Getting first cow today. Any advise for a newbe?
 

Getting a Dexter from a another forum member today (thanks). She is about 4 years old and open. Seems a little thin in the hips and across the back. My goal is to fatten the girl up and get her AI as soon as possiable. Thoughs, suggestions for a guy with his first cow? Thanks

My advice is that fatter isn't necessarily better with cows :) Too fat can cause problems. Additionally too much grain to try to fatten can cause problems. She does need all the forage/hay she can eat and a good loose mineral and salt. "Mineral salt" is really not good enough, it's mostly salt.

Can you post a pic?

Congrats on your new cow!

Vaccination and deworming status?

Has she calved before?

Consider a steer companion for her?

Keep her confined to a smaller area until she settles in and learns where "home" is.

Registration and genetic test status?

Sorry, all questions, no answers yet.

If you're going to give her grain, start small.

she calved last September. Lost the calf about Feb do to a fencing mishap.

As for as a steer, right now im "thinking" AI (?)

She is registered with Legacy and PBDA (I think I have that right)

She A2/A2 PHA free and chroria (sp) positive (still learning terms)

I believe she has been getting hay and about 2 gal of grain twice a day.

I plan to keep her around a stall of the barn for a week for so til we get to know each other..

Wow that is a huge amount of grain. That would be like a max amount a full size lactating dairy cow would get. Are you sure??

2 gallons (!) of grain a day? Yikes! If she's chondro positive, she's probably somewhat small and shouldn't require much, if any, grain, depending on her body condition.

Hope you'll get copies of test results, etc., for your records.

AI is fine for breeding; a steer is meant for companionship. Cows are herd animals and do better when they have another cow or steer around. A companion cow or steer can also assist in heat detection, which you'll find useful if you're planning to AI.

Yes, we would all love to see a photo of her!

He said 2 gal twice a day.....

Yup, he did...I read it too fast. I'm picturing a 5 gal bucket filled almost to the top. Way too much for a little Dexter.

Congratulations on your new cow. It looks like you are in good hands with the advice. The only advice I will add is to take time and enjoy her. Dexters are neat little cows and each has their own personality. They are fun.

Wow, I am glad the question was posted! Sounds like there was a mis-communication between buyer and seller, and buyer could have literally killed the cow with kindness.

Don't be afraid to ask if you don't know!!

Any idea why she wasn't bred back? Normally cows are bred a few months after having their calf.
Have they, and now you, been milking her? If she's not getting milked by a calf or by you, over the past 4-5 months, plus getting grain, she should be plump. Any idea when she was wormed? Worms can take a dreadful toll on cattle.

Plan on milking her or simply raising calves?

Got her home.
 

Got the cow home. She is awesome :sing:. My daughter LOVES her. She seems to respond really well to my daughter. We were working in the barn and I called her my little helper, she was quick to inform me that she's a ranch hand. It was awesome. The reason she wasn't bred back is the people who had her got orders to move cross country. I would love to AI her as soon as possible. I plan to raise calves and milk her. Any suggestions on feed and "licks"?

Dexters are well known for doing exceptionally well on forage/hay alone. That is the healthiest way to feed her - all the forage/hay she wishes to eat.

You didn't answer whether she was truly getting 2 gallons of grain twice a day... that would be very bad for her and I can't picture a dexter even being able to put that much away. That much grain makes cows very acidotic and takes special management. That kind of feeding is generally only used with commercial dairy cows.

2 gals twice a day
 

the lady first said about 8lbs twice a day. Her husband said he didn't think it was that much. She held her hands do demonstrate the size container and I judged it to be about 2 gals. I could be wrong.

Honestly please do not feed her that. That is crazy. She will get sick if she isn't already.

I wish some of the dexter guys would pitch in here. I have dexters so have experience with them but I'm working them out of my herd in favor of reg. beef cattle.

Dexters do awesome on forage and hay. She does not need grain. Ever. You could feed her a little when you eventually milk her but personally I use alfalfa pellets in that situation.

I'm new at this
 

I could have mis spoke. It could be some kind of pellet. I'm new to this. She sent some co-op feed. I'll look at it. I have about 5 good acres of grass and forage.

No difference. Pelleted feed (except alfalfa) will still be grain based. That much feed will make her sick. Just trying to help you prevent a problem.

If she was really getting that much she should pick up on just your good grass. Her system will be able to normalize and get back like it should be.

I've had dexters for 10 years btw and also have a 60 head beef herd so I'm not just blowing smoke :)

Congrats on your new cow!

WAY too much grain...a chondro Dexter shouldn't need any at all, even if you're milking her. Ours get fat on hay in the winter and grass in the summer only.

Rather than just cutting her off however, I'd gradually wean her over a period of a couple of months. It may take a while for the rumen to adjust to a change in diet. And if she's been fed grain for such a long time, it may take even longer for her to do as well as if she had been on grass and hay all along.

Good luck!

plenty of clean fresh water, the most imortant feed ingredient have fun

I feed some grain to all of our Dexters -- we have both chondro and non-chondro.

Depending upon their size and condition, weanlings and young animals get 1/2# to 3/4# a day of unmedicated 16% textured feed.

Adults receive 1/2# to 1# of 12% unmedicated feed -- again, depending on their age, size, and condition.

Nursing mothers get approximately 1 to 1.5# -- half 12% plus half 16% milking pellets (and they really love those pellets). If a new mother is milking hard, I give her more. If one is able to feed her calf easily without losing weight, I reduce the amount.

Everybody has pasture and hay.

Young calves show an interest in their mothers' buckets at about 2 months of age. Since they all come up into the pens behind the barn, I introduce the calves to a small pan of grain in a pen that no adults can get to. At the moment I have 5 calves who come in to explore the pens, the barn, and nibble on grain. By the time they are weaned at about 6 months, they will not be physically dependent upon their mothers' milk, they'll be accustomed to come into the pens, and they'll be used to me. The less stress, the better at weaning time.

To the OP... Be sure that any changes made to her diet is gradual, including the cutting back of the feed. Any sudden change going from either a heavy grain to a light or no grain diet can cause acidosis and if you aren't familiar with it, it can kill the cow before you realize something serious is wrong.

Ordinarily, most cows, do NOT need grain. They do best on just grass and hay. As it was said previously, gradually remove the grain from her diet and make sure she has all the grass or hay she wants. Don't ration the grass or hay. Same with a good mineral. Try to make it a 12:12 (your feed store will understand) and leave it out "free choice" meaning don't ration it.

If you try to fatten a cow and then breed, it may not go well. A fat cow will have trouble conceiving and a fat cow is more likely to have calving problems.

Here, if we have a cow that cannot keep her weight on with just grass (and hay in winter) she goes "to town."

Good luck... OH, and post some pics from the front, side, and back.

Dexters do not need the "extras" some of the other breeds need to keep their condition. Even with no rain, and crispy pastures they look great. That is one of the main reasons I went with them. I have a bale of hay in the field with them now and they have a mineral block and plenty of fresh water. I give each a handful (about 1 cup) of grain in the morning. But this is mainly so I can pet them and keep them used to being handled.

We've had Dexters for quite a while now..never grain them. It's pretty darned dry here and our bull Sammy looks like he could give birth. Just sayin'..their origins made them who they are..they can get by very well grazing on stuff a lot of breeds won't look at. We pasture/hay/mineral here and still have plump shorties..lol.

Best of luck with your little girl..I'm sure you'll love her and vise versa.

Thanks
 

Thanks for all the good info. Only been a day but its been going great. Only problem, Im wanting a secound heifer to go with her..

wvdexters, have you considered switching to free choice loose minerals instead of a mineral block? I think loose minerals made for your agricultural area will be a far better choice for their overall well-being as well as their reproductive life.

2kidsdad, congratulations on the new girl! Post a picture when you can? Of course you want another one!

To G. Seddon. Yes, I have been looking into getting some loose minerals for the girls. We have never tried it before but it sounds like a good idea. Is there a brand or type you recommend? Do you mix in with feed or feed free choice in tubs?

wvdexters, we feed loose minerals in this type of feeder (there are other brands that use the same design, you can check around, not cheap, but they work well UNLESS your bull decides to play soccer with it). When you first put it out, they'll come over to see what it is. I sprinkle a little bit of mineral on the top so they figure out quickly where the goodies are.

Equipment- Dura-Bull Mineral Feeder

You could check with the vet or your extension agent about which mineral to use in your area. If you can't get an answer from them, then Young's Brood Cow's Choice is one that our vet frequently recommends (Cargill product I think?). Or you could ask a reliable cattleperson in your area what he/she uses.

Thanks for the tip. I will definitely check into this. It sounds like a good idea especially with these conditions we are all dealing with. My vet is coming out in a couple days to vaccinate my new heifer. I'll see which one he recommends.

Check her for worms pour on a dose of ivomec .a guart of grain or sweet feed as a treat to get her to be freinds with you or some choped up brused apples workes just as well