Hi Bill,
Most people absolutely don't get bothered talking Dexters. Prices are not listed because it really depends on the area of the country you are in, the animal itself and the quality, color, horned/polled, show stock etc.
What are you wanting to do with Dexters or Highlands? That will make a difference in what you should spend.
I can't give you a industry standard or breed standard as there certainly is not one, but for us, we typically sell most heifers for $800. Most bred cows are $1100-1400, and Bull calves are typically $400 and up depending on quality. Those prices are pretty typical for black or dun. Red is much higher because it is still a very tiny minority in the breed. Dexters come in two types, Shortleg and Longleg. Alot of Short Leg Dexters (but not all) carry a gene. That gene is the dwarfism gene. You never want to breed a carrier of that gene to another carrier. When you breed carrier to carrier, statistically 25% of the calves can be aborted and end up having a bulldog calf aka dead deformed calf. Now with that in mind, you never have to worry about that gene as long as your bull does not carry the gene, it doesn't matter if the cow does carry it. Even with that gene, shortleg cows bring more (atleast in our area), Show stock no matter what color will be higher. Polled Dexters no matter what color will be higher. Trained milk cows will be higher, and some breeders make their living breeding quality stock and feel they are worth more. Which is some cases they are rightly so.
Occaisionally you can find some real bargains, sometimes you get what you pay for though. That being said, don't go out and buy the highest price one thinking you are getting the best one either.
What I would recommend is contacting the people that are close to you on the for sale list.
www.DexterCattle4Sale.net
Find out what each one has for prices, then go to look at every single one that is in your price range, and pick which one you like, which one will work for what you want it for and etc. 99.9% of Dexter owners LOVE to talk Dexters and would be happy to show you around their place even if you don't buy from them. We probably have between 3 and 10 visitors per week from all over the country. We get alot of people who are traveling that come by, plus we get alot of locals just to find out what the heck those dinky cows are. We also get serious inquiries of people looking to start their herds. Sometimes we have what they are looking for, sometimes we don't. We can usually help people find whatever they are looking for though now with that list.
If you have any questions or anything feel free to private message me or email me at
GrandmasDexters@aol.com I am happy to help answer any of your questions.
Thanks!
Dan
