The Intangibles of Dexter Husbandry

[danbntx]

After just spending close to $1000 to the vet for my two dogs to get caught up on vaccinations and teeth cleaning (which has associated charges of anesthesia, bloodwork, sealants, xrays, etc., etc., and if you don't do it, horrific stories of other maladies related to gum disease because of tarter, on and on and on...and I really trust the vet as he's done excellent knee surgery on one of them)Besides the companionship, their only other redeeming value is home security I was complaining to my wife about the charges when she said,

"Just wait till you get those cows"

Well after reading threads like Selling Beef to Family and Love our Dexters in Oregon

it makes me think, "Raising Dexter cattle for dairy and beef must be a 'you get what you pay for' endeavor... and the true payoff is really in the quality of the beef and dairy, the enjoyment of raising them, the fertilizer for the pastures and garden and all the other intangibles"

Obviously, there're so many variables in terms of your resources and how you control your expenses, but do most of you find that all said and done it's totally worth it, even though you're paying a premium? Or is it closer to break even? Or can some say, "Due to the price of dairy and beef, I'm saving money" ?

It really seems most of you truly love your Dexters as much if not more than most folks love other domesticated pets and wouldn't blink at spending above and beyond to enjoy them and keep them healthy. I'm already in the mode of paying more for quality (i.e., made in USA whenever possible) the more I learn about these Dexters, the more I think they will be the perfect fit for us. Thanks

[susytx]

Howdy from San Antonio & Centerville! Those are great questions and I'm sure you'll get a variety of great answers.

We've spent the last few years building our herd up from a few at the starter level and haven't processed or sold any of ours - yet. This fall will be the first year that we'll send steers to the processor (for us, mostly), and we're considering 'refining' our herd and so may sell a few (even our beloved bull Gladhour Terry, who has sired a gorgeous short leg bull calf we'd like to keep). We just love ours, each guy and gal has their own personality, of course, and we've been content to watch our herd grow from a handfull to it's current size of 29...while they've been blissfully keeping our acreage mowed.

The drought, though, has been brutal this year, as you know. This is the first year we've had to buy a huge amount of hay due to lack of rainfall. Our normally green pastures look like a moonscape. If we were raising Dexters solely for business reasons we'd have either sold out or been broke by now! But, even with the extreme cost of hay it will be hard to part with some of our cattle. I have to remind myself they are not really pets, as do our ranching friends who raise much larger cattle, and that we can't keep them all. I am very content to spend hours out among them while they graze, and each time one of our cows comes up for a chin scratch or a calf walks right up to us to see what we're doing or to take a drink from the hose, I'm so grateful we chose Dexters. I haven't seen that relationship between cattle and owners with other breeds...I'm sure it must be out there somewhere, but it seems pretty common with Dexters.

We raise ours as organically as possible, so when we do have one in the freezer, it will fill our freezer with organic beef. That will be a payoff, without a doubt. When I'm no longer working and have time, I will be training a few cows for milking and will then have organic milk, cream, butter, and cheese...I'm patient enough to wait for that (and working pays for the hay!). And I do use their manure on our fruit trees, and no other fertilizer. Kinda free, in a way, and as natural as it comes.

We've been lucky in the health department, knock wood. Up to now, aside from the initial investment in the cattle, a frightening amount of hay, Crystalyx tubs, mineral blocks, salt, kelp, DE, No Fly organic spray, banders and bands, ear tags, and cubes as treats, we haven't spent all that much (not counting a well and a headgate)...and I think we've gotten so much more in return.

[Olga]

Even when the kids were too small to talk, they expressed their love for Dexter milk vs. milk from the store. Plus, there's less chance of them growing breasts from excessive hormones in the milk.
When a couple of weeks ago I was making hamburgers I didn't have enough thawed out. I used a store-bought package and mixed it in. My hamburger meat was uniformly colored brightly red. It was put up in the freezer last October. The store-bought meat was pale pink on the outside and gray on the inside - yuk! My beef wasn't Dexter beef, but the point is - home-raised is better all the way.
Last but not least, it keeps me off the streets and out of the bars (borrowed from our ex-Wisconsin-dairy-owner pasture-landlady Paula). I hope it'll do the same for my kids.

[ctownson]

Sandusky, You will find many different approaches and views. If you are interested in trying to maximize financial returns, it will be hard with Dexters in my opinion. However, it can be profitable if you have a good plan and put your own sweat-equity into the work. We have a successful operation but it has taken a lot of hard work on our part. You must also weigh the tax implications of farming as part of the overall strategy as the benefits and programs can make a big difference in the overall profitability of your efforts. We selected Dexters after visiting many farms with different breeds. We have been very happy with the breed.

[danbntx]

Great feedback, thanks everyone, I expected this type of response. I'm starting a laundry list of materials to look into by cutting and pasting from this forum, i.e. crytalyx tubs, etc.

Gene, I'm curious about how goats control worms? ...and thanks for the tip about vitahound spray, I was about to start shopping the pet stores for a tarter solution, I've brushed their teeth with toothbrushes 2 days in a row, LOL (I never want a bill like that again!)

Susy, don't sell any of your Duns till you talk to me first "referring to my [url=http://dextercattle.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=color&action=display&thread=1841&page=1get'r dun thread.

[susytx]

Sandusky - sorry, we don't have any duns!! We love the blacks, have polled and horned, and last year had one red heifer (not verified by color testing yet, but she's red). Initially we were going to sell her, but she's a beautiful color and so sweet we'll probably keep her. Interestingly, we're finding flies tend to ignore her, must be the color.

Great thread here! Ya gotta love Dexter owners as much as the Dexters themselves.

Genebo - we're going to get some muscovies, guineas, and chickens soon, I hope, but have a question for you. We have a healthy supply of dung beetles, and I've been a little concerned that our muscovies especially might significantly reduce our population. Have you seen that in your experience?

[Star Creek Dexters]

Don't know about duck, although, I would assume yes, but I know that chickens and guineas will eat dung beetles in a second! We have them where are chickens can't get, but there are none ever in the chicken yard.

[laughingllama75]

dung beetle just sound creepy. I for one, am glad we dont have any in NH. LOL.