Breeding Dexters to Jerseys

Creamers · #1 08/13/10, 05:11 PM

I can find no one locally (even contacted Select Sires) to AI my Jersey.
I have a friend who will let me breed her to her reg. Dexter bull. My Jersey is Reg.
She says I can breed toward a miniature Jersey this way, and she is buying a mini bull for her Mini Jersey next year, so if I end up with a heifer, I could breed her back to the mini as well as my current heifer.

I have found someone with a nice reg. Jersey bull I can drive mine up to and leave for a month and pick her back up after for $100.

Not really sure what would be the best option.

Dexter/Jersey cross heifers sell for $1,000 around here
Reg. Jersey heifers do as well.
Minis are $3,000 or more when you find them.

Of course, we have a good chance of ending up with a bull calf, so in if that
is the case, wouldn't a Dexter cross still be the better option?

cathleenc · #2 08/13/10, 05:37 PM

what do you really want to get? a full jersey or a cross?

If you want a full jersey you can find an AI tech to come and take care of your cow. It's easier than you think and affordable, too.

Timberline · #3 08/13/10, 05:53 PM

Cathleenc, that depends on where you are located. It's so hard to get an AI tech around here (no dairies near here and most vets won't mess with it and to find one that will is very expensive) that it just isn't feasible.

Creamers, I have raised and milked several Dexter x Jerseys and I really like them. In my cold climate, the crossbreds stand the winters better than the pure Jerseys. I
m a big believer in hybrid vigor and these crossbreds have always done very well for me. I've also put several of these crossbred steers in the freezers and we love the beef, it's been wonderful every time. As a nice bonus, I have never had trouble selling a gentle, trained crossbred cow or heifer for a very nice price.

Right now, as we speak, my yearling Jersey heifer is being bred to a nice little Dexter bull.

Creamers · #4 08/13/10, 05:57 PM

Sadly, I've looked for a year for a AI tech, and asked various vets to refer me to one - nothing.

cathleenc · #5 08/13/10, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creamers

Sadly, I've looked for a year for a AI tech, and asked various vets to refer me to one - nothing.

bummer! did you call the AI companies and see if they have a rep/tech in the area? Might be worth it for one final 'check that box off' try.

There was a long thread maybe last year about dexter/jersey crosses - I think they are officially called Belfairs. Genebo, who breeds lovely dexters, had some good input. I 'think' he said that sometimes the heifers were lovely balanced crosses - sometimes they looked like mutt crosses. The combination is always so appealing to me - smaller cow with hardy tendencies and personable personalities.

cathleenc · #6 08/13/10, 06:47 PM

sorry, my bad. Just reread your opening post to see that you've already called select sires. oops!

ozark_jewels · #7 08/13/10, 07:52 PM

For me, I'd not crossbreed if I had the use of a good Jersey bull. But I adore Jerseys and there is always a demand for my pure Jersey heifers. And I've never been disapointed in good Jersey steer for beef.
Guess it just depends on your preference since it looks like in your area either heifer would sell about as well?

genebo · #8 08/13/10, 09:06 PM

There's an excellent Dexter bull in Bowling Green, OH. He's Braden of Paradise. He carries both genes for A2 beta casein in the milk and is chondro and PHA free. Look him up on the ADCA on-line pedigree to get his owner's contact info.

Here's a Dexter/Jersey calf with her Dexter mother:

Breeding Dexters to Jerseys - Cattle

Genebo
Paradise Farm

Slev · #9 08/14/10, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chalk Creek

...Right now, as we speak, my yearling Jersey heifer is being bred to a nice little Dexter bull.

...well, I mean, that's almost pornographic sounding isn't it, talking about it while they are doing it? ....I'm just sayin

Shygal · #10 08/14/10, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

For me, I'd not crossbreed if I had the use of a good Jersey bull. But I adore Jerseys and there is always a demand for my pure Jersey heifers. And I've never been disapointed in good Jersey steer for beef.
Guess it just depends on your preference since it looks like in your area either heifer would sell about as well?

I don't know about the crossbreeding, but I have to say I looked at your website and your Jerseys are BEAUTIFUL, and your goats too!

Creamers · #11 08/14/10, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Right now, as we speak, my yearling Jersey heifer is being bred to a nice little Dexter bull.

...well, I mean, that's almost pornographic sounding isn't it, talking about it while they are doing it? ....I'm just sayin

LOL!

Either Heifer would sell just as well here, but I am partial to Jerseys. . .I just like the idea of breeding toward a mini Jersey since I don't see having the spare $$$ to buy one - ever. lol.

haypoint · #12 08/14/10, 04:21 AM

Hundreds of years of selective breeding to get the Jersey to where it is today and you'd consider a random breeding to another breed? Shame, shame. LOL
If you had a Holstein/Jeresy cow, I'd say go ahead, breed her to anything handy. But you have a Registered Jersey. Get her over to that Jersey bull and start learning how to do AI yourself. It isn't that hard. Might work into a paying side job.

linn · #13 08/14/10, 07:16 AM

I am assuming that this will not be the cow's last breeding. I would breed her to the Dexter bull now and keep looking for an AI tech for the next time. I think you will be pleasantly surprised in the calf. If is a bull, you will get a beefier steer. If it is a heifer, you will get a hardy little milker.

Callieslamb · #14 08/14/10, 09:23 AM

The down side of not having an AI tech near you is that you get to pay their mileage....which can be prohibitive. I contacted the AI companies via their websites. They were very willing to work with me. However, I do have to pay their mileage if my cow on the same schedule as someone else's.

genebo · #15 08/14/10, 09:30 AM

Almost all dairies use AI to breed their cows. There must be a dairy near you. Contact them to see who does their AI and see if you can get in on it.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

ozark_jewels · #16 08/15/10, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shygal

I don't know about the crossbreeding, but I have to say I looked at your website and your Jerseys are BEAUTIFUL, and your goats too!

Thank you!!

copperhead46 · #17 08/15/10, 05:46 PM

Breeding a Jersey to a Dexter is not a random breeding. There are many people who breed for the specific qualitites of this cross. They are called Bellefairs and are wonderfull cattle. The females give good amounts of milk and are smaller and easy to handle, plus the males make great butcher prospects. I agree that you should go ahead and breed to the Dexter now then find you a reg bull. Either way, you'll be happy with the result.