Dexter cow,high price

Well great genetics can be worth the price, but do they fit your needs. If you are looking for a family milk cow, I wouild think you have more suitable options. If you are going to build a herd or raise breeding stock, you may want super genetics. But a super cow at a high price will be tricky to liquidate if your needs and desires change. A simpler cow at market prices will move more easily. Just ask your self what your long term and short term goals are. then ask yourself what your history with similar goals are. then asses your tollerance for risk. If your asking if the price is too high, you must already believe it is. Which probably means it doesnt quite fit your goals at this time. IMHO
If you were buying from me thats probably what I would tell you. i would think most breeders of higher end genetics would rather sell to satisfied buyers who will in turn do all of their selling for them by word of mouth. Great genetics usually sell them selves to the buyers that need them. Matching the buyers is the trick.

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They aren't going to sell it at that price.

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I don't know, paying 3-4 k for a heifer or even a bred cow is just too steep unless you are showing and this is a hobby in my opinion. You cannot expect any cow, no matter the breed to sell for just loads when there are a good deal of them out there. Dexters have been used as beef and milkers for small family farms for a long time.

What good are superior genetics if they are not utilized in a manner the breed was intended for? It's not worth it to pay more for a cow (imo) than you'll be likely to make back on the first four or five boys you get out of her at market. That's my gauge at least.

With the girl I had been about to purchase she was nice enough to win prizes and I'll admit I thought her price was very fair at 1200. But for twice that amount? I expect the heifer to sit and come and perhaps roll over too :-P

The bottom has already dropped out of the horse market in most places, the specialty cow market isn't far from it methinks.

I know that for myself my goals are to breed a small herd of Dexters for milk and beef for my family. Very small scale, probably 6 working girls and a compatible consort. :-P I'd love to have time to dedicate to showing but with three kids and counting the Saanens and the chickens I am getting I doubt I'll be doing much beyond local meets.

It is all what you are needing. If you are building a registered herd or want show stock, then the price might be OK. If you want a family cow, I think it is way too steep. My little Dexter cow did not come with papers nor does she have great conformation, but she milks fours gallons per day at her peak lactation. She also has a great calf when bred to a good bull. I am wondering how many $2400 registered cows produce enough for their calf and a human family also.

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As Tommy said, look at the cow and what she has to offer as well as what the breeder has to offer, both in reputation and guarantees. If the seller is asking top dollar for a bred animal, you should expect it to be a top animal. No doubt that a red and polled animal will give the same coloured milk as a black and horned but what is the breeding, who is she bred to and how is her conformation and temperament for being a 'house' cow? Excuse me but conformation is equally as important as temperament to her productive longevity. As CarolK said, many of us have a lot in our herds as far as time and money and this cow's price might well be within reason. Those of us that cull for conformation and/or temperament, genetically test our animals, train them to be milked, know what we are talking about in milk amounts and breed them to excellent (classified) AI bulls, expect a premium and get it. If you consider the average productive life span of a Dexter, I do know of cows that continue calving in their early 20's but probably 10 or 12 is reasonable as far as expectations, subtract her age and then divide the purchase price, I think you will find that you are buying a cow who should provide milk, 2 - 4 gallons a day and a beef in the freezer every year, for less than those of you who shop at the big 'W' But you know what? Our cows nor our time or commitment are made in China, so why does everyone expect the price to be???? Liz

I surely don't mean to belittle anyone's efforts and time. However, I have yet to meet a seller who put that kind of effort into the calf they were selling.

A halter broke, show prospect with proven production lines heifer... well perhaps 2500 is a fair price (in fact I'd be glad to pay that!) but the untouched let to run wild equivalent sure isn't. I would expect in that price range to see genetic testing in the sire and dam and some show credentials.

the ad in the OP says distinctly that the cow doesn't like the halter and I see no evidence of any testing being mentioned.

Don't assume that high prices equals superior genetics. Often the genetics haven't even been researched. It's just a case of charging all that the market will bear.

Years ago, when I first started to breed Dexters, the nice lady who sold me some of her best Dexters asked me to promise her that I'd never charge exhorbitant prices for the Dexters I raised from her stock. I promised. So have many others. It's far more important to put Dexters into the hands of small farmers than it is to try to make a living off of them.

You'll find a complete range of owners, ranging from those who carefully select their breeding stock to those who bought generic Dexters and sell everything that hits the ground.

The odd thing is that the price often has nothing to do with which type you're dealing with. Those who think that high prices means high quality are the natural prey of some.

That's why I always urge buyers to visit the Dexters they are considering buying. Check out the pedigrees online. See the DNA test results first. Find a good mentor to guide you in your selection.

Don't be impatient. It's not easy to find the right cow for you. If you buy the first one you see, you'll end up being one of those who raise the generic Dexters, instead of high quality Dexters. That wouldn't be good for you or for the breed.

The same goes for any breed. Dexters are like every breed, they aren't all jewels. If someone has a low quality Dexter in his herd, guess what he does with it? He sells it! A lot of the cattle on the market are someone else's culls. You have to be picky and don't get taken.

Owning good Dexters is a pleasure beyond compare. I mean healthy Dexters that fulfill your expectations without causing you worries and expense. You don't want to have to fight your cow in order to milk her. You don't want to have to send your bull to the processor at a young age because his feet and legs won't hold him up any more. You don't want to lose your cow in a difficult birth because she tends to have huge calves.

Look for quality first, worry about the price later.

Like CraterCove said, a well trained, nicely conformed cow that meets all your expectations is worth whatever you're willing to pay. My own words would be that an untrained, poorly configured cow that has some issues for you to deal with is no prize. It's mighty tasty, though.

The $2400 cow in question must have been tested as was the bull,they say both are PHA/chrondo free..she's dehorned.Looks well formed from the side view,maybe a little overweight.Quite a variation between the front and back of the udder and her hind feet look like she's walking heavily on her heels but in all fairness her hind feet don't show that well.Maybe some judicious hoof trimming would be in order.For me,even with perfect conformation,the lack of being led would be a deal killer,even at a cheaper price.

Just a warning... I have seen people on forums and CL claim their lines to be Chrondo free because their lines don't have 'so and so' in their background and so they don't need to test. Paperwork is a must with all transactions... but doubly so with CL dealings. For some reason people seem more willing to try and scam you if you contact them through Cl. Just my experience though.

Come to Canada and visit me Actually there are quite a few of us who would be more than happy to oblige! As a matter of fact, I know there are a couple of posters on this thread who care about bloodlines, selling sound animals, free of genetic mutations, conformation, temperament and ensuring that the buyer and the cow are a good match. So you could actually meet sellers who 'put that kind of effort' into Dexters they are selling, closer to home.

Most of us that do spend the time and money, handling, testing and culling those that are not appropriate can't afford to give away the ones that are appropriate for breeding, we have to pay for the rest of the crew. And besides I am not the Dalai Lama!

Perhaps I am embittered by seeing grand champion prices on back yard stock. As I said... a handled calf that has potential? Yeah I'd pay up to 2500$ for her. I don't think I'd ever pay that much for a bull calf though.

Where ever there is a legitimate market there will be charlatans. And unfortunately the charlatans advertise more. :P