Questions about Dexters?

topside1 · #1 10/20/06, 03:32 PM

Howdy everyone, just had a few questions about Dexters. The reason I ask is because the kids will be moving out soon and Holstein and Jersey meat halves will provide entirely too much beef for the wife and I. Don't feel like quartering out the meat to others so maybe downsizing to Dexters is the answer. I'm sure Dexters also eat less than a 1600 pound Holsteins, just a guess though.

3. Approxiamately how much $$$$ for homestead quality registered or non-registered 6-12 month old animals?
5. With calf on the dam is there any excess milk for goats/other calves/humans?
6. What is the average Dexter slaughter weight?
7. Anyone have an un-related pair for sale now, or in the future?

Thanks in advance for your time.

From the hills and hollers---Tennessee John

Paula · #2 10/20/06, 03:54 PM

Hi,
Don't have time right now to answer all your questions, but I can tell you most people (including us) wouldn't sell you a 3 wk-old Dexter. We want our cows to get off to the best start possible, and they just don't grow as well and aren't as healthy if you take them away from their mother too soon. The bull we have now was weaned by prev. owners at 3 months. We got him at a price we couldn't refuse (thanks DollarlessBill!) He was a little runty for about 18 month from being weaned too early. He's magnificient now.
You don't need to bottle feed dexters to make them tame. Just handling them when they're weaned is plenty.
And I wouldn't bottle feed a bull I intended to let stay a bull. Even though Dexters bulls are extremely trustworthy I just wouldn't want any bull to feel that familiar with me.
Search this forum for Dexters - most of the posts about them have been in the last 3-4 yrs (actually most of them prob. in the last 2) so the info will still be up to date.

Sher · #3 10/20/06, 04:10 PM

Topsie..I agree with Paula...unless the momma has died..I cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would wean a Dexter calf at 3 weeks. Heck, we leave our babies on 4-6 mo. It would be very hard to put a price on one that young..at least for us.

A fella I know that does milk his Dexters...splits time with the calf I think. We don't milk any of ours..yet. I may have to break down and try it. I have had to "milk"out a couple of the girls so that the baby could get sucking..my husband leaned on them a bit and I milked and the moms could really have cared less..thank God! LOL..

We have what I would call an "aloof" herd bull. He comes up and all .. when the girls do..but he feels no need in us messing with him...nor do we feel the need to mess with him..lol. He is very much in control of his girls and he throws us little dandies..so its working for him and us!

We've had cattle off and on through the years..but I have to say..I have a hard time trying to describe these animals to anyone who hasn't had them. There's an air about them...like..we're not just living here...we're living here WITH you. Gotta love those Dexters! Good luck!

topside1 · #4 10/20/06, 05:53 PM

Ok I did my homework and priced Dexter cattle. Not the type of steer you'd want to be eating, a little pricey. Guess I'll stick to raising Holsteins bottle calves and deep freezing younger tasty Jersey steers. Thanks for your time everyone....Enjoy your weekend.
Tennessee John

Hammer4 · #5 10/20/06, 05:56 PM

I'm wondering where the 3 week old dexter issue came from? The OP didn't mention it at all.

Anyhow, price wise, for 6 - 12 month old Dexters you are going to pay $400 - 1500 based on registered or not and male or female. You could most likely get unregistered males for less than that.

topside1 · #6 10/20/06, 06:03 PM

Hammer4, I edited my orginial post....Thanks for the numbers $$, they seem my reasonable then what my searches have turned up....Thanks

georgiarebel · #7 10/20/06, 07:41 PM

topside,

I replied back to you PM.

You might find Dexter prices a little high in our area as it seems Dexter's are just catching on in the South. The days of large plantations are gone and the average person hopes to escape the daily grind of urban living to get their little slice of heaven are on 10-20 acres. Dexter's seem to fit this type situation best as you can keep more per acre than other type cows. I traveled to Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas to start my herd.

Typically Cows and heifers will bring in more ($1000 - $2000) compared to the bulls ($500 - $1500). The Reds seem to go for twice as much.

GR

jnap31 · #8 10/21/06, 02:48 AM

[QUOTE=georgiarebel

Typically Cows and heifers will bring in more ($1000 - $2000) compared to the bulls ($500 - $1500). The Reds seem to go for twice as much.

GR[/QUOTE]
Of course there have been several good heifers on barter board for much less one in NY recently advertised at $600 and she was a good milk cow. A lot of the price depends on what part of the country your in. Lots of Dexter in MO so I bet you could find them cheaper there.

translplant · #9 10/22/06, 06:32 PM

If you're not thinking of breeding registered animals, but want smaller sides of beef, what about just getting a Dexter bull to put across your larger cows and start bringing down the size of your calves? Bull calves are easy to find (I have a few myself and, hey, what do you know?, I'm also in Tennessee!) and you will not get sticker shock like you can with the red, polled, heifers, etc.

topside1 · #10 10/22/06, 07:06 PM

Great plan translplant, except I only raise bottle steers for freezer use and for annual profit. I Wish I had some full-time heifers or cows, but my acreage can't support it. I also raise beef and dairy goats so space is limited. A Dexter heifer/bull pair could easily fit into the equation except for the price tag. I could purchase a lot of Holstein bull calves for the price of one Dexter heifer. Sorry to sound cheap, but it economically doesn't add up for me. Love the Dexter breed from what I've read, could be a possibility down the road...Thanks for the input....Tennessee John

Slev · #11 10/28/06, 02:42 AM

if you're already set up, I think I'd just keep raising what you're raising and go ahead and sell off a side. That way you get beef and $$. For me, I'm sticking to Dexters, (may try a Jersey sometime) just so I can honestly compair.

flatlander06 · #12 10/30/06, 04:44 PM

I just butchered two dexters. One was a three year old cow and the other a 2 year old steer. The hanging weights were 536# and 517#.

Slev · #13 10/30/06, 08:16 PM

WOW ! Flatlander.....

Did you happen to know the hoof weight? The reason I'm asking is if on most animals you double the hanging weight that should just about tell the hoof weight. But in a Dexters case, I'm thinking because they are a little leaner, that may explain the higher hanging weight????? hum....

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatlander06

I just butchered two dexters. One was a three year old cow and the other a 2 year old steer. The hanging weights were 536# and 517#.

Paula · #14 10/31/06, 05:26 AM

We sent one dexter steer to the processor this year. He was 28 months old, hoof weight was 580, hanging wt 320.
He was totally grass-fed.

flatlander06 · #15 10/31/06, 06:38 AM

I was not able to get a hoof weight. I would guess around 800#. Both animals were very fat. They both recieved two coffee cans of feed each morning for three months prior to slaughtering. It probably wasn't necessary, but I like a little marbling.

MaineFarmMom · #16 10/31/06, 07:19 AM

I sent my mature cow to the butcher 10 days ago. Hanging weight 550 lbs.

afrikaner · #17 10/31/06, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgiarebel

topside,

I replied back to you PM.

You might find Dexter prices a little high in our area as it seems Dexter's are just catching on in the South. The days of large plantations are gone and the average person hopes to escape the daily grind of urban living to get their little slice of heaven are on 10-20 acres. Dexter's seem to fit this type situation best as you can keep more per acre than other type cows. I traveled to Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas to start my herd.

Typically Cows and heifers will bring in more ($1000 - $2000) compared to the bulls ($500 - $1500). The Reds seem to go for twice as much.

GR

Georgiarebel,

good to see fellow Georgians on here. In your opinions, how many Dexters would you be able to keep on 5 acres? I would say no more than 1 per acre. I love the breed and have been around them in the past, but never got really involved.
With 1 animal per acre, you shouldn't require a lot of additional feed, but you will want to keep a camp open to rotate the grazing areas.

georgiarebel · #18 11/01/06, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afrikaner

Georgiarebel,

good to see fellow Georgians on here. In your opinions, how many Dexters would you be able to keep on 5 acres? I would say no more than 1 per acre. I love the breed and have been around them in the past, but never got really involved.
With 1 animal per acre, you shouldn't require a lot of additional feed, but you will want to keep a camp open to rotate the grazing areas.

Same here afrikaner

When researching the breed a big selling point for me was the average was 2 per acre. You are probably right one 1 per acre not requiring additional feed. (depends a lot on the weather). This summer we were hurting for rain and I almost had to start buying hay in July. Seems Dexter's will eat a lot of things other cattle won't. Mine tore up vines and a kudzu patch on the back of my property. The food really isn't the issue when it comes to qty. I find it has more to do with the how quickly their manure breaks down, because they won't eat around it. You can help this along by dragging the field once a week. I plan on planting winter rye and have plenty of peanut hay, so feeding them isn't a problem.

I'd say you could keep 8-10 on 5 acres. If you are in the neighborhood stop by and I'll show'em to ya.

GR

afrikaner · #19 11/02/06, 08:38 AM

GeorgiaRebel,

Thanks for the wonderful information and invite. Well, one thing we have plenty of in GA is Kudzu, so dexters should never go hungry!

I probably will never keep more than 5. My mother (who doesn't want to live on the farm) insists on keeping Llama's or alpeca's. Heck, I've never even seen one of thse weird creatures, but oh well!
Whereabouts in Georgia are you located? I'd love to take a look at your Dexters.
If you ever get into the business of selling a calve, let me know.

Regards
Afrikaner