Dexter Cows - dual purpose?

Hannah90 · #21 12/04/12, 02:33 PM

Dusky Beauty you don't like your cow's milk? In my short experience milking this year, my dexter's milk tastes incredibly similar to store milk. Most all who try it say it's about the same texture but a little sweeter. I notice it has a "barn" smell when it's warm, but dissipates when it's cold. My one and only complaint is there isn't enough cream. I have read some folks say their milk is almost naturally homogenized and the cream doesn't rise as well. I don't know about that, but my cow doesn't give a lot of cream. I am hoping to swap her out for a jersey cow that is bred back to a dexter. I am excited about this because my end goal was to get a jersey/dexter cross someday. I have enjoyed my dexter cow and her calf- getting closer to being a bull than just a calf- is calm and easily handled. Annabelle is a butthead some days, but mostly she's been great. Do you research and then jump in. It's fun!

~Tomboy~ · #22 12/04/12, 07:23 PM

Coolwater, sent you a pm yesterday. I am a Dexter breeder not far from you in Spring Branch, TX. I know folks that are closer to you that you might want to contact and visit. Of coarse you welcome to come to my place. My neighbor also raises Dexters. He liked them so much it got rid of the majority of his commercial herd and bought about 15 Dexters.

Dusky Beauty · #23 12/04/12, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannah90

Dusky Beauty you don't like your cow's milk? In my short experience milking this year, my dexter's milk tastes incredibly similar to store milk.

The fresh milk out of this cow has an incredibly strong dairy smell when it sits in the jar for a couple hours. My dissatisfaction might have to do with the fact I am pregnant and everything smells stronger-- but I haven't been able to get past it to drink it myself. My oldest dd also says she doesn't like the smell but does like the way it tastes.

I also have a problem getting a cream line--- I'm trying the iced tea jar trick now.

Hannah90 · #24 12/04/12, 08:01 PM

Man, I could live on milk. I love everything about it. I will say though, I have only ever tried goat milk from the store and Ive hated it every time. I just brought home some dairy goats due to freshen in the spring. So I am anxiously awaiting to taste fresh goat milk.

I have given up on cream from annabelle. I will be patient until I can get my hands on jersey milk. So, so curious of the quality of your belmonts milk/cream. Tell her to hurry up!

southerngurl · #25 12/04/12, 10:33 PM

Yes, store bought milk tastes terrible. Milk from my nubians taste wonderful, even warm right out of the udder! Tastes like cream.

Hannah90 · #26 12/05/12, 07:24 AM

I have two saanens. I know their milk is naturally low in butterfat, but I have a feeloing I will warm up to it very quickly considering I may not have milk may-july nxt year.

genebo · #27 12/05/12, 11:02 AM

Dexter milk is slower to separate. It may have to be allowed to sit a lot longer, 24 to 48 hours before skimming.

I've read a lot of people brag about the iced tea jar trick.

My friend uses a cream separator on both his Dexter milk and his goat milk. There's a thread about an affordable cream serarator here:

Irish Dexter Cattle - Finally got my cream seperator

Hannah90 · #28 12/05/12, 11:06 AM

Yeah, I have toyed with the idea of getting a cream separator. Just cant justify almost $300 at the moment. I have let the milk sit for 3 days before and had pretty much the same line at the 24 hour sitting. I think it is just my cow mostly. We all know every cow is different even within the breeds.

Dusky Beauty · #29 12/05/12, 11:19 AM

thread bookmarked till the next large set of money comes in. I'm definitely going to be needing a separator.

arnie · #30 12/05/12, 06:11 PM

A. Calf taught to lead and wear harness or yolk while young are supposed tobe more steady and reliable than most horses .my grandfather being an expert teamster as were my uncles .my cousins would often ride the milk cows in I stead of walking behind makeing their father mad .unless you are very small in size I would not recome d rideing a dexter but there is no reason she could not be trained to pull a cart .cattle are much slower than horses my personal milk cow is a brown swiss cosiderd a dual purpos breed she is a good milker very gentle she will come when called . The main thing when getting a dairy animal is that she be gentile and acustomed to people it is dificult for a person inexperinced with livestock to break a cow to milk and be handled after it is older but its easy if you raise a calf and work with it often and it acepts you as its leader .if you have a pasture a dairy cow can be the biggest cotribituter to a homested providing all your beef dairy and if you don't use a lot of milk a pig will really grow if a little milk is added to it feed as will chickens .being in close contact with your cow and drinking the raw milk she will produce antibodies for you as well as her calf keeping you healthy .

Coolwater · #31 12/09/12, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusky Beauty

Long story short, a mule wandered into my yard, i caught him and located his owner-- she turned out to be a gal with a lifetime of amazing experiences, including training her little dexter steer to be ridden (that photo on the old thread of the gal in long dark hair and red tack and hat riding the little cow was her.)

She told me that he was a bottle baby, was castrated at the vets office on the way home from picking him up, and he was so tame from constant handling (she has dressed him up as a calf and yearling and led him around parades before) one day she tacked him up and climbed on and that was that. He never bucked-- just accepted it and learned the cues.

Just saw the pic, LOVE it!!!! They are even smaller than I thought. So I can see where some may not think they should be ridden, but I think that is really what I want someday. Still working on the DH LOL!!!