whats the Longevity of Dexter's ?

[pasohorsegal]

I saw on the udder conversation that many cows pictured were quite old ... How long are Dexter's productive ,apposed to other breeds? At what age are do you breed them and are they hard to train for milking ,are they good family cows compared to Jerseys , how about butter fat and quality of milk and are they disease resistant ?

[cddexter]

good lord, that's a book!

Most Dexters make it, breedable, to around 16-18. Some continue to be fertile and calve into their early 20's. I think the oldest calving cow I know of was 24; the oldest still living was 30.

Not to annoy those who like the dwarf type, but those often are prey to arthritis, and many don't make it that far.

Other breeds are hard to compare, because cattle are basically a commercial farm animal. Dairy cattle are usually gone by 4 or 5 (standing on concrete a lot, and being pushed to milk heavily, they get culled just like laying hens); beef cattle are often gone by 8 or 9 (miss a year, and you're hamburger). All cattle, kept under good conditions will make it into their mid teens.

Most people wait until the heifer is about 15 months, although some do breed at 12 months. 15 months gives her a chance to develop herself before putting energy into a calf and milk. If you breed at 12 months, you can stunt the heifer (some do this deliberately to get a smaller animal). Until about 24 months, cattle age in months is roughly equivalent to human age in years. So, in human terms, getting preggers at 15 is a lot healthier for the mother than at 12 years, imo.

The more handling the heifer gets, the easier it is to train her to milk. On the whole, once she knows you and trusts you, it's not hard.

Not all Dexters are high producers. Some will only ever give one or 1.5 gallons/day which is peanuts compared to a Jersey. Dexter butterfat (from English records where they milk record) averages 3-4%; Jerseys I think average around 4.5 to 6. Dexter bf comes in very small globules, Jersey bf in big ones, so the Dexter milk is a lot slower to separate compared to a Jersey. If you pick your bloodline carefully and check out the dam before buying an offspring, you will be able to choose the right cow. Dexters eat a fraction of what it takes to keep a Jersey in good condition, good milker or bad of either breed. A lot less manure, too. Choice is probably dictated by the quantity of milk you want, and if you can afford to feed heavily, and if you need a ton of manure. There is also a new issue called A1/A2 milk, which relates to the genetic makeup of the proteins the milk contains. You may want to read up on this (see section lower on the main page of this site). Both breeds can be either A1 or A2 for milk, you'd need to do a dna test to determine what your cow is.

On the whole, Dexters tend to be pretty hardy. Nothing does well on poor feed, or extreme conditions, and any animal can be prey to disease if it's common in the area. Having said that, Dexters will perform better than most under less than ideal conditions. Calving is USUALLY easy, and calf pullers are considered a joke among Dexter owners: most of the time you know the cow has calved because there is a lump in the field that jumps up and nurses within 20 minutes.

My comments come from 30 years as a breeder, and extra international research. I'm sure others will have their own take on stuff, and will be delighted to chip in their 2 cents worth, too. ;D c.

[otf]

Just a couple of things to add on this. In my experience, the chondro carriers have a shorter reproductive life than the non-carriers (yes, as cddexter said, due to arthritis). We've had two euthanized for arthritis. No, we didn't have them ground into hamburger...they'd been members of the family for over 10 years, producing their own beautiful calves, helping wean and raise a number of others. They are buried here and fondly remembered. We have their daughters.

I've been known to hold back smaller heifers to 20 months or so before breeding to give them a chance to mature (I hold them until either June or December so that they'll calve in early spring or mid-fall). They are more emotionally mature, as well, and adapt to motherhood more readily than a very young heifer.

Like any other animal, the more attention they receive, the more responsive and easier to work around they are. Once the initial "OMG, you're touching me" is over with, they become used to the attention and look forward to it.

Depending upon your climate, weather conditions, availability of forage, etc., they'll do well on pasture; however, some need supplementation, especially if they're nursing a calf or being milked. I've seen way too many people think they can survive on bark and berries because they are "the hardy little cows from the wilds of Ireland."

Companionship is important. I'm sure you've heard that cattle are herd animals. Others may disagree, but a solitary cow -- particularly one that has been raised in a group -- will be lonely and inclined to seek out companionship by testing fences and wandering off. I always make sure if we have to separate one for some reason, that he or she has a buddy.

A good health program (vaccinations, deworming, etc.) is cheap insurance. That is not to say a cow can't become ill, but the likelihood is far less when you vaccinate.

Again, depending on your location, they should have access to shade, a windbreak or run-in shed, and clean water at all times. Loose minerals, NOT a block, are recommended. Heat stress is a killer as many people have learned this past spring and summer, so don't breed them to calve in mid-July.

Calf pullers may be considered a joke among Dexter people...until they are needed (and yes, this CAN happen)! Having contact with a good vet is important.

Carol is right...this IS a book! And it's always a good idea to get a few basic books on raising cattle to read and keep on hand when you have a question.

In my opinion, Dexters in smaller numbers are usually treated as individuals. Here, they all have names, they know them, and if one needs something, she gets it. It's probably not possible when you have a large herd, but it's the way we do things here.

Way longer than I intended to spend on this, but here it is.

[pasohorsegal]

All I can say is wow and thank you for the time you took to cover my questions. I don't know where to respond . We are adamant about the feeding of are animals . We have a 10.06 acre place . I feed 11 horses with Good grade alfalfa a few round bales of sweet bee or pearl millet, then a touch of grain We have a turn out pasture for them to eat grass in turn, and a cow pasture of about an acre and a half. Seperate from the horses. We basically rescued our 5 dogs from folks that didn't want them, and three cats from Coyotes and owls we feed our anaimls before we think of eating ourselves. You know how it is, Kids grown , the empty nest. Then amimals become your babies, Oh, We have chickens too. The cow things If I ever find one I can afford is Milk for the farm and to give to families at church that could use the extra Help We are on a fixed income as is so many that are retired are but love our little farm and the peace we have here. I devour all the info I recieve . I have owned several cows years ago but have forgotton most of all I knew and things have changed through the years... I greatly appreciate any insight folks can offer me . It seems Dexter people are the most willing to share their expertise than any other cow persons I have contacted....Thank you for your time .

[dexterlady]

Pasohorsegal, Where do you live? Do you have Paso Fino horses? I had a Paso Fino once and she was the sweetest thing I ever owned. I now have Missouri Foxtrotters. I also raise Dexters and I just can't say enough about how sweet they are. I would never have another breed of cow. I just love ours. Well, I just wanted to say hello and if I can be of any help to you, let me know. I am not as knowledgeable as most on here, but I am learning everyday. These people on here are very smart about Dexters and they do a lot of research, so you have come to the right place to get excellent information. I would not go anywhere else... Enjoy..........Donna

[pasohorsegal]

Yes ,Donna I do raise Paso Finos, Have some pictures on http://www.horsetailessalestips.blogspot.com..First hand info Is the best with people that raise the Dexters .. I have heard they dont give much milk though. Was thinking about looking for a Dexter Jersey cross.... I was shot down on the site becuse I menchioned a dexter cross OOPPS ! Tell me about your Dexters and why you love them!

[otf]

paso, your link doesn't work for me.

[pasohorsegal]

Try this www.horsetalessalestips.blogspot.com I qoofed