Opinion on these gals.

[Gorignak]

We are headed for a herd of registered Dexters. So, when I pose this question...it is for 2 reasons, rhetorical...I'd just like to hear you all talk about what you would do with this situation......and, financial...... In our dealings with registered stock, is there $$$$ to be made with a 1-2 year turnover of these two.
The listing will probably disappear soon, so.....have at it.

springfield.craigslist.org/grd/4038041114.html

I have 2 short- legged dexter heifers for sale. These heifers are around 18 months old and been exposed to a lowline angus bull. $650.00 each or $1200.00 for the pair.







Okay......I wouldn't add these as "keepers" to our herd. I talked to the owner. He was "low level" knowledgeable...I am certain HE is not concealing some terrific defect. He has 2 other Dexter cows that are taller than these. He is guessing at everything, and it really shows the damage that 2nd and 3rd hand sales can do to the breed. He is sure of the age. He says they are "around 40" tall". With a situation like this, it would be easy to drift off into speculating how bad you could be "intentionally" ripped off....let alone unintentionally. I'm more interested in the nuts and bolts of evaluating a pass-through ownership, and putting a couple of good looking gals in the hands of a family or two who wants to milk. There are a LOT of unregistered Dexters changing hands in SW Missouri. It has a history with the cattle as just cattle.....so let's assume they are purebred stock, and all the previous owners were just "owners".

SO:

Young.....18 months old
Good looking...at least in the picture. Good flesh....legs look straight. Backline straight.
Bred....not too young, too bad it was an Angus
Good price....high for a cow....reasonable for a Dexter. Might get the pair $100 cheaper.
Horns seem to indicate good nutrition.

BUT:
No PHA status test
No Chondro status test
No A2/A2 status test
Original owner/breeder could have been dumping tested, terrible stock. This owner has no clue.
No registration possible
No knowledge of milking potential....via view of sires pedigree or lineage udders.
Not extra beefy....but fleshed out reasonably well.One looks a little lighter in the back.
Horned...I like, but understand the drawback for 1st time milkers.
Black..... Not sexy with the "manic rouge" atmosphere prevailing today.

I'm not getting these gals.....but I have a huge amount of grass now....will have a great stockpile of grass for the winter....4x5 round bales are down to $20.....heavy squares can be bought for $3....and straw can be bought for $1./sq bale or $15. 4/5 round.
If there was a "pass through" value, a profit to be made in a year or two, would you all comment on how you would view these heifers.
If I was just buying "cows" to eat grass and grow some $$, I would rather look at these faces than an angus. But, I'm not in it for the "cute". they might be a terrible investment.

If they had registration papers that I could look at...I'd be over today pulling tail hairs....or offering him $500 each, and take the chance. OR see glaring problems, and pass  LOTS of hidden/secret/unknown PHA in SW Missouri herds.
Like the song says...." Something in the way she Moos, attracts me like no other udder".  I'm hooked on the breed.

[Olga]

First picture, the one in the background looks longleg, imo. Dont know the resale value, but after weaning, you could beef the babies and resell the cows once they are trained for milk - if the udders are acceptable.

Edit: now that the pictures have been added to the post, it's the cow in front in 1st pic, same cow in background in 2nd pic that I think is a longleg.

[Gorignak]

My evaluation was 50/50 on the long leg for at least one.

[kansasdexters]

Mike,

I would not want to purchase any first calf Dexter heifers that were bred to an "unknown" Angus bull. If they die or have severe complications during calving -- you will lose big time. You are also taking the risk of bringing in disease to your herd because you know nothing of where these animals have been and subclinical disease is not apparent until you expose a vulnerable group of cattle to it. Most herd diseases are bought and paid for, by purchasing animals of unknown background and exposure. It's a no brainer for me, no thanks, no way would I buy these animals. Too much to lose, not enough to gain.

Patti

[ssrdex]

"Somethin in the way she woos me"...but these don't. I would agree with Patti, not worth the problems they could cause for my situation. Now if I had separate pasture with an over abundance of hay, and the deal for the pair was a little sweeter...

[cddexter]

Everyone's right, Mike. Probably worth getting if you want beef from the calves, and maybe take the time to train the cows to milk and sell on as a family cow. I'd want the pha status for sure, as this would make the difference between selling on and eating her, too (to me). Angus shouldn't be too much of a problem, most of the time, but of course, you'd need to keep a close watch at calving, maybe ask the vet's opinion? In England they use dwarf dexters with limos and charolais bulls, figuring it's a big calf for small keep. May have to pull, but otherwise probably okay. The disease issue is something else again. If they look healthy, no runny nose, good condition, and if you had a separate pasture to keep them in for a while, probably okay. Price would have to be right. No testing, price comes down. Can you find out where the dams are and what happened to them? That might give you info about the health issue. I agree with Olga about one being non-dwarf. The other does have some dwarfy clues, but without testing you'd not know. If you were aiming to breed to OZ, then you may have that D x D issue. thoughts from the tide pools of VI. cheers, c.

[Gorignak]

Thanks for the life preservers !! But, I'm just sitting in waist deep water....NOT in any danger of buying these.
But.....put on your auction overalls and deals like this crop up all the time around here. I'm just trying to expose the impressionable to the "long and short" of a "deal" on a couple Dexters.
I agree with much that is said....especially the 2-4 acre paddock "plague tent" to quarantine. I think that these gals would hold some promise for a family that was willing to learn on the fly and could emerge with a strong lesson....hopefully more good than bad.
It would be folly for me to interrupt a very lucky start, and rapidly developing plans, with a potential for limited rewards at best.

[Gorignak]

Best advice yet, Gene.
Since we are now fencing 40 acres (80 by next summer), and hay is CHEAP...I will continue to look at short and long term $$$ opportunities. I saw some of the first cutting....probably overmature and somewhat stemmy...hay being offered for $18./ 4 X 5. The second cutting is SO SMOOTH and fine and green and smells so good, and is VERY thick.....that guys are trying to dump the first cutting to get this hay in their sheds and barns. I will be able to buy 2nd cutting, 4X5 1000 lb bales for $30. about 2 miles from our place. I walked through the uncut fields last week....knee deep Bermuda and red clover.
So....something that would have a 12 month turnover would suit this orgy of excess we find ourselves in. I don't have a barn set up for hay. If I did, I would buy 2 years worth of this second cutting and store it.

[jdcarnathan]

Mike, I have 2 cows that had Angus calves the first time with no problems. Not while on my farm though. One is the crazy cow, (maybe it changed her ....) The second calving with a dexter was a breeze. I am getting 2 registered ones that are bred by a low line this weekend. My thoughts are this, the calves will be polled, and black since Angus and mom are. Meets rrquiremnts for "certified Angus", and should make my money back off the calves at the barn alone. Assuming long legged that is. Just my opinion.