Milking a Dexter

linn · #1 04/26/07, 11:30 AM

I thought I would give an update on my little Dexter that calved on Easter night. This is her second calf. I am milking her once a day and leaving the calf with her continually. With this method I am getting a gallon of milk per day with a very good cream line. Her milk tastes good and keeps well. She puts her head in the stanchion and stands quietly as long as her calf is with her. The only time I tried to milk her without baby present, she was nervous and didn't let down well. She was sick before she had her first calf and didn't milk well in her first lactation, but has more than made up for it now. If all Dexters are like her I recommend them as milk cows.

The_Shepherdess · #2 04/26/07, 08:58 PM

Really? Glad to hear it. My dad is interested in buying a Dexter.

Hexe · #3 04/29/07, 09:17 AM

I'm very tickled to read this, since I have a Dexter also and she calved about the same time as yours. I've spent all winter getting her used to being handled and "pretend-milked". I've never milked before and like the idea of the calf taking what I'll leave behind. Maybe it's time to get serious and actually start doing it...

Jenn · #4 04/30/07, 08:25 AM

I'm thinking of getting a Dexter- decided I'd have to haul in a lot of grain and 'throw out' a lot of milk if I got a Jersey. Do you milk her with the calf just next to her not suckling? (I assume so for hygiene) How do you do that? And what are you feeding her? I have under 2 acres lawn and am hoping a Dexter could pasture that without CONSTANT hay and grain input (I know I'll need some with this small area, and in winter).

ebook · #5 04/30/07, 09:57 AM

I'm no expert on dexter cattle Jenn, but I have talked with a few in the past couple of weeks and I would feel fairly confident that you could graze a dexter on 2 acres without much problem. In fact if you split the area into smaller grazing paddocks I think you would be surprised at how long you would be able to graze without much if any supplementing. And, if you put in the right mixture of pasture grasses, etc. you would probably be able to keep one cow grazing much longer into the winter than you would excpet. Check out the book "All Flesh is Grass" for some good pasture ideas and what to plant in your pasture.

linn · #6 04/30/07, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenn

I'm thinking of getting a Dexter- decided I'd have to haul in a lot of grain and 'throw out' a lot of milk if I got a Jersey. Do you milk her with the calf just next to her not suckling? (I assume so for hygiene) How do you do that? And what are you feeding her? I have under 2 acres lawn and am hoping a Dexter could pasture that without CONSTANT hay and grain input (I know I'll need some with this small area, and in winter).

I run the calf in the milking parlor with the cow to keep the cow calm; but the calf has already nursed and has no interest in the udder at this time. I always wash and dry my cow's udder thoroughly and squirt out two or three squirts of milk from each teat before milking. As I keep the milking parlor clean, there are no worries about hygiene. Her calf just snoops around the parlor and mom is ok with that as long as she knows her calf is with her. The cow is on grass now with protein pellet supplement fed at milking time. I think a combination of crushed oats and corn would be good also, along with a mineral supplement. You can probably stake out your cow on the lawn if she is broke to lead, and clean up after her. I believe a cow should have at least a little grain when milking. It helps with production and keeps them busy while you milk. You will need to feed hay after the grass is gone. I would go with a good quality alfalfa. A Dexter can get by with poorer quality hay, but why risk poor nutrition when you can give her better quality hay? You will find that a Dexter does not require as much hay as a larger cow.

Mickey · #7 04/30/07, 11:22 PM

I was so happy to see this post tonight because we'll be picking up our new Dexter cow this week-end. She was vet checked for pregnancy and is about 7 months pregnant. I plan to milk my cow too:-)
Mickey

linn · #8 05/01/07, 08:52 AM

Good luck with your Dexter, Mickey. For those of you interested in Dexters, here is a good forum: http://www.dakodan.net/dexters/forum/index.php

You are also invited to try my new forum, Christian Homestead, where you will hear quite a bit about my milking adventures with DD, my little Dexter. You can find it at:
http://farmwoman.proboards106.com/index.cgi