Bacteria In milk…the good, the BAD and the UGLY.
Bacteria In milk…the good, the BAD and the UGLY. Read More »
Milkingmilk
Information on milk and dairy using Irish Dexter Cattle
Most Profitable cattle breeds for small farms (ranked)
Where would you expect Dexters to be….or even in the ranking?
Most Profitable cattle breeds for small farms (ranked) Read More »
Selling
Borrowing a lesson from another Dual-purpose Breed of Cattle
There is a perspective among some cattle breeders that in order to keep breeds marketable in the current market climate we need to lean more heavily on beef traits and worry less about dairy traits. The reason being is that beef pays with less labor involved, so more people are turning to all beef cows. That may be just fine in a beef breed but in a dual-purpose breed it’s the destruction of one of the fundamental aspects of what defines a dual-purpose breed. Maintaining dairy traits in a dual-purpose breed is what keeps them marketable and quite frankly as more breeds go the way of beef, it’s a niche market as there are fewer pure-bred cattle that fit the bill today. That’s a good thing if you’re trying to sell cattle.
The Red Poll breed in these articles were demonstrating that a dual-purpose breed can be productive in both beef and dairy traits and that having dairy traits helped the calves grow speedily. This dual-purpose breed was able to maintain milking traits later in life that dairy cattle. That the current theory in this article is that dairy cattle could not exceed two or three years in milk. From this newspapers perspective it obviously paints the idea that a dual-purpose breed is much more sustainable and long wearing than a straight dairy breed. It should also be noted that these dual-purpose “dairy cows” were able to produce fat stock therefore realizing high market prices.
When this article states “ The argument that it is better to breed cattle separately for beef and milk than to produce animals of the dual-purpose type will go on forever”, it is very well spoken, because nearly 100 years later that debate rages on. One thing that that can be clearly seen, is that as time goes on there are more specialized beef or dairy breeds and less of the original dual-purpose breeds remaining true to their roots. Being a dual-purpose breed makes Dexters shine, if we capitalize on that point alone it sets them apart. That’s worth remembering.
Article taken from Aberdeen Press and Journal 2 June 1931
Arguments may arrise over dual-purpose cattle but Red Poll showed that a breed can balance beef and milk well.
Northampton Mercury 24 December 1937 “Dual-Purpose Breeds”
Borrowing a lesson from another Dual-purpose Breed of Cattle Read More »
Historical
Dexters are a TOP-RANKING DUAL-PURPOSE BREED
Dexters may only rank 5 in this dual-purpose breed list, but when you consider their size, they come out as number one for the small farm. Practical and versatile in being great for beef and milk. Often times people consider Dexters mini cattle, but the whole breed is naturally small with some individuals being extra small. It is interesting to note that Dexters make the list even though they are small in size and no one can discredit them for their diminutive size as though they are nothing more than a toy breed as they hold their own with the big boys.
Click the link below to read the article
Dexters are a TOP-RANKING DUAL-PURPOSE BREED Read More »
Beef
Raw milk…
Improved lung health, both in childhood and adulthood.Submitted by Jody Jess
https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/updates/raw-milk-asthma-and-lung-health
Dexter Cattle – Ideal Small Cattle Breed for Homesteads and Small Farms
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
Dexter are perfect for the Homesteader
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
MILK LET DOWN – HINTS AND TRICKS
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
One Doctor’s perspective on Raw milk
There are plenty of opinions on raw milk…consider listening to this doctor, who has chosen raw milk for her and her family. I find her perspective on Listeria particularly fascinating.
One Doctor’s perspective on Raw milk Read More »
Milking
SELLING OUT at the Farmers Market!
This is the season for selling out at the farmers market!
SELLING OUT at the Farmers Market! Read More »
Beef
Dexters – Poor Man’s Cow to Luxury Cow By Danielle Lowther
Poor Man’s Cow to Luxury Cow
How did the Poor Man’s Cow become owned by the wealthy and famous. Dexters and Kerry Cattle became recognized for their unique hardy attributes, Kerry for milk and Dexter for milk and meat. Dexters were known to get by on less, produce rich milk and raise a healthy vigorous calf for their owner’s table. Dexters were bred to their breed specific traits transforming them from just any poor Irish cows to these 2 beautiful, registered Dexter cows we see in these two later photos.
They were rare and they were at risk of being cross bred out of existence, but breeders in Ireland started selecting and registering Dexter cattle with breed defining traits to preserve and register them in a herd book. Once the promotion of Dexters began every wealthy aristocrat wanted one. All of a sudden, they were not the Poor Man’s cow but rather for a short spell until the numbers grew, cattle that only the wealthy could afford. Consider as this article states a $200 dollar Dexter cow from 1915. This is the equivalent of $6221.78. I checked multiple inflation calculators to verify that number as being correct. With the highest price the ad mentions at $350 in 1915, you would pay $10,936.81 today! Consider today we pay less for quality breeding stock. Rarity always drives the price up and just like with the rarity of gold it dictates the price.
Registered cows were important then and today. Registered Dexters will always hold a higher value than unregistered. Still with Dexters it took devoted breeders to breed Dexters according to the Dexter Standard to the highest quality like the 2 cows you see in the photographs. Not every Dexter cow was nearly as ideal as these two beauties. Compton Daphne, I speculate is a Chondro Carrier while Grinstead Watercress I speculate to be a non-carrier. Of course, we can never go back and test them so it’s just speculation. Both are extremely well bred and both fit the standard well.
So, as you can see Dexters are a dual-purpose breed that can be bred by multiple types of people regardless of fortune because they are a great pick for everyone. Whether you’re a small homesteader trying to save money with a thrifty headache free cow or someone who just wants to raise them as beautiful lawn mowers true Dexters are a great fit for these reasons and so many more!
30 Jan 1915 is the date of article written.
Photo of cattle in town are common type of Celtic cow that roamed Ireland.
Other two photos are of registered Dexters.
Dexters – Poor Man’s Cow to Luxury Cow By Danielle Lowther Read More »
Historical
Growing my business with GrownBY
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
Instant Pot Homemade Cottage Cheese Recipe
Cottage cheese made the easy whey….
Instant Pot Homemade Cottage Cheese Recipe Read More »
Milking
SMALL CATTLE CARRY AWAY BIG HONORS
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
THE ANCIENT CATTLE Podcast – The Irish Dexter
The Ancient Cattle - Benefits of The Irish Dexter
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.
Brought to You by These Breeders, Affiliates, & Sponsors
THE ANCIENT CATTLE Podcast – The Irish Dexter Read More »
Podcasts
New Mastitis detection equipment
MastiPro is an automatic mastitis detection device compatible with milking machines. Thanks to the intelligent system, it detects early stages of mastitis based on increased Na and Cl ions in the milk. There is no need for expensive laboratory methods such as somatic cell counting. It provides information with colored indicator lights on the device and voice notifications via the MilkingCloud App.
https://www.milkingcloud.com/devices/automated-mastitis-test-mastipro
New Mastitis detection equipment Read More »
Technology
How raw dairy can possibly positively affect your weight
Interesting study from The National Library of Medicine
How raw dairy can possibly positively affect your weight Read More »
Milking
Preparing Your Dexter Cow For Milking
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