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Post by mrsssrdex on Apr 22, 2014 13:22:11 GMT -5
Hi! My name is Christina. My husband is Joel/ssrdex and has been on the forums for quite some time. I have read the forums vicariously through him. I figured it was about time to register for myself and participate in my own discussions so here I am. We live in Elverta, CA, which is about 15 mins outside of Sacramento, and we've been raising Dexter's for about 5 years now. It's an never ending learning process, as is Life! We've had some of the cutest calves born this spring, two bull calves and two heifers. We don't milk on a regular basis but we are hoping to some day. We love the beef they provide and the great hobby they provide for our family. I am looking forward to getting to know what the other Dexter breeders are doing out there and where they are all from.
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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 Apr 22, 2014 14:20:42 GMT -5
Hi Christina, welcome! Joel is a great asset to this board, and I'm glad you joined for yourself. We get a two-fer deal! We got our first Dexter the end of December 2009, so we haven't been at it quite as long as you. You're right, it's a never-ending learning process! There was a thread earlier this year about how we all got into Dexters, although not necessarily about what we're raising them for or how, but if you haven't already seen it you might enjoy it.
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Post by carragheendexters on Apr 22, 2014 17:15:03 GMT -5
Hi Christina, how great it is going to be having a husband and wife team on here. Now no domestics please while you're on here . I'll look forward to reading your posts as well as Joel's now, his post's are good value. I love your user name "mrsssrdex" How cute!
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Post by legendrockranch on Apr 22, 2014 18:02:15 GMT -5
Welcome Christina, my husband, tho he helps me with the cattle, stays away from the forum. He does know when I'm on it sometimes because it seems I hit the keys on the keyboard harder. A Texas transplant from California. Barb
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Post by Mare on Apr 22, 2014 21:05:39 GMT -5
Hi there, My name is Mare. I'm just getting into Dexter's cows. I'm a stay home wife. I've been trying to be a homesteader for 7 years now. We've been married since 1974 have 3 kids, 6 to include the spouse's 16 grandkids, 2 great grandkids, 1 dog, 1 cat, 10 hens, 1 rooster, a garden to grow our veggies. I grind my wheat to make bread and cookies and what else calls for flour. I try to make all our meal from scratch .My new thing will be trying to make cheese, butter, and yogurt from milk. I'm not new to cows. But to Dexter's I am. I'm doing my homework on them. I spoke to a couple of people and they say there great!!! I have a friend that had her brother call me and gave me an ear full on them And then I spoke with someone today and she gave me an ear full! I can't wait to have some in our pasture. I have now 4 cows and in June I'll have 5 in a 3 1/2 grazing area. I feed them grain and hay. Sara-lu is 1530 she is due in June. Hope it's a bull calf, Reba is 1500 and Stormy is still on her. I don't wean till 10 month old. And he is 900 now and only 8 month old. Patti is 1475 and she is Sara-lu 2nd calf she turned 2 this past March. I plan to sale them and replace with Dexter's. Don't get me wrong I love cows, just over whelmed with the large bred. Feeding and grooming is just getting to much. Between the mushing between the fencing and post while putting up feed buckets and grooming. It takes my whole body to push them aside. They are not being mean, they just don't know their big!! Sooo I hope to have lots of new stories to tell and learn all I can about Dexter's. Your group seems to be a terrific group!!!! Everyone seems so nice!! I'll be back.!!!!! Oh I forgot to say I'm from Inverness, Fl. Mare
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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 Apr 22, 2014 21:19:31 GMT -5
Welcome to you, too, Mare! I'm sure you'll love the Dexters' size. It will be interesting to hear from someone who has experience with larger breeds as many of us (like me) started with Dexters. I'll enjoy hearing your input.
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Post by Mare on Apr 22, 2014 21:56:40 GMT -5
Thank you!!!! Well I better get to bed. 5 am comes fast. Everyone have a great night!!!!! Mare
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Post by legendrockranch on Apr 22, 2014 22:05:47 GMT -5
Hi Mare and welcome to the forum. There are several other Floridians that I'm sure that will chime in. Hopefully you live close enough to one to go for a visit.
Barb
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Post by ssrdex on Apr 22, 2014 22:45:08 GMT -5
Yea Louise...you thought there was debate here before on stuff like chondro, horned v polled, purity & size? O boy! ...is there gonna be some hot debate now!! ;-) Welcome to the board mrs... Hi Mare, with all you've got going on I think you'll be really pleased with your decision to switch to dexters. I hope you're able to get good producers for your dairy needs. Welcome!
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Post by legendrockranch on Apr 22, 2014 23:10:44 GMT -5
O boy! ...is there gonna be some hot debate now!! ;-) Welcome to the board mrs... Oh Joel, I hope your talking about who get to use the computer first, that is unless you have a his & hers. Loved that you welcomed your mrs. Barb
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Post by mrsssrdex on Apr 23, 2014 0:31:28 GMT -5
Thanks Susan, for the link! Good reading for sure. I think I recognize your profile photo from a post Joel showed me about felfies and dexteritis. Love it! Louise, don't worry, there will be no domestics going on. I'm not so sure anything I'd have to say will be as interesting as my husband would say because he's the more knowledgeable one. Hi to Mare! Good to hear folks in FL are raising dexters, I might get my husband to visit FL someday if he can see dexters! I spent 3 years in Dade County as an Air Force brat and would love to visit again some day. Lol! Barb, no worries about the computer...we each have our own as well as access via cell phones!
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Post by Fran on Apr 23, 2014 5:47:40 GMT -5
Welcome Christina and Mare!
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Post by lakeportfarms on Apr 23, 2014 6:33:53 GMT -5
Hello mrsssrdex, I love your username! Just make sure that when you finish up a post you log off so if ssrdex gets on and posts it's not attributed to you...lol Not really, we all enjoy Joel's posts here Mare, we raised Angus and Hereford for a year or two and then my wife found a Dexter bull to breed them because she didn't want a big bull with kids around. So we went to the other extreme and found our chondro positive bull Mike, who has been with us for 7 or so years now. Sadly that chapter will be coming to an end in a month or two, he's 12 years old, and following an injury a few years ago he just hasn't been the same. No doubt our winters, especially this past one, hastened the decline. We have several hundred of him in a super cold tank so in a way he'll still be around though it's not the same. We sold the last of the Angus and Herefords a few years back, and now have more Dexters than I can count off the top of my head, many of them Mike's daughters.
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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 Apr 23, 2014 8:07:23 GMT -5
Christina, you have set my mind at ease knowing you each have your own computer. Otherwise, With all the back and forth we get on here, I was going to be picturing you hovering over each other's shoulder waiting for your turn, jumping up and down to take turns typing. It was going to be very exhausting for US to read! Now we can enjoy your dual posts like listening to a melodious computer duet. Hans, I hope you enjoy every day left with Mike. I'm glad to know he's going to get to enjoy some good spring grass after that horrible winter. He's leaving you a wonderful legacy in his daughters and good memories.
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Post by doublesranch on Apr 23, 2014 8:18:16 GMT -5
Good morning, everyone. My name is Susan and I am new to the forum, and fairly new to Dexter cows. I bought my first dexter cow (a bull calf) in 2012, before I even had a fence put up on my property. He lived in a neighbor's pasture while my husband got motivated. That same year, I bought a 6 month old heifer and a bred heifer. We finished our fence, and I had a jump-start on my herd. These were all black, de-horned cows, though. The more I researched and learned about dexters, the more I decided that I preferred the red, polled cows. So, with the help of a wonderful lady on this forum, I bought a red bull calf and 3 red heifers. I couldn't be more pleased. I now have 2 very small "herds".....my pretty red cows, for breeding, showing, selling, etc. And my pretty black cows, for pets, eating, loving, etc.
I have had many hobbies over the years, but getting to know dexters, and having the opportunity to raise them, has truly been a blessing. I am totally obsessed with these sweet cows!
Well, thanks for letting me introduce myself. I have tons of questions, and look forward to getting to know more people through this forum!
Susan
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