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Post by redbluffdexters on Aug 24, 2012 23:07:33 GMT -5
Well, I'm new and still researching but I think I've narrowed down specifically what type of Dexters we want: red, polled, weanlings, chondro/PHA free of course, and A2/A2. How do you go about finding A2/A2 that are for sale? I saw the list that someone had posted that was voluntary but that looked to be older stock not necessarily FS. Besides I want weanlings. The ADCA doesn't list A1/A2 test results on pedigrees, that I could tell so how do you find out? I'm not planning on buying until next spring (in time for 4H!) but I'm definately wanting my ducks in a row before then. I would rather just start with A2/A2 from the get go and cross that off my list of things to worry about. I have severe allergies to store-bought milk but can drink gallons of raw milk from my friends Jersey so A1 is suspect, along with a few other theories. I know red and polled seem to be coveted and A2 does as well but other than just stumbling across one, there doesn't seem to be a good way to find them.
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Post by wvdexters on Aug 25, 2012 7:26:46 GMT -5
The fact that you are not wanting to purchase until spring is on your side. That gives you time to find just the right girl. The A2 test has been available through Legacy for a while but I hear ADCA will be offering it soon. I believe more and more people will be testing their animals. I agree, we do need a way to get this info out to breeders. Listing it on their pedigree would be an excellent step.
I am expecting three A2 calves this spring but they will be too young for you. Brenn of Paradise is an A2 bull. I have one of his daughters and she is beautiful. Very sweet girl. He is also an AI bull. He would be a good place to start. Jams Hundred has beautiful A2 stock but with horns. Sergey Yagodin also has great A2 dexters, but I think his are all horned also. I got my first two heifers from him. They are 2 yrs now and are excellent well built girls.
Getting the word out now is good. I think we'll find you one.
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Post by redbluffdexters on Aug 25, 2012 8:48:54 GMT -5
Well, that's encouraging! My 2 sons are wanting to show them this first year in 4H. Since we're wanting milkers and starting a herd, most of the training we would have to do for milking, we would do for showing also. No one (and I mean 0) is showing heifers around here and the steers are slim too (3 in our county last year- really sad. They had minimal halter work too). Surrounding counties are only a little better. I grew up going to stock shows (the big ones). My dad had built up an admirable small Charlois herd from my brothers show heifers. My Co. Extension agent (a Dexter admirer himself!) tells me that they need to be less than 6 months old by June of next year. He seems excited that someone wants to do something different with their stock. Around here, beef is king and no one wants to keep anything theyre showing. I want weanlings b/c our boys are going to be doing the leading, grooming, and loading training. At any rate, I'm hoping to find 2-3 red, polled, A2/A2 weanlings by middle of June at the latest.
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Post by Dahdo on Aug 25, 2012 11:07:53 GMT -5
Kirk at Cascade Meadows farm in Sandy, OR has a lot of red, polled animals and his herd has a lot of a2/a2 genetics. I got both my heifers from him before I knew anything about a2. I got them tested and was happy to find one was homozygous a2.
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Post by wvdexters on Aug 25, 2012 13:32:50 GMT -5
I searched Red Polled dexter cattle for sale Texas these names popped up. Legend Rock Ranch and Bar None. Check them out. One even claims some A2 genetics. There are probably many more.
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Post by legendrockranch on Aug 25, 2012 16:31:33 GMT -5
You're going to have your work cut out for you. I just checked the ADCA website and it shows only 453 polled red Dexters cows listed in it's registry, that's the entire USA. Of course the PDCA has some also. Than if you add on testing for Chondo & PHA (whatever you decide) the number gets smaller. Add on testing for parentage, the numbers dwindle. Once again testing for A2 were at minuscule.
I'm always trying to fine animals for other people. Most folks here in Texas are trying to retain their red heifers especially if they are double polled. Hetero polled cows might be easier.
There is less than one handfull of us that test for everything that breed red polled Dexters in Texas.
Best of luck in your search.
Barb
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Post by dexterbovinefan on Jun 8, 2015 19:40:54 GMT -5
Barb makes a nice point. Red polled animals are rare. Subtract from that pha and chondro free animals, both of which any serious breeder will advise u out on, and you find yourself selecting from a truly serious minority of the available gene pool. Now, with such a prevalence of bad feet and unspeakable udders in the breed one can't help but wonder how many of those animals which meet your criterion of red, and hornless are even worth buying. Supposing you find a cow with nice feet, good legs, and a respectable udder does she have depth of body, spring of rib, length, and a good disposition? Does she produce 1 gallon of milk or 4 gallon? 1 gallon ain't so great, so we can rule out a few more red ones from that too. Next the person selling you a red homozygous polled animal will top it off with A2 inherited from both "exceptional" parents. You've been sucked into a terrible trap. Select animals on quality traits, not color. Look for production and longevity traits. And don't overlook the fact that anyone breeding for color is selecting from this tiny pool of animals too. That is, they're heading down a dubious path aswell. Finally, once you get that red polled cow you'll want a red polled bull to produce a red homozygous polled calf. This, frankly, is doubling down on a bad bet in the vast majority of cases. People who own amazing red polled animals also own amazing black horned animals. This is because they selected for soundness of body and production traits instead of color and arbitrarily selected milk protiens.
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Post by why? on Jun 8, 2015 21:05:20 GMT -5
He only breeds for polled and red. How is this a bonus? I'm asking in all seriousness, albeit, with some skepticism. How is red a bonus outside of being "rare"? Maybe, just maybe, a red animal will graze longer in the sun than a black animal. But maybe they're more prone to sunburn too. I have red animals and black animals. No dun, but I have dun genetics in my pedigree so this isn't any attempt to demonize anything not black. But marketing gimmicks not withstanding, what is better about red than black in any breed of cattle? Regarding polled there is an obvious argument. Not one acceptable by the legacy breeders, but a compelling argument still.
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Post by Pinevalleydexters on Jun 8, 2015 22:55:56 GMT -5
I know I wouldn't sell any of my heifers right now. Red or black that carries red, polled or dehorned. A lot of us breeders don't like to sell our heifers. I especially wouldn't want to sell my homozygeous polled red heifer born this spring. I am selling two of my older cows to a friend that wants to get into Dexter's and wants cows that will give him nice calves.
Its good that you have a plan and are looking ahead. I do wish you the best finding your Dexter's. You will love them.
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Post by kansasdexters on Jun 9, 2015 6:55:39 GMT -5
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Post by RedRidge on Jun 10, 2015 13:20:14 GMT -5
I have some red, homozygous polled, A2/A2, chondro and non-chondro. I also have black, dun, A1, and horned... but no PHA for obvious reasons.
And I sell most, if not all, of my heifers every year.
So I'm not sure where these generalizations are coming from.
I attempt to breed quality, not color, or stats. I breed for what "i" like. If my red, homozygous polled cow has a heifer this next time around, it will be for sale. But if my horned dun has a heifer I will be keeping her. For a variety of reasons. There is a lot more to long term breeding goals than this thread implies... or at least there should be.
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dexterlady
member
Wife, mother of two daughters and five grand children
Posts: 647
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Post by dexterlady on Jun 16, 2015 20:41:49 GMT -5
Redbluffdexters, I raise only red , non PHA&Chondro, polled Dexters also....If you know what you are wanting to raise, just advertise "looking for etc. etc" and usually who ever has any for sale, they will contact you , if you leave contact info....If no body contacts you, then usually no one has any for sale....A lot of people with red, polled A2-A2 heifers don't want to sell them as they will be using them for their own herd....I sold a red A2A2 heifer out of our spring calves and it about killed me....But she and her half sister went to a wonderful home with two little girls , so I really can't complain.....They are very loved....I have calves coming this fall , so if I have any for sale I will contact you and see if you have found any by then.....dexterlady
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Post by bruff64 on Jun 17, 2015 4:31:02 GMT -5
Eileen Geiger, Dexter Downs Farm may have what your looking for.
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Post by hollydzie on Jun 17, 2015 11:05:00 GMT -5
www.dexters4u.com/dexters/ The cow in my avatar is Belle Fourche Lady Bug. She is polled but A1/A2. I am sure that Gabriella has polled red A2/A2
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zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502 
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Post by zephyrhillsusan on Jun 17, 2015 11:24:02 GMT -5
FYI, the original post was almost 3 years ago. Redbluffdexters hasn't been online on this forum in over a year, according to their profile.  |
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