Selling My Dexter Cow

[Slev]

We are looking at selling our Dexter cow but not quite sure how much to ask for her. (I've been holding out because I was hoping someone here on HT could answer that question, (Genebo, Anthony, anyone else?) as well as maybe someone from HT would be interested in her.)

She is 3 years old, long leg type and from very dairy lines. She is registered PDCA, has horns as I started out wanting her to pull a cart, I worked with her a lot on oxen commands, walks very well on lead and stands really good when I milked her by hand. (We didn't even stantion her, just gave her a bucket of grain and held the lead rope.) I owned her mom 8 years ago, and part of that deal was to get a calf back, but it did take 5 years for that to happen. I still have great admiration for Dexter's, but we are just a one cow family and the little Jersey won my wife over. (Remember all of the fun debates here on HT about the better homestead cow? ...ahh the memories)

So any thoughts on what I should ask for her?

[linn]

To me, what I would be willing to pay would be based on the amount of milk she was giving and her ancestory. Is this a recent picture or her? She looks more like a heifer in the picture.

[cathleenc]

I called around a bunch recently, looking for a dexter cow, either bred or in milk, to buy. Never found one with any milking history at all - did find 2 8-yr cows, dry and bred, from strong milk lines but no milking experience. The seller, in minnesota, wanted $1400 each for those two. Found a really nice 10 yr cow, no milking history or specific background but super friendly, that the seller wanted $1000 for. All of those were registered

My guess is that if you found a buyer wanting to hand milk you could get $1500. You have a unique cow for that buyer.

gl!

[translplant]

I get calls all the time for milking Dexters. I cannot put the consistent time into what is necessary to get a cow to the point that you have. Most people have no idea how much training and effort is needed. You have put a lot into her and that is very valuable! I think you have something that a lot of people would really like to own so you can command a good price.

Unfortunately, I have also found that the very same people that want "just a family milk cow" don't always have a realistic idea about what one is worth price-wise.

[copperhead46]

A lot will depend on how much milk she gives, and if she's bred back, and her body condition. Being broke to milk and gentle, I'd probably ask between $1200 and $1500.00 if she's open.

[Slev]

Well here is a picture of her from today, (Nov. 07, 2009) what I find so funny is she has about the same pose as the older one, (the only one I had already loaded on PhotoBucket from maybe just over a year ago... ) LoL, [well maybe not worthy of a LoL, more of a <chuckle> ]

[HTWannabee]

Do you deliver to MA! I am searching this forum researching this very thing. I see cows not as nearly as nice as yours selling over $1,200.00 in this area.