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Post by triplec on Nov 19, 2014 17:47:10 GMT -5
I know most are breeding purebreds for replacements and herd building. What are some tried crosses that have worked well for beef or milk?
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Post by RedRidge on Nov 19, 2014 18:02:53 GMT -5
I'm growing out several crosses right now. I'll let you know in another year but as near as I can tell the biggest thing they are lacking is brains. LOL
They tend to hang together and it takes them a lot longer to figure out creep gates, etc. I have a creep gate up specifically to provide a shorter stock tank for the youngsters and the crosses will practically stand on their heads up try to reach the water in a half full large tank. So... you help them figure it out, coax them in with an open gate (with all the dexter youngsters already in there just shaking their heads trying to figure out what I'm doing), shut the gate, and an hour later they are bellowing because they can't figure out how to get out. ROFL. It's really quite entertaining but I'll tell you, they aren't the brightest crayons in the box. And there is quote a variety of breeds they are crossed with... jersey, shorthorn... I dunno... missing a cog.
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Post by triplec on Nov 26, 2014 12:20:39 GMT -5
RedRidge
What are you plans for them? Feed them out or in replacement heifers? What would you breed them back to? Has anyone ever heard of any of the composite breeds tried to be copied in miniature?
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Post by RedRidge on Nov 26, 2014 13:43:19 GMT -5
Oh these are all destined for the freezer. Beef demand is too high and selling heifers is a pain. I advertise a few heifers here and there but there are so many other dexter breeders in this area who show and advertise heavily that it's not worth my effort to compete against that. Easier to just beef the extras unless someone specifically calls me looking for something for breeding. In which case... anything here is for sale for a price - except my husband. ;-)
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Post by hollydzie on Nov 27, 2014 10:09:51 GMT -5
We will be slaughtering 2 ~ Dexter/ Angus lowline crosses Dec. 4th, should get the beef back around the 20th. I am anxious to see how it compares to our pure Dexter that we processed in June. They have been fed grass/hay, 30% protein and some Purina grower finisher.... The exact same thing as the Dexter.
Holly
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Post by triplec on Dec 4, 2014 11:11:58 GMT -5
Has anyone made a cross with a zebu? Any pictures maybe especially of Dexter/zebu cross cow? What about a corrientie? I would think that a few guys down in Texas have tried a few of these for heat and insect tolerance. Just thinking
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Post by ladena on Dec 4, 2014 12:31:21 GMT -5
Someone in Arkansas has a half Dexter, half Zebu heifer for sale on Craigslist. I think there are also some people who do the cross for mini bucking bulls.
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Post by kansasdexters on Dec 4, 2014 22:09:05 GMT -5
We have crossbred Kerry cows with Dexter bulls on several times, in order to produce a larger carcass (heavier hanging weight) for our grassfed/grass finished beef. These crossbred beeves have been very well received by our beef customers. The hanging weights for these cross-bred steers and heifers have been over 450 lb for steers (under 24 months of age) and over 350 lb for heifers (under 24 months of age).
Patti
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Heterosis
Dec 6, 2014 10:33:28 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jdcarnathan on Dec 6, 2014 10:33:28 GMT -5
I will get you some pictures tonight hopefully. I have a few that were crossed with zebu before I go them. One is small and one is taller and thinner, I didn't do the cross but can say I do like them here in Arkansas. It gets pretty darn hot and they do fine, but so do our full bloods. Also the bigger cross was apparently bred to an Angus bull, no problems birthing, actually didnr show at all really, and had a beautiful little heifer calf. I have also wondered about crossing corriente or something else. Most likely for our next crosses we are gonna do lowlines to our non registered girls.
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Heterosis
Mar 18, 2015 13:10:47 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by triplec on Mar 18, 2015 13:10:47 GMT -5
Does anyone have any updated pictures of their cossbreds? I am still considering a good cross. RedRidge did your crosses get smarter? Are they growing faster than your purebred? |
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Post by cddexter on Mar 18, 2015 14:27:54 GMT -5
I have the article from the late 1880's about DexterxZebu crosses, seemed to be desirable then. I don't have it on the computer, maybe patti does? c.
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Post by kansasdexters on Mar 18, 2015 15:01:40 GMT -5
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Post by RedRidge on Mar 19, 2015 6:30:05 GMT -5
Does anyone have any updated pictures of their cossbreds? I am still considering a good cross. RedRidge did your crosses get smarter? Are they growing faster than your purebred? Here's a pic taken about a month ago of 4 of the youngsters. The steers on each end are the same age, 8 months old. The one on the left is a jersey cross dexter. The two heifers in the middle are about 18 months old. All 4 are non-chondro... the fifth one just out of the pic to the left is a chondro but I don't believe you can tell that from the pic. So you can tell that the jersey cross will be a bigger, framier fella. He is being managed identical to the dexters. This group, plus several other youngsters, went out to summer pastures for daily rotation the first of the week. I'll be real curious to compare again in the fall. Oh, and to answer your other question - he is still not the brightest crayon in the box. ;-)  |
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Post by triplec on Jan 6, 2016 12:22:54 GMT -5
RedRidge How did your cross turn out? Did you get them butchered yet? Are you pleased with the results?
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hoperefuge
member
Milking our Dexters in the mountains of KY since 2007
Posts: 101
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Post by hoperefuge on Jan 24, 2016 12:43:44 GMT -5
I have my BoPeep, who is a Jersey/Dexter cross, for those who haven't "met" her yet on KFC. Her dam was a 51" tall Jersey that I bought already bred to a dun Dexter bull. Bo is 47" tall & looks quite Jersey, but she is seriously hardier than her dam was, and keeps condition well with only a few pounds of grain while milking. I've had zero health issues from her...no mastitis ever (she's on her 7th lactation), no milk fever, ketosis, nothing. She is my Boss Cow, but she knows my rules & that she has to respect me, and she's just as easy to manage as the Dexters. She peaks at 6 gallons a day, then tapers off to between 5 - 5 1/2 gallons daily through the rest of her lactation, until I wean the calf, usually around 7 months. At that point we go to just once-a-day milking for a couple months, and she'll be giving me around 1 1/2 gallons a day then taper off to a gallon. She is just about as perfect as you could want for a family milk cow. (Her production is actually higher than what I want or need, so hoping to get some Dexters in the 4 gallon/day range, which would be my ideal!) I've usually been breeding her to my Dexter bulls, and her calves are usually in high demand. So far most of them have been stockier in build than Bo is. Here is a photo from the other week, just starting into her 7th lactation. She's got that Jersey loin weakness, and her back is starting to sag a bit, but otherwise she's still looking good. It's hard to get my mind around the fact that she's as old as she is already! Love the girl!  Kim |
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