes. Research from the University of Sydney, cited by UC Davis’s Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, demonstrates that breeding a chondrodysplasia carrier with a non-carrier produces healthy offspring with a 50% chance of inheriting the short-legged trait, avoiding bulldog calves entirely (UC Davis VGL, Bulldog Dwarfism in Dexter Cattle, vgl.ucdavis.edu). Dexters’ small size further reduces calving difficulties, with lower dystocia rates compared to larger breeds. A study from Kansas State University’s Agricultural Experiment Station highlights that smaller cattle breeds have fewer birthing complications, supporting Dexter’s reliability in producing healthy calves (K-State Research and Extension, k-state.edu). Responsible breeding ensures chondrodysplastic Dexters thrive as a productive herd.
Optimized Pasture Efficiency
Chondrodysplastic Dexters are exceptionally suited for small farms due to their low land requirements. Their compact size allows for higher stocking rates, maximizing productivity on limited acreage. Oklahoma State University’s Beef Cattle Manual indicates that Dexters can be sustained on 0.5 to 1 acre per cow, compared to 1.5 to 2 acres for standard breeds, making them ideal for resource-conscious farmers (OSU Extension, extension.okstate.edu). Research published in Animal Production Science confirms that smaller cattle breeds like Dexters exert less pressure on pastures, supporting sustainable grazing practices (Anim. Prod. Sci., 2020, doi:10.1071/AN19432). This efficiency lowers feed costs and environmental impact, allowing farmers to maintain more animals without compromising land health—a key advantage for those with small plots.
Charming and Marketable Appearance
The aesthetic allure of chondrodysplastic Dexters is a standout feature. Their short legs, robust bodies, and expressive faces create a “cute” look that captivates farmers and consumers alike. The American Dexter Cattle Association notes that chondrodysplastic Dexters are often “proportionally balanced and visually appealing,” making them a draw for agritourism, farm visits, or niche markets like specialty beef or dairy (American Dexter Cattle Association, Chondrodysplasia Overview, dextercattle.org). Social media posts from groups like “Dexter Cattle – Chondro Cuties” highlight the enthusiasm for their unique appearance, which boosts their marketability (Facebook, Dexter Cattle – Chondro Cuties, facebook.com). This charm translates into economic benefits, as their distinctive look attracts attention and adds value to small-scale operations.
Countering Negative Perceptions
Negative views on chondrodysplasia, such as claims of it being a “painful genetic disease” or calls for its eradication, often stem from misinformation or outdated concerns (Facebook, Dexter Cattle Breeders, facebook.com). These critiques overemphasize the bulldog calf risk while ignoring modern solutions. Genetic testing, available through institutions like Texas A&M University, allows farmers to identify carriers and breed strategically, eliminating the risk of lethal outcomes (American Dexter Cattle Association, Chondrodysplasia Overview, dextercattle.org). A 2007 study in Mammalian Genome from the University of Sydney confirms that heterozygous chondrodysplasia carriers exhibit no health detriments, displaying robust growth and adaptability (Mammalian Genome, 2007, doi:10.1007/s00335-007-9066-9). Posts on platforms like Facebook also clarify that chondrodysplasia is a manageable trait integral to the Dexter breed’s identity, not a flaw to eliminate (Facebook, Dexter Cattle Enthusiasts, facebook.com). With proper management, the trait’s benefits far outweigh any perceived drawbacks.
Conclusion
Chondrodysplastic Dexter cattle are a valuable asset for small-scale farmers. Their gentle nature simplifies management, reliable calving ensures herd vitality, efficient land use maximizes resources, and charming appearance enhances market appeal. Supported by research from Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University, and the University of Sydney, chondrodysplasia is a manageable trait that adds unique value to Dexters. For farmers seeking cute, productive cattle, chondrodysplastic Dexters are an excellent choice when paired with responsible breeding practices.
Featured image
Family picture with herd sire Mr. Fife: 3797
Cow named Butter Diary’s Rosebud ADCA 045563 and her calf Butter Diary’s Lil Bit 049867.
5008 and 2698 (calf in these pictures is Lil Bit)
References
Embracing Chondrodysplasia in Dexter Cattle: A Compelling Choice for Small Farms Read More »
General
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.
This is the Dexter Dun Project Webinar, also known as the Carol Davidson Project, hosted by Jessica Petersen, PhD, Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska
Dexter Dun Project – Jessica Petersen, PhD Read More »
General
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
An Irish Dexter Cattlemen Deep Dive Podcast 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 Importance of Minerals Podcast Read More »
Podcasts
A milk journey from Sweet Briar Farm Submitted by Janelle Soja
https://discover.texasrealfood.com/dexter-cattle/preparing-your-dexter-cow-for-milking
Preparing Your Dexter Cow For Milking Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Did you know the look of a Dexter’s head was important to breeders and that there was what was considered a “Dexter Head”?
“Harley Penelope is good to carry in one’s eye as a type of a good Dexter cow. She has the quality and character, a sweet small Dexter head and carries her horns well.”
“I lost my heart to Red Rose, a very beautiful cow, she has the Dexter head to perfection”
Did you know that Dexters were known to give a good milk yield for their size and excelled on lower quality pasture?
“Naturally in these times, when the economy of feeding stock is of importance, the hardiness of a Dexter, the large milk given by them on a small quantity of food, and their ability to thrive on poor pastures make them particularly attractive”
Did you know that breeders put a lot of emphasis of breeding to “pedigree and type” not just pedigree or type alone? That people wanted to keep their diets similar so that they could retain their original attributes including size and hardiness.
“It must be born in mind that these cows are not fed on cake: no doubt on higher feeding these records should be raised to 1500lb or 2,000 lb more than those given above, but Lady Kathleen Morant told me: I do not feed with cake ect., I try to keep them as much as possible on the same lines as the Irish peasant would do because I feel that is the best way of keeping them true to type and from getting them large and coarse.”
All these thoughts can be found in this newspaper clipping from 1917, in reference to Kathleen Morant’s Dexter herd along with pictures that describe even more than the words written in black and white can relate.
The importance of the Dexter Head Read More »
Historical
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
The most traumatic experience for cow-calf producers is when they wean their calves-and it is not real great for the calves, either.
The Art of Weaning Calves Read More »
Herd Health
Minerals are very important!
We’ve shared several articles on the importance of minerals for your Dexters.
We are discussing it again, as it’s a very important topic for the health of your herd. We cannot express loudly enough how important minerals are for your Dexters. Loose minerals are better than blocks, as they can consume much more in loose form, than they can by licking a block. Minerals are made by several different manufacturers. As with anything, you get what you pay for. We esp. like the VitaFerm brand. Many companies offer minerals that target different seasons or issues, i.e. supporting the reproductive system during breeding, heat stress in the summer, selenium, high mag, and others. Consult with your vet, mentor or a feed rep, to determine what could be lacking in your area and thus what you need to support in your herd.
Some people have their hay tested, so that they can determine what they need to make up for in the minerals they supply for their cows.
Next, let’s talk about Kelp. We started using Kelp this year, for the first time. Thorvin Kelp, is an organic, natural supplement that is packed full of bioavailable minerals and vitamins. It can also be fed to other animals on your farm. The benefits of feeding Kelp to your herd are many. Some of those are improving breed back time, helping with weight gain, preventing foot rot & pink eye. It basically boosts the animal’s immune system. In turn, this helps lower your vet bills and helps keep your livestock healthier. Kelp can be fed free choice, alongside your loose mineral or it can be blended into a feed ration. Talk with your vet or feed rep, with any questions you may have for feeding Kelp to your herd.
Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV, is another tool that many use to help build up their animals’ immune systems. We prefer the raw ACV, with “the mother” in it. Some say it helps improve cattle health and feed utilization. Others say it also helps prevent and eliminate parasites and resist disease. It’s also been said to reduce horn flies, by making their skin more acidic. It’s going to depend on the size of your water troughs, on how much to add. One recommendation I found, is to mix in 1-2 cups of ACV, per 20 gallons of water or ¼-1/2 cups per 5 gallons of water. Sick or stressed animals can get more, double or triple the amount of ACV, however I would check with my vet, before increasing it too much.
Worming: There are several different types of wormers available, that target different types of worms and parasites. They come in pour ons, oral, injection and block or pellet forms. If you have pregnant or lactating cows, make sure the one you chose is safe to use on them. Ask your vet or a mentor. Some breeders have a yearly worming schedule.If you have a poorly looking animal that is thin & has a dull looking coat, or it might have diarrhea or blood in their feces, the first thing you may want to do is to gather a fecal sample into a clean container and take it to your vet for testing. This isn’t costly and it will tell them/you the correct treatment to use. The problem can range from the animal needing worming, to possibly having coccidia or another disease that needs treated.
A lot of our Country is experiencing high temperatures right now. Usually, any added stress to cattle, can lower their immunity to some things. Higher temperatures can be stressful on animals. If possible, consider moving or working your cattle, during cooler days. Weaning in the hot summer months can be especially stressful for calves. Consider waiting to wean, until cooler months. Make sure they have ample shade to get to, and keep fresh, clean water available, throughout the day.
Veterinarian: YES! You need to establish a veterinary relationship early in your Dexter journey. They are your first go to in an Emergency and for advice. They need to visit your herd and get to know them. This will benefit you & your herd, in the future. Oftentimes, once they get to know you and the herd, you can obtain advice via a phone call and pick up meds, etc. at their office. Like it or not, there will be an occasion where you need an emergent visit. Your investment in your cattle, is worth calling a vet out in an emergency. Lots of breeders, can give advice from experience, but nothing replaces the professional assessment and treatment of a veterinarian who is familiar with your herd.
We hope the ideas above, give you something to ponder, research and consider doing to benefit the health of your herd.
Getting And Keeping Your Dexters In Optimal Condition. Read More »
Herd Health
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!
That tallow and milk is perfect for soap! Read More »
Homesteading
When people ask me why I think the history of Dexter Cattle is important this is just one great reason that I may give. If you see changes over years happening during the foundational years you can see how breeders were interpreting improvement during a time when people were focusing on breed selection to adhere to a standard that was the norm for the day. You can also see changes that happened over the years and genetics that were diminished in frequency or increased in frequency.
Dexter cattle, though many were black in the early days compared to today this bull Bantam in the top photo was red. During the foundational years it was much more common to find a red Dexter than it was in America prior to people intentionally selecting to increase or preserve red Dexters. Now today red is so common that if someone did not know the History of the breed, they may think it was the predominate color from the beginning.
It’s an interesting point to note; this bull Bantam was bred by the Prince of Wales at Sandringham in 1896. Bantam is what a Champion prize Dexter looked like in 1897. This location is situated in Sandringham, Norfolk, England. Dexters had a very early start of popularity in England being bred by some very noteworthy people. In 1862 Sandringham Estate was under 8,000 acres were as today the acreage is closer to 20,000 acres. If you look at the second picture you will see that in 1914 Dexters were still being breed at Sandringham by the King. The first bull Bantam has a good broad form for a Dexter of his day but when you compare him to the form of the Dexter bull that the King had in the photograph in 1914 you will see he has a broad back end as well as his front. It would be really nice to see a clearer photo of the second bull but we can see enough to consider some of his conformation. Improvements with each generation are very important and should always be improved based upon the breed standard of a breed, because without a standard there is no direction for improvement. While improving on beef traits one must always remember to improve dairy traits equally too, so as not to diminish dairy traits in favor of beef. A beautiful beefy bull is of little value to a dual-purpose breed if he only throws daughters that lack quality dairy traits. When both traits are in harmony you get a great dual-purpose Dexter.
History helps track changes in a herd over a period of years. Read More »
Historical
There is no better way to ensure the survival of the family in case of a SHTF scenario and to create a sustainable homestead than to grow and raise your own groceries. There are a plethora of traditional farm animals which can help keep the family well-fed year around or during a long-term disaster, but when both space and budget are limited, one stands out above many of the rest – Dexter cattle.
Dexter Cattle: Mini Cows Are Perfect For Preppers and Small Homesteads Read More »
Homesteading
Colostrum Podcast….The liquid gold Read More »
Podcasts
Summer heat this seems endless. We hope that this podcast will help you recognize and help your Dexters deal with this heat.
This podcast is brought to you by Irish Dexter Cattlemen, whose purpose is to promote the Irish Dexter breed by guiding farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders on how to become more sustainable. You can access all our podcasts of interviews with other farmers and ranchers and discussions on typical subject matters by becoming a member. This includes our entry level membership of $20 per year. Podcasts are stored in our relational multimedia database system and are searchable by topic by members. Members also gain access to a vast array of valuable articles on topics to assist you with your farm, ranch, or homestead. For anyone looking to take it to the next level, Irish Dexter Cattlemen provides breeder, services, and affiliate memberships that include an online branding dashboard where you can tell your story and develop your brand. Thank you for listening to this Irish Dexter Cattlemen podcast.
Summer Heat Podcast- How It Affects Our Dexters and Other Livestock Read More »
Podcasts
The Dexter Dwarf Podcast. How to Breed Responsibly Read More »
Podcasts
Looking for Sustainability Podcast – Consider the Irish Dexter History Read More »
Podcasts
Cattle Marketing Podcast – Reach Your Target Market and Boost Profits Read More »
Podcasts
Near Seattle, Washington, Richard and Arlene Gradwohl were seeing the effects of urban sprawl, as housing developments started
to sprout up around their property. Arlene, having grown up on a farm, wished to maintain a rural lifestyle. Richard, a community college business professor, investigated the possibilities with an entrepreneurial eye. He soon saw the potential smaller cattle could have on their smaller property. Always stressing new product development, Richard soon was educating himself on miniature and small cattle breeds, acquiring breeding stock, and utilizing linebreeding techniques. Beginning with Dexter cattle and keeping some of their smallest Herefords, his new product focus became developing new breeds of miniature cattle. To date he has developed 18—yes 18—new breeds of miniature cattle and is enjoying his working retirement as a Professor Emeritus (Gradwohl interview 2007).
Miniature Cattle: For Real, For Pets, For Production Read More »
Homesteading
Breeds like Miniature Highlands, Miniature Herefords, and Dexters didn’t just pop up overnight. Their histories are as varied as their appearances, with some, like the Dexter, dating back centuries, and others, like the Mini Hereford, emerging through decades of selective breeding. As land prices rise and the demand for sustainable, manageable livestock grows, miniature cattle have carved out a meaningful niche in the farming world.
Mini Moo Magic: The Fascinating Story of Miniature Cows Read More »
Homesteading
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.)
Building history opportunity and a chance to win a copy of a signed book! Read More »
Historical
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
Mini Cows Are Perfect For Preppers and Small Homesteads
Homesteading Dexter Cattle Read More »
Homesteading
The Dexter originated in the South Western region of Ireland.
History of the Dexter Breed Read More »
Historical
Almost every pasture contains some poisonous plants, or is bordered by trees or shrubs that are toxic.
Managing Toxic Pasture Plants Read More »
Farm Management
Beef producers can realize major price premiums for grass-fed, pasture-raised, or local meat.
5 Tips For Finishing Cattle on Grass Read More »
BeefI’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.
Two long legged Dexters were kept at an Iron Age site to replicate a farm in 300 B.C. The attempt was to recreate what some of our Celtic ancestors would have experienced in their environment as close to what archaeological evidence in 1974 could validate. A round wattle and daub building was constructed with a thatched roof on site, and it withstood two Hampshire hurricanes with no ill effect. A man named Peter Reynolds was testing hypotheses to establish or to refute established theories during his era. He researched to establish accurate theories on the livestock and crops that would have been grown at that time. He wanted to establish facts and create a representation of the time as accurately as he could.
The dark wooled small breed of Soay sheep were kept, as it is commonly believed they are as close as possible to the Iron age sheep genetically, because they remained isolated on St. Kilda for thousands of years. Then there are the two long legged Dexter cattle being kept that are believed to be the same body size and weight as the extinct Bos longifrons. This seems to be what was considered the best match for the time. When researching the subject, I found that McKenny Hughes says “that Bos longifrons was a very small animal; probably not larger than a Kerry cow.” It was likewise believed that the color of the British and Celtic Bos longifrons was black but with a shorter horn shape than is seen in Kerry and Dexter cattle. With those considerations it is understandable that long legged Dexters that have often been called Dexters of the Kerry type would have been used as the best choice for the day. Newspaper article: Country Life 27 June 1974
Interesting, Dexters were used to replicate a farm in 300 B.C. Read More »
Historical
A portrait model of a shorthorn Dexter bull in obsidian set with cabochon ruby eyes. Among the breeds of cattle kept by King Edward VII at Sandringham were pedigree shorthorns, red polls, Jerseys and Irish Dexters.
This Magnificent Dexter Obsidian Carving Read More »
Historical
Check out number 12! Dexters can make that happen….
Tips For Starting A Homestead Read More »
Homesteading
Queen Victoria is listed as owner of the Dexter bulls.
“Royal Farmers”by Ralph Whitlock Read More »
Historical
Building a customer base, rather than selling at the sale barn is essential to our Dexter businesses. In this podcast, they discuss how to build your business and attract your customers .
Do you struggle with sales…listen up! Read More »
Selling
I really enjoyed this podcast about how to choose a milk cow for your homestead. While she is very pro Jersey, they do mention the Dexter and the principles for looking for the right cow for your farm, ranch or homestead are essentially the same.
Interestingly she does recommend the trained cow, she did not take the route, but explains the long game to get there. Which ever route you choose, the Dexter should definitely be considered. Less food, easy keepers, little to no metabolic issues have been my experience.
They talk about Angus Jersey being some of the best beef…someone needs to feed them some Dexter!
Listen up ….remember the Dexter is has been the right choice for many of us….we just need to spread the word!
Homesteading with a milk cow
American FarmSteadHers~ Your Homesteading & Gardening Podcast
Jenny asks the questions as someone interested in a future dairy cow, and Donna answers with her experience. We go over the very basics of looking for and keeping a family dairy cow on the homestead.americanfarmsteadhers.com americanfarmsteadconvention.com
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/american-farmsteadhers-your-homesteading-gardening/id1615836366?i=1000596157232
Choosing the right cow for your homestead Read More »
Homesteading
This morning I just received my package from Callipyge Genetics Lab in Selah, Washington. This is very exciting because it could be a game changer.
The package is from W.F. Hendrix, DBA (Doing Business As) Callipyge Genetics, LLC. The first thing I noticed is it cost $2.04 to send it to me in Calfornia, which is just south of Washington State. I ordered a set of 25 Tenet Certification Cards for $47.50, including postage, from their website April 22, 2025 and they were able to ship it May 9th. So, they have to be really busy.
If you recall, in last month’s Irish Dexter Cattlemen Tips & Tricks Guide, April 2025 Issue, Jeff Reusser, Royal Fare Farm submitted an article titled, “Who Knew Tenderness is Directly Correlated to Easy Keeper“. If you haven’t read the article, just click on the tittle. This article is about predicting exceptional beef tenderness with 100% accuracy. Now that’s exactly what I am looking for!
Our ranch started in 2009 by purchasing 3 Irish Dexters, a bull, a cow, and one male calf. Right away I knew what we would be doing with that calf. Much to our surprise, the day it was being slaughtered on our farm, the guy preparing the steer to be delivered to the butcher looked at our pasture and declared, “This is going to be great tasting beef” Boy was he right. Not only did it have an amazing taste, but it was tender too. Over the years I have learned the techniques to insure the best tasting grass fed, grass finished beef by carefully monitoring the grass they eat. But what good it it to have the best tasting beef when chewing on tack room leather? Both taste and tenderness are critical if you are going to provide a product folks really love. Testing for tenderness? Now that’s a game changer.
After a bit of tugging and pulling, I was able to open the package without cutting it. Sure enough, inside were twenty-five “Tenet Beef” cards. Each one labeled with their logo, bar coded, and included their website address, www.tenetbeef.com.
On the back of each card is space to write your Ranch Name and Date. The next line down is for the Animal ID. Then the third line is for a 15 digit EID number. Below this is another bar code, which is the same bar code on the front of the card. Every card has its own unique bar code.
Opening the card, things get a little tricky. There is a list of three things to do and the first thing to do on the list is a globsmack.
Stay tuned. There maybe more to come. Honey, were we serious about doing this testing thing?
Game Changer – Genetic Tenderness Testing Read More »
Beef
I wanted to share the great experiences I am having using the Irish Dexter Cattlemen (IDC) to sell Dexter semen, Nubian goats, soaps and shampoos…I don’t have any Dexter stock available, or I would be using the site for them too.
I love using the site to write my ad once. Load pictures once. And then just copy and paste the link to what ever social media or other site I choose to use as a form of advertising what I currently have available. The link sends them to the IDC marketplace, they see all the items I have for sale. While they maybe responding to one thing…they see all our homestead has available.
They can choose to respond to me thru the site or my other contact forms. The nice part about them contacting me thru the site is….it filters our scammers and lets me talk with the buyer.
Here are a few examples of things that have been selling well for me.
Also note…WE HAVE A COUPON FOR 50% off for new members. So if you haven’t joined yet, we would like to encourage you to. All levels of membership, allow you access to the gem of gem stones…our gazette. Loaded with articles, podcasts and videos that have been reviewed by long term Dexter breeders, ranches and homesteaders. Join the community and see what we have to offer….you won’t be sorry!
The Question is often asked “When is the best time to halter train your calves?”. We put a halter on a calf for our milk cows calves within the first week of life. This gives them time to establish a nursing routine, so the halter won’t risk being an interference in the first few days of life. You can easily pick up a newborn calf and take them to the barn to separate for the morning’s milking but that lasts for a short time. The sooner you get a calf to learn to lead the better off you will be as they only get stronger. If they learn from day one that you are boss, it’s a great start. For us the most preferred time for calving is when there is no grass growing and we are feeding hay. You can have a calf and its mother in a small pasture where the calf learns on a small scale to be caught, lead and released again. Then by the time the grass is green the calf has a better idea of what to expect and has gained more trust in people. You can use a small pasture during the growing season too, but then your feeding hay when they could be eating grass. We also teach our calves to be pushed at a young age. Often times the oldest calf that has been trained the longest will be the leader but temperament also has a play in the matter. If you start in small pastures you can round up the calves and they will all walk together to a location you want them to go to. If one doesn’t get into it’s mini herd, you can clip it’s halter and get it to walk. Training calves to do multiple things at a young age really saves you a lot of headaches later on when they are much larger. I halter train older calves too out of cows we don’t milk. They can be trained just as well in the end but it takes more effort than just integrating it into your everyday routine.
Halter training your calf….when is the right time? Read More »
Farm Management
This article mentions some interesting information about Dexters.
Article from 1906 Ladies Field Read More »
Historical
This picture is very interesting for quite a few reasons.
First Dexters though many were black in the early days compared today this bull Bantam was red.
Second and most interesting point to note, this bull was bred by the Prince of Wales at Sandringham in 1896. This location is situated in Sandringham, Norfolk, England. Dexters had a very early start of popularity in England being bred by some very noteworthy people. In 1862 Sandringham Estate was under 8,000 acres were as today the acreage is closer to 20,000 acres. If you look at the second picture you will see that in 1914 Dexters were still being breed at Sandringham by the King. The first bull Bantam has a good broad form for a Dexter of his day but when you compare him to the form of the Dexter bull that the King had in the photograph in 1914 you will see he has a broad back end as well as his front. I do wish this photo was better, but I think you can still make out the bull’s form. While improving on beef traits one must always remember to improve dairy traits equally too so as not to diminish dairy traits in favor of beef. When both traits are in harmony you get a great dual-purpose Dexter.
Bantam is what a Champion prize Dexter looked like in 1897. Read More »
Historical
Breed Standards define breeds so that people know what unique traits the breed possess. Dexters were known to have extremely fine quality beef, it turns out that the original genetics Dexters process may actually help them to have finer quality beef because they have “skin that should be soft and mellow, and handle well, not too thin, hair fine, plentiful and silky”. Consider this quote from the first screen shot “This cow has a very soft supple skin with short sleek shiny, silky hair. She has a well developed gland system. Note the wrinkles in the skin. The softer the hide the closer the wrinkles are.” This well describes Dexters, they have both good overall butterfat and fine textured meat, and they are wearing the signs, if properly bred on their backs. Another good reason to not deviate away from the original Dexter breed standard.
Many people ask me, “why Dexter’s?”. I believe it’s no accident that they
have survived so long and won a special place in many hearts and minds
worldwide, including mine. Dexter’s have always been a small breed which
have not been miniaturised, and I believe have special characteristics to
offer the people who keep them. Here, briefly is their story..
the facinating history of the dexter Read More »
Historical
The relocation of a feral herd of 16 Dexters that lived in the Addo Elephant National Park’s Wilderness area has caught the attention of scientists after the South African Dexter Cattle Breeders’ Society became aware of the herd roaming in the park a few years ago. The society initiated the relocation of the animals to Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng.
DEXTERS survive for decades in national park Read More »
Historical
Daisy’s Home!!! After over a year of waiting and planning, our mini dairy cow, an Irish Dexter named Daisy finally comes home
Bringing Home Our Mini Cow (Irish Dexter) Read More »
Homesteading
All about Dexter cattle
HOMESTEADING with Dexter Cattle Read More »
Homesteading
Creating a routine is not as hard as you may think..and with a Dexter, you can even skip a session here and there.
The Dexter cow milking routine Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Photo from Deanna Clark, Lane’s End Iggy
There are over 270 million cows producing milk across the world with about 10 million in North America alone and now you own one or more of those milk cows, congratulations! I bet you spent lots of time considering age, breed, reproductive status and temperament before you got your precious new cow and now I’m here to offer you a general rundown of a basic milking procedure.
Everything starts with routine. Cows are very much creatures of habit and will do best with a set time schedule for milkings. A good routine starts well before its time to actually milk, especially for 1st time heifers. Begin by setting up your milking area and bringing the heifer or cow into the area at least once a day before she calves and feeding grain or brushing her. Once she does calve, it is important to stick to that routing, milking every 12 hours is the industry standard for time between milkings.
Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Making sure your udder is clean before attaching the milk machine is a must! Start with a warm damp rag or dairy towel and vigorously clean each teat and the udder around it to remove any manure or debris. The key here is to not be shy about really getting in there. This action is the first thing that will trigger a cows let down. Unlike some animals, cows seem to have a will of their own and if they don’t want to give you their milk, they wont! Only happy cows give milk is a true statement. You will notice her teats turn from small prunes to a plump shape as you are cleaning her off. Sometimes they even begin to stream milk on their own. This is the sign she has let down her milk.
After she is all clean it is time to apply the pre-dip. Iodine or chlorhexidine
are the two most common used. Both sanitizes the teats before the machine goes on. When you apply it, make sure to let it sit on for the recommend amount of time so it can do its work, don’t rush this step. Use a clean paper towel,1 per cow, to wipe off the disinfectant. Next you should milk out a small amount of milk from each teat into a container or strip cup. Pay special attention to its color, smell, and consistency; checking for any lumps or strings which can be a first sign of mastitis. If all looks good you are now you are ready to attach your claws/inflations.
Milking with a good machine like the SimplePulseshould only take 6-10 min from start to finish. Any longer than this and you have a settings or pressure issue. Cows liked to be milked at around 60 pulses per minute of the pulsator. When you first get a machine from SimplePulsethe pulsator is set for goats which is slightly higher at 90 pulses. To adjust this down, turn the set screw on the back of the pulsator using a flat head screwdriver until you hear the clicks start to get further apart and it times to 60 pulses in 1 minute.
When attaching the inflations to the udder align the entrance of the inflation with the teat opening and then depress the bottom claw button. This will suck the teat into the inflation shell to the proper depth and begin milking instantly. Repeat with the other 3 inflations. Continue allowing the machine to milk until you notice milk no longer flowing. At the point you think she is done milking, her udder should look noticeably deflated and you no longer see milk flowing into the claws, go ahead and pull down gently on each inflation in turn. This will open the milk canal and allow that last bit of milk to come out which is the highest in butterfat. Continue to apply slight downward traction until you don’t see a steady stream of milk anymore before turning the machine off.
After milking, a cows teat canals stay open for around 30 minutes after so be sure to apply a good post-milking teat dip like iodine or if its below freezing, Winterset powder, to coat the teat ends and prevent bacteria from entering once you turn her out.
Having a good routine, sanitation practice and procedure in place by following these simple steps will set you and your cows up for a successful milking journey.
Tips for milking cows By Deanna Clark from Simple Pulse Read More »
Milking & Dairy
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.
https://www.thenorthcoastranch.com/blog/4-reasons-our-grass-fed-beef-tastes-uncommonly-delicious
Why Dexter Cattle? Read More »
Beef
This was part of the reason I purchased a simple pulse machine. Clean up is this easy!
Clean up with a simple pulse machine Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Dexters are better at foraging for their food, live long, produce well and rear about 10 calves or more, during their lifetime. Because they are small cattle, you can stock more cattle per acre than you would with conventional cattle breeds.
Dexter Cattle – Ideal Small Cattle Breed for Homesteads and Small Farms Read More »
Homesteading
There are some good pointers in this short video. Always breed for duality and you will have a Dexter herd that meets all of your needs.
Please keep in mind many don’t like the term mini cow being applied to our breed, as they are the smallest breed in the world.
Dexter are perfect for the Homesteader Read More »
Homesteading
If you looking for more information on our wonderful breed, scroll down past the digital magazines to the flipboard section. There are several of the Dexter Registry Magazines that have been converted into easy to view flipboards. So much history at your fingertips in one place, the IDC Gazette.
Here is what a Dexter family gathering looked like in the 1800s. Notice that the cottage cow is handled pretty much like the family horse. This photo was taken from the Facebook group DexterCattle Historical with the permission of Judy Spongaule. Judy has a wealth knowledge about our wonderful breed.
What a Dexter family gathering! Read More »
Historical
Here is a testimonial from someone who paid to get access to the Irish Dexter Cattlemen Gazette!
Yes. This is a big need. I believe there are a lot of people like us out there but the world is so commercialized that breeds like dexters don’t have as much information to learn from. This is gonna be a great tool for us and I’m sure it will help us grow more into what we’re wanting to accomplish on our farm in the future. Carrie Ann Bowers
Have you taken advantage of the Dex50 coupon? Read More »
General
Juliette Albrecht is a contributing member of the Irish Dexter Cattlemen, who was born and raised in the dairy industry. She has helped a fellow IDC member save their cow. Look for her articles each month and for past articles in the Gazette.
Juliette also runs two Facebook groups. One is under her name. The other is called The Science of Owning Dairy Cattle.
☆☆ Milk Fever
It scares so many dairy cow owners, and for a rightful reason. However I hope that I can shed some light on it and take away a bit of that fear. Hypocalcemia (milk fever) is brought on by the sudden demand for calcium that comes prior to delivery and directly afterwards. This taps her muscles, which carry that, heavily. In a pre calving scenario it will affect labor, since the cow needs muscles to contract. Often in this case she will need assistance. Characterized by lethargic movement, dull, dark eyes, and drop in body temperature, it can also lead to her going “down.”
●● Prevention
First calf heifers are less prone to this, but it CAN happen in them. Commonly it affects 3rd lactation and beyond. From the time she delivers her calf you are either setting her up for a great following lactation, or one doomed to fail. It all start with NUTRITION. Dairy cattle are beautiful, but oh so delicate. She needs fiber, energy, starch, protein, bypass protein and minerals to simply survive. (Keep an eye out for Mariah Gull and her weekly posts regarding this subject!) When a cow calves in she loses body weight rather rapidly. During this time she “milks off” condition. Peak is considered to be day 30 to 90 in milk. If she is being fed correctly, she will not become too thin. Coupled with a good deworming protocol, she will slowly regain weight. At roughly day 80 she ideally will be bred back, and than her body weight will continue to rise. Grain should rise as she peaks to meet her milk volume, than slowly decrease as it falls. If she goes into late stage lactation either too thin or on the alternate, overweight, she is being setup for metabolic problems. During the dry period I either cut grain off completely (during spring and summer grazing, when forage quality is high) or feed a 2 to 3 lb per head feeding rate during the fall and winter.
Transition refers to the time before estimated due date. This commonly starts at 3 weeks out from calving, and technically extends to 30 days in milk. This is my protocol.
1) stop salt access, as it increases the chance of edema.
2) feed either a high fiber, grassy hay or have her graze similar.
3) feed 3 lbs a day of our parlor grain (18 percent protein)
4) top dress with the negative DCAD Soy Chlor
Five to seven days prior to delivery her appetite will drop. If it is significant I give B Complex.
On this protocol I see very little metabolic problems. However I always give Bovikalc to…
A) an assisted birth
B) twins
C) a cow with a known history for metabolic problems (milk fever, metritis, ketosis)
Should she go down, IV calcium is the only way to get her back up.
A cow that has had milk fever typically never reaches her full potential in milk volume for that lactation.
Milk Fever – Prevention and treatment By Juliette Albrecht Read More »
Milking & Dairy
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 Selling
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2493044027532874?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&fs=e&fs=e
Good video, but please keep in mind there is not enough room for two hands in Dexter…lots of lube. Thank you Katie Sears and Janelle Soja for this submission and pointers!
How to reposition a stuck calf Read More »
Herd Health
Some of these are not like the others!
Danielle Lowther of Byrn Mawr Dexter farm sounded the alarms this month. She found a bunch of books listed on Amazon that must be AI generated with little to no knowledge of what a Dexter looks like, let alone how to care for them.
She posted these on a Facebook group she created called the Horned Dexter Cattle and called for Dexter owners and breeders to show what books they had in their libraries. This sparked several breeders to chime in and post on their sites. Dexter owners are very protective of this breed! Below are photos from several Dexter folks with their cherished books. Included are their names and farm names, incase you want to reach out to them. The imposters are the featured image here.
‘But, if you are looking for REAL information on Dexters, the breed and how to care for them, please consider supporting Irish Dexter Cattlemen by subscribing to one of our many membership levels.
Consider spending your money with a team that is working for you, with hundreds of vetted articles, podcasts and videos, stored in an easy to use, farmer designed, Multimedia Relational Database System that you can search thru with just a word or phase. An example: type in “minerals” and 9 different vetted articles show up for you! What’s in this Multimedia Relational Database System which we call the Gazette?
● Links to articles all over the Internet
● Educational, informative videos every farmer should see.
● Agricultural magazines
● Books in an online flip style format you can read on any of your devices.
● Journals produced by your favorite registry in online flip style format.
● Links to interesting podcasts for listening while working or driving.
● Blogs produced by experts in agriculture
● Historical material and Registry Herdbooks.
All of it organized by your particular area of interest, like Farm Management, or Herd Health, or Milk & Dairy, or Historical, or Selling & Marketing, or Homesteading, or New to Farming, or Farming Technology. Because it’s a Relational System, it’s also organized by topic, like grazing, milking, organic, regenerative, fencing, irrigation, breeding, and many more.
Use the code DEX50 for our March special 50% Membership Discount on any membership level!
…
But you may want to check out our Classified Listing System and all of our levels of membership and find an even better option for you and your farm. At the Breeder level…you can sell anything off your farm…heck even the farm!
Buyer BEWARE of AI Generated Dexter Cattle Books! Read More »
General
May 15, 2025 @ 12:00 pm – May 17, 2025 @ 5:00 pm EDT
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 & DairyBy Kasie Williams of K Williams Ranch
Her determination paid off! A Dexter milking journey…. Read More »
Milking & Dairy
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!! 🥰❤️
I kinda want to go back to the beginning. We are getting several new Dexter owners and several people asking questions. So I will post some articles on getting started. These articles aren’t necessarily directed to Dexter cattle in particular, but the basics are the same.
First of all, you do need to decide what you are wanting to do with your Dexters. Since they are a dual purpose breed, you need to decide the most important thing you are wanting out of these cattle. I’m not saying this has to be forever, but you do need to decide what your main goal is for raising these cattle. Then you can go from there later on. Secondly, you need to decide what your property will hold. This is VERY important. In this you need to decide which direction your farm is going, grass fed, mostly grass fed with some grain, or grain fed. It may seem overwhelming at first, but just take one thing at a time. You can change your mind as you go and see what works for your farm and what doesn’t. Don’t get overwhelmed!!
Next a good water source will be needed. Either by running lines, running hoses, putting in automatic waterers. Cows need a good grass source and good clean water. Some people let their cows use their ponds. That is fine as long as the pond doesn’t have a run off. Cows can also damage a pond by pushing in the dirt as they stand in it and filling it back up. Unless you have a deep pond.
Another thing that I have found to be very important is to have ample equipment for holding them. You need a good chute. It doesn’t always have to be a fancy set up. If you can afford one that is great, but you need a good head chute. You can make an alley way to it with panels or fencing. A good head chute is vital to being able to inspect or service your cattle.
A good mentor is very very helpful!!! Find someone who has raised cattle, particularly Dexters and learn everything you can from them. Our website will be very helpful in that area. You can find other Dexter owners. We also have lots of information that is helpful, in several different areas.
The concept of thirds has been an invaluable tool for me
https://jesseshill.com/honest-to-goodness-blog/f/toolbox-the-thirds
Toolbox: The Thirds from JessesHill.com Read More »
Farm Management
Keeping Cows in the Winter Part #2
I’m going to write about the second part of this series of keeping cows in the winter. The first one was about making sure they have adequate water. I’m going to talk about shelter in the winter. This will once again depend on where you are in this great United States. We have such diverse weather conditions.
I think that this could end up being a great debate, but I’m not wanting that. I know some people think that the cows need a 5 Star barn and others think a few trees are plenty. I’m just going to do a basic all around article on what the cows should have. Then you can go from there and do what you feel is necessary.
Starting with the milder states, you still should have at least a covering for them to get out of the sun in the summer and wind in the winter. If you live in the colder states you will at least need a wind block. It is also good for you to have at least a 3 sided building. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just needs to be something that they can get in out of the wind and rain/snow. Now if you have had cows very long you will know that they will just stand outside in the weather. They have grown coats for the weather that you have in your area.
You will notice cows standing out in the winter weather and have their backs covered in snow. That is a good sign. That means that they are well insulated!! Dexters in particular were created to weather more difficult situations.
Each person knows what they want for their herd. This is just some basic advice on what to have. Happy Winter!!!
Keeping Cows in the Winter Part #2 – By Shelley HatField Of Whippoorwill Pines Farm Read More »
Beef
If you have dun cattle, esp golden dun or dark dun and would like to help with genetic testing see link below.
Letting livestock graze among solar panels isn’t a new idea, but it’s mostly been focused on sheep. – Submitted by Lessie Jo Frazier
Coming to a solar farm near you: cows? Read More »
Farm Management Technology
Nutritional needs during winter are critical for maintaining health
https://discover.texasrealfood.com/dexter-cattle/winter-care-for-dexter-cattle
Winter care for Dexter cattle Read More »
Farm Management
Dr. Ron Gill shares tips on working a cattle
Working Cattle Effectively Read More »
Farm Management
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
The earth’s sixth mass extinction is happening right now
Endangered Animals Read More »
Beef
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 Selling
By 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 Health
There are many benefits to implementing smart agriculture monitoring solutions.
Let sensors monitor 24/7 & Even After The Cows Come Home Read More »
Farm Management Technology
How does US Farm Data use Facebook to generate farm and ranch leads?
Using Facebook for B2B Lead Generation separating Fact From Fiction Read More »
Selling
This is the season for selling out at the farmers market!
SELLING OUT at the Farmers Market! Read More »
Beef Selling
Fromage Blanc can be a good way to use up your milk left from removing the cream for butter and ice cream
Fromage Blanc recipe – Easy to make cheese Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Many plants are potentially toxic to livestock; however, this guide focuses on toxic plants commonly found in Indiana pastures.
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ws/ws_37_toxicplants08.pdf
Guide to toxic plants in forages Read More »
Farm Management
This year we’ve decided to try something new. Wean rings!
Weaning calves with wean rings. Read More »
Farm Management
Vaccines provide added insurance for cattle producers to protect their herds from many different diseases.
Cattle Vaccine Basics Read More »
Herd Health
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
The time, energy and money you invest in this can give you access to the entire U.S. market.
Marketing and Selling Pastured Pork – Dexters Too ! Read More »
Selling
Depending on your farm’s needs, there are a couple of different ways to set it up.
https://support.grownby.com/portal/en/kb/articles/selling-wholesale-on-grownby
Selling Wholesale On Grownby Read More »
Selling
It has been known for years that variations in milk composition occur; Submitted by Riley Wohlgemuth
Factor Affecting The Composition Of Milk From Dairy Cows Read More »
Milking & Dairy
Ohio Valley Dexter Breeders Association Annual show May 16-17,2025 Lebanon, Ohio
February 2 @ 1:19 pm
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
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Beef Farm Management
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Beef
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Herd Health
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