milking dexters

[gracie88]

Can anyone tell me, ballpark estimate, how much milk a person could expect to get from a dexter cow? I read somewhere that there are different lines for milk and beef, mine is not registered, have no idea of her parentage, shoot, she could be a tiny angus with horns for that matter, except she is much better behaved than that Anyway, I am kicking around the idea of milking her and just wondering if it would be worth it.

[darbyfamily]

from all I've read, you can get anywhere from 2-3 gallons a day from here I'd give it a go if I was you...but then Im just dying to finally get my dexter cow... just waitin on the land.

[Dexter_Cattle]

Hi Gracie,

The average is 1 to 3 gallons, but don't forget you either need to share that with the calf or bottle feed it. One thing you may want to do is milk the cow and bottle feed her with the cows milk. Either way the calf will be even more tame than the mother if bottle fed.

Hope that helps!
Dan

[linn]

I think around 2 gallons per day is more the norm for an average mature Dexter. Mine is a second calf heifer and she gave 2 gallons when she first calved. She did not milk very well with her first calf. There are milking lines that will milk better and there are beef lines that may not milk as well.

[Shirley]

How do you know the difference between the milking lines and the beef lines?

[linn]

Check the bloodlines. Saturn of Knotting & Lucifer of Knotting are AI bulls from strong milking lines. The Woodmagic line was also originally from a milking herd. Brambledel Redberry Prince also has a milking background. That doesn't mean that Dexters from other lines won't milk well enough for family use. Check out sites like the Purebred Dexter Cattle Assoc. for more information.

[genebo]

You can generally tell a milking type Dexter by appearance. Look at a Jersey, then at an Angus. The Dexters that have the Jersey style are most likely to be milkers.

That's not always true, but it's at least a guideline to help you choose one. I've had one of the beefiest looking girls produce 3 gallons per day, but that's not at all typical.

Remember that the total milk production is that which you get to keep as well as what the calf drinks. A 1.5 gallon a day producer will probably only give you a quart after the calf gets his (or hers). Later on, when the calf is weaned, you get to keep it all until time to dry her off.

That's why some people want heavier producers. Note that the more milk a cow produces, the more prone it is to the problems associated with milking, such as milk fever and mastitis. Beef cattle hardly ever get it and dairy cattle get it a lot. So it is a good idea to have a cow that only produces as much as you can use.

Milk costs money, too. The more milk she produces, the more feed she has to eat to do it.

Be cautious with Lucifer bloodlines. Lucifer had some dairy breed mixed in to enhance the milkiness and is reputed to throw some mean calves, like dairy breeds do. One of the nicest things about a Dexter is it's gentle temperament. It's a shame to lose that, just to get a little more milk.

Gracie88, I'm sure it will be worthwhile to milk your cow. At first, you may be disappointed with the quantity, but it increases with demand. A cow will probably give it's top production on the third freshening.

More important than top quantity in a first-time milker is the shape of the teats. Longer teats, about the size of your fingers, are easier to milk than shorter, stubby teats. Your cow's teats will look a lot like they do now, just bigger, once she freshens.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

[gracie88]

So, any tips for an inexperienced milker I know how to milk, just have never had a milking animal before. My cow is pretty nice, especially with food in front of her Do you need a stanchion or can you get away with just tying them, is it better to pull the calf off for a few hrs to milk or just push in with them I would rather not bottle the calf unless it's a heifer, don't need a pet steer (curse those soft, brown eyes).

One of the nicest things about a Dexter is it's gentle temperament.

Yeah, I am, or maybe was, not really a "cow person" but this one seems to be determined to be a pet.

[MARYDVM]

My 1/2 Dexter 1/2 mini Jersey had her first calf 3 weeks ago. I got her used to me touching her udder and body while feeding her grain before she freshened, but she hates restraint so I never tried to tie her. The first week after calving I guided her calf into a pen we set up and slipped a baling string loop over the calf's head to keep her there while I milked. Bonnie the cow would have her dish of grain and her calf right in front of her to keep her happy while we worked out the milking routine with her just standing loose. I pretty much have to kneel partway under her, she's so short. Now that she's not so worried about her baby, she just walks in as soon as she sees me coming with the grain. The calf is with her all the time, and I'm getting about a half a gallon twice a day. I'm sure the calf is drinking more than a gallon a day - most of the milk I get comes out of only one quarter, the calf is pretty much draining the other three.

[Up North]

So if a person was milking a Dexter from the "milk lines" side of breeding, what percentage Butterfat and percentage Protien milk could a person reasonably expect?

Anyone know how many pounds of Dexter milk it would require to yield a pound of cheese?

[linn]

I don't know about the protein content; but I think Dexter milk averages about 4% butterfat. I have a heifer calf out of Lucifer and she is a gentle little girl. I talked to Judy Mosely, the former owner of Lucifer, before I ordered the semen; and she said he was a very gentle bull. That's the only info. I know first and second hand about his offspring and his personality.

[linn]

Here is a quote from http://www.dextersfor.com/What_are_Dexter_Cattle.htm

"The milk is of very good quality with high butterfat and protein levels. Average butterfat percentage is well over 4% and protein 3.51%. "