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
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
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
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
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
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
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 »
Beef
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
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!
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
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
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
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
