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Heifers
Mar 12, 2011 23:43:46 GMT -5
Post by idahojoe on Mar 12, 2011 23:43:46 GMT -5
I am looking at buying a dexter for milk for the family. I found heifer several hours away. Before I drive out and look at it I would like to know what percentage of dexter heifers are suitable for milking?
Thanks.
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Heifers
Mar 13, 2011 7:36:09 GMT -5
Post by Star Creek Dexters on Mar 13, 2011 7:36:09 GMT -5
I am assuming you are in Idaho? =)
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Heifers
Mar 13, 2011 11:07:28 GMT -5
Post by idahojoe on Mar 13, 2011 11:07:28 GMT -5
Yes I live in central/eastern Idaho.
Thanks for all of the information.
Let me make a few clarifications.
My father owned a dairy when I was younger and I have been around a few Holstein milk cows. I intend to look the heifer over thoroughly before I buy.
My main question is before I drive that far to look what are the chances she will be what I am looking for?
I also have room for a few beef cows so I have few chances to get it right.
Thanks again for all of your help
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Heifers
Mar 13, 2011 12:11:49 GMT -5
Post by wdd on Mar 13, 2011 12:11:49 GMT -5
Hi Joe,
If you are ever in the Idaho Falls area you are welcome to come look at my animals and talk Dexters. I used to work on Dairies and owned my own for a short time. Many of the Dexter Breeders focus more on muscling and meat. There still seems to be enough of the milking genes in them to produce some extra milk. Temperament is the crucial factor. The two I have milked of my Dexters were easy to train compared to most of the Jerseys and Holstiens I have dealt with over the years. The one has a nice dairy looking udder but produces less than half the milk of the other one. The other is our sweetheart and my wife would rather see me go than her most likely, eventhough she doesn't have much to do with "my husbands" cows. Jack Goodman is in Buhl. Has been breeding Dexters for many years. You can get his contact information from the members/breeders area of the ADCA or PDCA website. Rick & Richard Stimpson are in Rupert. I have met them, very nice people, and I have seen some good quality animals of theirs. Their contact information is on the PDCA website. Butch Howell is over in Payette his info is on the PDCA website and you will find several other owners here in Idaho that you can visit with and check out what they have to offer. I don't know for sure if any of these have milked their Dexters to know for sure how much they produce. My information is on the ADCA membership list or you can click on my name (wdd) and click on send a personal message by my Members Bio. I check this site 2-3 or more times a day.
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Heifers
Mar 13, 2011 14:01:12 GMT -5
Post by Star Creek Dexters on Mar 13, 2011 14:01:12 GMT -5
Joe, Since you have been around dairy cattle a lot, you know what a dairy build looks like, udder attachment, etc. So I won't go into any of that...
Registration will tell you a lot about a cows milking ability. There are some lines that are more milky than others. I believe there are a few threads about those lines on this board.
These are the questions I ask, after I have found out that a cow is registered, chondrof and PHAF, when contacting someone about a cow.
Is your cow tame? (They almost always say yes, even if their cow is the farthest thing from tame out there) Will your cow eat out of your hand? Can you brush your cow? Can you handle her all over? Have you ever put a halter on her? How did she react? Can she lead?
If she has been milked before, or being advertised for milk I always ask if she kicks. If they hehaw around, then she does...Up to you whether or not you want to try and break a kicker.
If they can tell me on the phone that this cow is tame, I can walk out to the field with a bucket of food, or a little hay and she will come to me, let me handle her all over, and I can touch her udder with out her kicking, it is worth a drive to see her.
These cows are rare. When you find one you jump, because she will go fast.
Good luck to you!
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lsg
member
Posts: 247
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Heifers
Mar 13, 2011 15:39:52 GMT -5
Post by lsg on Mar 13, 2011 15:39:52 GMT -5
You have been given a lot of good advice. I will just add my two cents in saying that with my Dexter heifers, they did not produce a lot of milk the first lactation, but improved steadily with each lactation.
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Heifers
Mar 15, 2011 19:54:30 GMT -5
Post by cjsfarm on Mar 15, 2011 19:54:30 GMT -5
I have a follow up question. How many dexter owners out there are training milk cows for sale? We have a tremendous demand for dairy dexters, but most buyers want them trained and ready to milk. I have sold a few that I hand milked for short periods but I don't have anyone out west that trains for selling. Most train their dexter for milking to keep them. I would think that with the work involved, most won't recoup enough to make the work a money maker.
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Heifers
Mar 16, 2011 20:00:06 GMT -5
Post by cjsfarm on Mar 16, 2011 20:00:06 GMT -5
That's why I asked the question Gene. I do about the same as you, but we have most calling looking for a cow that has been already milked. We try to sell them a heifer that they can raise and be familiar with, but the demand is for someone else to do the work. I take from the lack of imput that there aren't many selling proven, already trained dexter milk cows.
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Heifers
Mar 16, 2011 22:02:53 GMT -5
Post by sprucegrovefarm on Mar 16, 2011 22:02:53 GMT -5
I agree 100% with Gene, and I'm glad to add my own experiences with "milking Dexters."
Except for 2 old cows that I bought from other breeders, my Dexters are tame and friendly to the point of being obnoxious at times. Like Gene, I handle all of my heifers so that they freely accept the human touch on their udders. Other than the 2 cows from other herds, I can milk any of my cows any time I choose to do so.
I do not put halters on my animals, and I do not have time to "halter break" them, yet I have no problems whatever when I choose to milk any of my animals. I simply put some pellets in a feed bunk or bucket or pan and get the milk that I need. I do not restrain the cow in any way... I just milk her using feed as a "bribe."
I really hate to say this, but many of the people who have contacted me for "a family cow, milking Dexter" want apple pie a la mode, but they don't want to spend enough money to buy even one good apple. What is the value of a proven milker - especially from a breeder who is not a hobby farmer or one who doesn't care about raising cattle as a business?
Quite simply stated, I'm happy to sell heifers that I have total confidence in with respect to milking. Occasionally I have cows for sale that I know can be easily trained for milking. The chance of my having a trained-for-milking cow for a cheap price just isn't good, and I make no apologies for that statement.
John
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Heifers
Mar 17, 2011 7:54:44 GMT -5
Post by cjsfarm on Mar 17, 2011 7:54:44 GMT -5
I agree totally John. You ought to see the heifers Sabre has thrown so far!!! WOW!! We have 15 heifers out of 18 calves this year. 27 more calves to go!
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Heifers
Mar 17, 2011 8:55:17 GMT -5
Post by sprucegrovefarm on Mar 17, 2011 8:55:17 GMT -5
Nice ratio, Judy! It looks like you're the one who balances my ratios. I hope my Akela follows his sire's example... John
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Heifers
Mar 17, 2011 14:44:35 GMT -5
Post by rdoubled on Mar 17, 2011 14:44:35 GMT -5
John you are so right about people not wanting to pay for the Training that is involved in making a true milk cow. At times I will have one for sale and I will be honest, they are priced high compared to what a untrained Dexter runs. I think the time I have put into the cow is worth something, also the fact that I can say exactly how much that cow produces, what her butter fat and protein content is should add value. Some see the the value others do not and will buy the cheaper cow to find out they should have paid the money.
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Heifers
Mar 17, 2011 22:37:49 GMT -5
Post by kansasdexters on Mar 17, 2011 22:37:49 GMT -5
Most "trained" unregistered milk cows in our area sell for at least $1,500. But if they are bred back, registered cows, they sell for $2,500 or more, depending on their age, pedigree, and whether or not they sell as a single cow or as a cow/calf pair. That's really a very reasonable price for a high quality, young animal that is bred back to a high quality bull, IMO.
When I visited Sunshine Genetics in Wisconsin, they were flushing and collecting embryos from registered Brown Swiss milk cows that were valued at over $100,000 each. The embryos were selling for $2,500 or more! In comparison, a registered Dexter milk cow priced at $2,800 is very affordable!
Patti
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lsg
member
Posts: 247
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Heifers
Mar 18, 2011 9:38:26 GMT -5
Post by lsg on Mar 18, 2011 9:38:26 GMT -5
I think "trained" and "started" are two differenct categories. I just got through "training" a young heifer to milk. She was from another breed. It took quite a long time to even get her to settle down and when she had her calf, I had to start all over with her. It took a good month of struggling with her, in the stanchion and out before she settled down to the routine of milking like a good cow should. So if I sold her as trained to milk right before she had her calf, I would have been doing the buyer a big disservice, besides probably ruining my reputation as a seller. Just my two cents of the definition "trained to milk."
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Heifers
Mar 18, 2011 17:08:52 GMT -5
Post by Olga on Mar 18, 2011 17:08:52 GMT -5
Back few years ago, when we had Lila, I wouldn't have called her trained to milk after milking her the entire 1st lactation. It was very frustrating time. I was hopeful that she'd settle down during her 2nd lactation...
Maxine and Sioux both settled into milking routine within a few weeks - and they weren't heifers! For that matter Sioux was 13 y.o. at the time. So I think character has a lot to do with it.
I advertised Elsie, Jersey/Dexter soon to be 4 y.o. cow, due with her 3rd calf in June for $800. I've milked her for a couple of weeks each lactation. Hardly any hits. So I sold her to a friend for $500 - just to move her out and make sure she had a good home.
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