Dexter versus Jersey

[marion]

Hi Gene, I bought a little Jersey so I'm hoping the test becomes available again soon. I would like to test all mine. I found it interesting that Patti's Kerry cattle were all homo for A2. I'm hoping my favourite girls are too (that would be, all of them ;D). I've read the research and I'm convinced of the benefits..marion

[kansasdexters]

Hi Gene,

Your statement: "I've always heard that Dexter milk had smaller molecules and was easier to digest." should be rephrased.

Dexter milk has smaller fat globules, not smaller molecules. Because the fat globules in Dexter milk are small, it takes longer for the cream to separate from the milk, that's why some people used to refer to it as being "naturally homogenized". It wasn't homogenized, it just took longer to separate.

In contrast, Jersey and Guernsey milk have large fat globules and the cream rises very quickly, forming a thick layer that is easy to separate from the milk. Large fat globules can make the milk harder for some people to digest.

The one thing that I've noticed about Dexters compared with Jerseys is that Dexters have a much thicker winter hair coat and they seem to tolerate adverse weather much better than Jerseys do.

When we had a Jersey/Swedish Red suckler calf on our Kerry cow, we had to keep a heat lamp in a corner of the barn for him to stay warm. Our Kerry heifer calf had the same kind of thick, wooley coat that our Dexter calves have and she had no problem handling the cold weather, wind, and rain. She preferred being outside to being inside most of the time.

The Jersey/Swedish Red suckler calf preferred life under his heat lamp in the barn, until the Spring sunshine came around and then he could hang out on the south side of the barn and catch the heat rays reflecting off the galvanized metal siding!

Take care,

Patti

[Clive]

We went to see Beryl Rutherford some weeks ago. She ran a commercial Dexter dairy herd in Devon UK until about 25 years ago. I think it was one of the last to close down. She said that dexter milk was, as you say, "naturally homogenized" and I think she said that was unique (don't quote me on that). It sounds like something I ought to drink because me and milk don't get on.

[lsg]

The Jerseys we have owned are prone to milk fever. So far we have not had that problem with our Dexters. I get a good cream line with my Dexter. I will say one thing in favor of the Jersey. They are a more persistent milker toward the end of their lactation. I have noticed with my Dexter, that she really slacks off toward the end of her lactation until it is hardly worth milking her.

[marion]

How long are you milking your Dexters? I used to own a Jersey who came from a dairy and was warned she "went down hard" every time with milk fever. He really pushed with the grain. I fed her more naturally and she calved with no problems whatsoever. I'm hoping this new one, who is a smaller older type, will be fine too. I'm too used to my trouble-free Dexters ;D to want cows with built-in problems..marion

[lsg]

Marion, I really didn't count up the months, but probably until the sixth or seventh month of her lactation. We have had milk fever trouble with some of our Jersey crosses also. I really think it must be the mineral. If anyone has a mineral formula that helps prevent milk fever, please post it.
I am milkless now, as I have dried off my Dexter cow, and the Jersey cross we were milking is now raising two calves. My little cow should calve around the last of May. Her daughter will calve a couple of months later, so maybe I will have a cow in milk all year round. I have noticed that my cow did not milk heavily with her first calf, but then she was sick right before her calf was born.

[marion]

Thanks. I think the persistency of lactation is something we should be breeding for. It's more important really than an impressive first flush. Your cow could do much better on her second lactation, especially if she was not well before..marion

[lsg]

You are right, Marion. She did do much better with her second and third lactations, but still a problem with persistent production throughout lactation. She was giving over two gallons per day at her peak, during the last lactation, but once the grass was gone her production dropped dramatically. I am breeding her to bulls with a history of dairyness.

[liz]

Hi Gene; I too am a convert about A2 milk benefits and really hope that the test becomes available again soon. Having said that I am a little concerned about the impression that one thing leaves in your post;

"The yellow milk is AC for A2, meaning it's beta casein is about half A2 and half A1. The white milk is CC, pure A2. He doesn't know if that makes any difference or not. "

I am hoping that you are talking about your neighbour's cows only, who have been tested for A1/A2? Thing is that 'white' and 'yellow' qualities of milk (or really the cream in the milk) have to do with the way the dairy animal converts the green forage they eat. Cows usually convert it to beta-carotene which is fat soluble and thus turns it yellow in colour and goats and sheep convert it to vitamin A, which has no colour, and so their milk and butter fat is white. In my experience Dexters' milk has been white, meaning mine must convert their green forage to vitamin A as opposed to beta-carotene. However I haven't tested them for A1/A2 genes, still waiting for the test to be available. I have found Jersey AI bulls who are available to inseminate my jersey who are homozygous for A2 milk and also the Guernsey Associations around the world are touting the fact that Guernseys are for the most part homozygous for A2; both Jerseys and Guernseys would have 'yellow' milk.

Sorry, I just wanted to be sure that people didn't think the colour of their milk meant the difference between it being A1 or A2. Liz

[lsg]

Apr 13, 2009 0:55:37 GMT -5 Clive said:

We went to see Beryl Rutherford some weeks ago. She ran a commercial Dexter dairy herd in Devon UK until about 25 years ago. I think it was one of the last to close down. She said that dexter milk was, as you say, "naturally homogenized" and I think she said that was unique (don't quote me on that). It sounds like something I ought to drink because me and milk don't get on.

Lucky you, Clive. I would dearly love to meet and talk to Beryl Rutherford. I have her book and have read it three or four times.

[liz]

Hi Gene; Actually the impression that your first post didn't make it clear; that you were only discussing your neighbour's milk, that your neighbour had tested or that colour had nothing to do with the A1/A2 status of the milk. Your second post does. Thanks for the offer of a bull but I use AI, (that place a bull takes could be an extra cow and there are a few Jersey bulls available that are homozygous for A2, (DNA verified).

[kansasdexters]

Hi Gene,

Well, I won't argue with you on your word choices, but here's a direct quote taken from John Hays' book on Dexter Cattle, and attributed to Beryl Rutherford, owner of the Woodmagic Dexter commercial dairy herd in England:

"Dexter milk is not homogenized. The fat globules are very small, as indeed are those of Ayrshire milk, making the milk highly digestible, and particularly suitable for cheesemaking. . ."

Patti