Dexter Bred Hereford = Trouble?

[Tam319]

I am hoping someone with Dexter experience can help me out!

I've found a nice little Dexter cow for sale. She's been handmilked and is the perfect size to supply our family with milk. She's had one calf - a purebred Dexter. This spring will be her second calf and she's bred Hereford. She is perfect for my needs in all regards but I am a bit concerned about the Hereford thing. Can these little cows successfully calve out when bred to conventional beef breeds?? I am tempted to take her but not if a c-section is inevitable!! Some info I've found says that after the 1st calf Dexters can be bred to conventional beef breeds w/o problems but I was hoping someone who has "been there, done that" could weigh in. If it is not a problem a Hereford x would be a nice little beef animal bonus to our little milking Dexter!

Thank you in advance!

[Slev]

Tam, check the history of posts here. I believe someone posted an angus bull bred their cow AND calf that was only like 13 months old! I believe they said both did calf ok, but I would urge you to make sure I didn't just dream that. (It was either on here or maybe the Dexter BBS I'm on, ...I think)

I have AI'd my 1st timer Dexter to a Jersey straw. I am told it will not be a problem at all, as most Jerseys are smaller and they have narrow fronts. I will let everyone know in May of June.

Here's a tib-bit for you: While I was researching Dexters, I found an article that was testing the genetic DNA makeup of Dexters. Of all the tests on both dairy and beef breeds, they found the Dexter is closest matched to the Angus. Wow! I didn't know that.

[Tam319]

Hello,

I will search and see what I come up with! Thanks!! I would plan to breed this Dexter to a Jersey if I bought her as well. I think it would be a nice cross! Fingers crossed for a heifer for you!

That is interesting about the Angus thing. This Dexter I am in interested in looks like a small Black Angus so I guess that makes sense!

[genebo]

I have a cow here that was born to a Dexter mother by a Shorthorn bull. I had another calf here that was born to a Hereford mother by a Charolais bull. That second one was supposed to be the most difficult one, since Charolais cows have trouble with their own big calves. Yet there was no problem with either.

The mother has her own part in determining the size of the calf. The sire's part in it may not be the whole story.

My bull consistently throws tiny calves, 25-35 pounds, but his last one weighed a hefty 42 lb. It was born to a part Shorthorn mother, so she probably had a lot to do with the size.

Genebo
Paradise Farm
Church Road, VA

[genebo]

Originally Posted by Slev

....Here's a tib-bit for you: While I was researching Dexters, I found an article that was testing the genetic DNA makeup of Dexters. Of all the tests on both dairy and beef breeds, they found the Dexter is closest matched to the Angus. Wow! I didn't know that.

Slev,

I'd like to read that. Can you post a link?

Genebo
Paradise Farm
Church Road, VA

[dcross]

Was she AI'ed? If so, find out the name of the bull and we can look up his info(calving ease).

Also, if you know how far along she is a vet can feel for the calf to estimate it's size relative to hers. You can induce labor early if it's huge. Lose the calf, save the cow.

[Carol K]

She'll probably be fine, make sure you inform your vet when her due date is, so he is aware and can be on stand by. And you watch her very carefully if you get her.
Also, be very careful about over feeding her, you don't want that calf to get any bigger than it should be.

Carol

[Slev]

Originally Posted by genebo

Slev,

I'd like to read that. Can you post a link?

Genebo
Paradise Farm
Church Road, VA

Here's the linkL http://www.dex-info.net/summalderson99.htm

basically it shows a closer link to the Angus than to the Kerry, which suprised me.

[LMonty]

good article, slev and some great info on that page. read quite a bit of it and bookmarked the rest! Thanks for the link