Joined: May 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 20 Location: Cody, NE
Finally! « Thread Started on Aug 11, 2009, 7:46am »
I've been on here awhile, studying and reading everything I can about Dexters. I moon over the sale pages like a broody cow, mooing at the pictures in delight. I think that I know what I want now and we are poised to get it...
We live in Nebraska on 60 acres in a county of 6,000 people. "More cows than people" is the popular local phrase, and they are proud of it - mostly Black Angus, some Charolais, a Herford ranch or two. No Dexters within over 400 miles, though! Folks 'round here have never seen 'em, can't figure out why we would want them... but we bought a 100-year old farmhouse and setup that actually used to be an old dairy for the area. And I do mean OLD - before milking machines and milking barns. The cooling room is in the basement with outdoor access to the barns. I want to start making cheese, butter, and yogurt - not just for my own use, but because my neighbors and I have to drive 40 miles one way to buy any!
In the past, I have made my own butter and cheese and yogurt in small amounts and want to expand and grow this venture, even if it is just for us.
I have an ideal herd in mind to start, but it just seems like I can't find the perfect fit.
We want 3 fairly young polled Dexter cows, Chondrodysplasia and PHA free, preferably red or dun, black is the third but not discountable choice. I'd prefer them to be unrelated as much as possible, but from "milky" lines. It would be nice if they were bred already, or had new calves standing. Halter trained would be nice, too. DH is physically handicapped (walks slooowly with a cane) but animals worship him, so he can usually get them to do as he asks. (Both of us have milked before, and he can build anything we need, like stantions, as well as file hooves, give shots, etc, when necessary.) We would be willing to pay for transport but not terribly far; the coasts are pretty much out of the question. We are debating on acquiring a bull or choosing to AI to start our line initially. We pretty much figure that we'd have to buy from several farms to get the mix we want, but we don't want to go into exponential costs to do so!
So tell me, am I dreaming too big? Asking too much? Would you recommend starting smaller? If so, what and why?
I know 60 acres sounds like a lot, but it isn't where we live. It is fenced and cross fenced with 3 strands of barbed wire, except close-in to the house where we have several 4-board-fenced smaller pastures. Although the grass is superior and doesn't have to be seeded every year (like we had to do back east) the soil is sandy and doesn't support overgrazing. My neighbors were appalled that I would even consider putting a maximum of 8 cattle (cows and calves) on 60 acres, even temporarily; here, ranches run to thousands of acres for good reason. The previous owners leased the property out for 3 months a year to 25 head and badly overgrazed it; it is just now coming back strongly three years later. I seeded some sections this spring with clover and silage and it seemed to help.
Many animals like horses and the Angus seem to only like green grasses; will the Dexters eat the drier grasses and oats out of the field as well? Are spring scours a problem with Dexters? How much hay on average does a Dexter consume in the winter? (We buy the big round bales for a retired horse that lives here now, she ate two this winter.) Do they have preferences? What won't a Dexter eat in the field? How territorial are they, are they able to defend against predators or will I have to get a donkey to defend them from coyotes? Can you convince them to come into the home pasture in the evenings as a rule? Will I have a problem with overly amorous Angus bulls in the far pasture wanting to charm my ladies? How do you avoid this?
I have worked on other folks' farms with small complements of large cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, but have never owned my own. I don't want to screw this up - or hurt any creatures with my ignorance. We have a very good vet clinic 40 miles from home, but they don't know anything about Dexters, either - and neither does the guy at the Ag. Although he did offer his services as an AI pro when we get that far! LOL
Thanks for any and all replies... I am anxious to begin and just am a little scared of what I don't know...
Re: Finally! « Reply #1 on Aug 11, 2009, 11:47am »
First off, I"m glad you're ready to take the plunge, and you'll be really glad you chose Dexters. Don't think of Dexters as some kind of delicate, little mini cows. They are cattle, with a better than most temperment and easier to handle. They don't need extra protection, they are very good mommas, and mine chase dogs, or coyotes with equal vigor. I have anywhere from 12 to 15 head through the winter and they go through a large round bale once a week on average. They are better than a lot of breeds about browse, they will trim trees and eat lots of different brush that larger cattle won't. Just enjoy them and don't try to be overly protective of them., they are very hardy cattle, when we have ice storms and snow storms, they just stand out in it, even though they have a nice big barn to get into. Enjoy............P.J.
« Last Edit: Aug 11, 2009, 11:50am by copperhead »
Joined: May 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 20 Location: Cody, NE
Re: Finally! « Reply #2 on Aug 11, 2009, 3:47pm »
Thanks, P.J.! I don't have a problem with being overly protective, but DH does. He will also spoil 'em rotten - he found out our lessee, the retired horse, favors Oreos - so now he has to giver her at least one a day! LOL
I was wondering abt the coyotes - we have a fella here in town who raises greyhounds to hunt them. They are VERY prevalent here, and run in packs (lots of turkey, antelope, and deer) and even though they rarely bother the big Angus, I was worried that the Dexter might have a problem, esp if they were polled. THANK YOU!
Joined: Sept 2007 Posts: 662 Location: Church Road, VA
Re: Finally! « Reply #3 on Aug 11, 2009, 9:27pm »
I think you might be right about the lack of horns being a detriment. Horns are a great defense against predators.
I've sold several horned milk cows and the owners have no problems with them at all. The horns are easy to get into the stanchion, where they use one.
Good Dexters are so gentle. One family milks two Dexter cows wherever they happen to be standing. I love to watch, since they have 3 young girls who take turns milking. They plop down the stool and the cow stands there, chewing a cud or eating hay.
My point is: go visit a few herds. If you're comfortable with the horned Dexters, then try them. If not, then consider dehorned Dexters. That way, the calves will grow horns and could be some protection for the herd.
Horns are a subtraction at the sale barn where the steers are sold for beef. Buyers knock down the price if beef cattle have horns. The crowded conditions that beef cattle are subjected to almost requires hornless cattle. Large dairies have a similar handling problem, when the cattle are crowded into a waiting area or forced to compete for feed. Your small plan should allow them, as long as you can live with them.
Your 3 bred cows will soon turn into 3 cows and 3 calves. In a year, you'll have 3 cows, 3 yearlings and 3 new calves. In two years, you'll have 3 cows, 3 full grown Dexters ready for slaughter, 3 yearlings and 3 new calves. Your population should stabilize at this point, as long as you continue to harvest the beef. So prepare to be able to feed this many. Don't buy too many to start.
Joined: Sept 2007 Posts: 205 Location: Spring Branch, Texas
Re: Finally! « Reply #4 on Aug 11, 2009, 10:54pm »
Hi Wiley,
You might want to contact you vet or talk to some of those Angus breeders on the loss of livestock due to coyotes. Even though Angus are bigger they are still polled. Another option if you want dehorned or polled animals is to use LGD's or guard donkeys.
I never heard of greyhounds running coyotes until we lived in Kansas and saw it first hand, it was interesting to say the least. Where we live now our yote problems are under control. We just don't put up with them. Neighbors dogs running wild are more of a problem. With them we usually call our neighbors tell them about their dogs once maybe twice. If they persist in getting out than we catch them call the pound to have them picked up. It's a $500.00 fine each time. Sometimes a little pain in the pocket does wonders.
Joined: Sept 2007 Posts: 662 Location: Church Road, VA
Re: Finally! « Reply #5 on Aug 14, 2009, 9:34am »
You're lucky! Here, the fine for your dog running loose and endangering livestock is $10 first offense, up to $100 for third offense.
I caught one in a live trap and sent it to the animal shelter. The owner was called, paid $10 and the dog was back here the next day. I never could catch it again.
Joined: Sept 2007 Posts: 205 Location: Spring Branch, Texas
Re: Finally! « Reply #7 on Aug 14, 2009, 1:16pm »
Hi Gary
We can shoot dogs out her also, but the folks who own them are our neighbors. The dogs haven't been bothering our livestock since the hefty fine. I would not hesitate to pull the trigger if my cattle were being brother by them. Thankfully for the time being they have their dogs under control. The people are aware that I will do what I have to do.
Joined: May 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 20 Location: Cody, NE
Re: Finally! « Reply #8 on Aug 14, 2009, 5:06pm »
When I mentioned that our ordered chickens were coming in that week to the new homestead, one of my neighbors said, "Gee, I hope you don't get upset if our retriever gets loose and comes over, she just can't help being a dog!" I said, "Gee, I hope YOU don't get upset when you hear the .22 go off, I just can't help protecting my property!" Nuff said, and the dog stays home. Most people around here frown on letting animals run loose. (My chickens are in a coop and chicken tractors; we don't let them run loose either; and our dogs are on leashes.) I'd shoot a dog or a coyote in a minute if they were in the pasture messing with the Dexters. There isn't much LE out this way.
« Last Edit: Aug 14, 2009, 5:11pm by wileycoyote1 »
Back to your question, all my Dexters are de-horned or polled, they still chase a coyote with vigor!!! I think Barb is on the best track with either a LGD or a guard donkey. I have a little donkey and she just loves chasing dogs or coyotes..........she hates them all!! Plus, if you like animals, you'll love the donkeys, they are the greatest.
Joined: May 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 20 Location: Cody, NE
Re: Finally! « Reply #10 on Nov 7, 2009, 4:59pm »
Well, we have bought the Dexters and they will arrive on November the 11th. We are so excited! We purchased two bred cows, Steady Run Billy Jean (black) and Pauline (dun) and a bull, PoinDexter, from PrairieView Farm in Monticello, IA. The girls are due in March. We are also getting a small pinto mare from a trainer in Bellevue, IA, at the same time. We simply cannot wait! DH has spent all week putting up gates and ensuring that the fences are good and tight. So now we are Dexter owners!
Joined: Jun 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 35 Location: Spicewood TX
Re: Finally! « Reply #11 on Nov 7, 2009, 5:14pm »
Congrats! I am so excited for you all! keep us posted as to how it's going! I am going to be milking my two girls in the near future as well. It's so exciting!
![[Home]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/menu/home.gif)
![[Help]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/menu/help.gif)
![[Search]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/menu/search.gif)
![[Login]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/menu/login.gif)
![[Register]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/menu/register.gif)
![[Search This Thread]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/search2.gif)
![[Send Topic To Friend]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/buttons/sendtopic.gif)
![[Print]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/buttons/print.gif)
Author
![[homepage]](http://s1.images.proboards.com/buttons/www_sm.gif)
Logged
![[avatar]](http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj109/genebo16/08302009MahoneyGene5.jpg)
