Milking Dexters in SW Mo?

[suzyhomemaker09]

DH has it in his mind that we need to add a milking Dexter to our farm....I've searched the Mo Dexter boards for people in our area but no-one seems to dairy their cattle..just raise for show. He's specifically interested in buying a fresh cow or a Springer ...We've done solely goats up until now and do not have much experience with dairy cattle...but we really are interested in learning.
Does anyone have something that fit's the bill for sale?

[trbizwiz]

I am going to tag along on this thread. I live in SW Mo too (Mt Vernon), and I am intrigued by this. I am curious to wha kind of info will turn up. Not sure i have the fortitude or desire to milk every day. But We use 4 to 6 gallons a week. Knowing exactly where it comes from would be nice. Though Braums seems to have good quality control.

[linn]

Have you tried Gladys Walkup? She has some fine Dexters.


http://www.gladhourfarm.com/HTML/Dexter_Cattle.html

You might also try your local Craigslist. The Springfield Craigslist had several listings.

[suzyhomemaker09]

I have tried Spfld Craigslist...most that are their are young heifers...< 1 year old...so still around a year from being in milk...I've searched teh Dexter list for Mo. and most of the folks there are show only...no milking..the ones they are offering for sale seem a bit pricey for an animal that isn't even halter trained. Perhaps I'm completely out of my mind thinking that I'd be able to find an animal in milk or a springer for around a 1k price-tag?
I've spoken to several local people..they only raise for show...being a goat person this just sends up all sorts of red flags.....they say that they have no idea of production..the animal isn't even halter trained...cattle for dairy would be really new for me so to think about breaking one to milk is rather daunting.
We only have a small holding..while I can absolutely accommodate a cow i have no desire to keep a bull.

[trbizwiz]

I am with you on training. I raise red polls. they are a very low stress animal. they produce a moderate amount of milk. they can breed back while still in milk. But I know nothing about training an animal to be a milk cow. I had one of th eheifers on a halter when I bought her at 550 lbs. She did not prefer the halter and I could no more lead her than I could lead a Mack truck. I am 6 1 255 lbs and fairly strong. I could get her to go where I want, but I would hardly call it leading. Now perhaps if I had worked he from that day to this maybe now she could be a milk cow. I am not sure. At the time I did not care about milking. I go two bull calves out of my heifers this year so no new heifers to work with. I am buying 4 red poll heifers this fall. I may entertain training one ot lead and stand for milking. I havent fully decided yet.
I know in th world of red polls a springer that has been selected for beef only traits will run $1700 and up and she likely wont be trained to any type of halter.
I would guess $1500 for an older milk cow in milk that is trained would be a fairly good price. I would guess the price would go up for younger cows.
I am still interested to see where this thread goes. Good luck on your venture. i am sure if you shop hard you will find something that fits your goals.

[linn]

Then you might want to try a small Jersey. They don't eat any more than a Dexter. Breed her to an Angus and get a good beef calf.

[suzyhomemaker09]

Originally Posted by linn

Then you might want to try a small Jersey. They don't eat any more than a Dexter. Breed her to an Angus and get a good beef calf.

miniature jerseys run around 2k per animal here..they are even more ridiculously priced than the show dexters.

[linn]

I didn't say minature Jerseys, I said small Jerseys. There is a difference. I have small Jerseys because I breed for small Jerseys, not miniature Jerseys. You will need to do some research to find a Jersey that is small. Many family-type Jerseys are along these lines.

[trbizwiz]

Buttertop farms in MT Vernon raises jerseys. Don't know if they are small or not. I know the dairy I buy bottle calves from charges $300 for day old heifer calves. I font believe it is worth the risk.

[lakeportfarms]

If you're only using 4-6 gallons/week I don't think Jerseys are as good of an option as a Dexter. The only exception is if she has or you can put a calf on her to take the balance of the milk she'll produce in a week or day. We call them "auto-milkers" because it does allow you a little more flexible schedule on the days you may be unable to milk.

If you're looking for one trained or in milk there is a lot of effort that goes into getting that cow to that point, and so they don't come along frequently or at a low price. If you find one count yourself lucky. We have a waiting list for Dexters that are trained to milk, and they are North of $1600 for one when we have one available.

[trbizwiz]

Originally Posted by lakeportfarms

If you're only using 4-6 gallons/week I don't think Jerseys are as good of an option as a Dexter. The only exception is if she has or you can put a calf on her to take the balance of the milk she'll produce in a week or day. We call them "auto-milkers" because it does allow you a little more flexible schedule on the days you may be unable to milk.

If you're looking for one trained or in milk there is a lot of effort that goes into getting that cow to that point, and so they don't come along frequently or at a low price. If you find one count yourself lucky. We have a waiting list for Dexters that are trained to milk, and they are North of $1600 for one when we have one available.

I am only watching this out of passive curiosity and possible future plans. I have no idea what the OP needs for milk. But yes at my needs of 4 to 6 gallons per week a milk cow and the effort isnt quite justified. Infact if I milk Ill probably do the red polls because of their ability to produce milk that doesnt tend to cause milk allergy symptoms, and because they are what I raise.

[suzyhomemaker09]

Originally Posted by lakeportfarms

If you're only using 4-6 gallons/week I don't think Jerseys are as good of an option as a Dexter. The only exception is if she has or you can put a calf on her to take the balance of the milk she'll produce in a week or day. We call them "auto-milkers" because it does allow you a little more flexible schedule on the days you may be unable to milk.

If you're looking for one trained or in milk there is a lot of effort that goes into getting that cow to that point, and so they don't come along frequently or at a low price. If you find one count yourself lucky. We have a waiting list for Dexters that are trained to milk, and they are North of $1600 for one when we have one available.

And $1600 for a trained to milk animal is absolutely a fair price...
My problem is finding one in my area...I really want a Dexter...I have dairy goats now..and as much as I love my goats milk for drinking and certain cheeses, I find I don't care much for aged goat cheese. I want a cow to play with making cheese from it's milk. A full sized cow as I understand milks out 8 to 10 gallons a day..Dexters 3 to 4...average cheese recipes use 4 gallons...so perfect...I could think about a beef calf to raise for any excess milk produced.

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by suzyhomemaker09

A full sized cow as I understand milks out 8 to 10 gallons a day..Dexters 3 to 4...average cheese recipes use 4 gallons...so perfect...I could think about a beef calf to raise for any excess milk produced.

Many small Jerseys give 3-5 gallons a day. And I mean small, NOT miniature.
If you can't find the Dexter you want.

[suzyhomemaker09]

Ya know Emily I'd be happy with a smaller Jersey...but how exactly does one go about looking for a smaller one specifically?
Don't forget to add me to the calf list

[linn]

My Jerseys average four gallons per day and the calf gets half that. Skim the milk and use the cream for butter, give the skim milk to the pigs, chickens, cats and dogs. Once you start making cheese, you will be glad to have plenty of milk.

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by suzyhomemaker09

Ya know Emily I'd be happy with a smaller Jersey...but how exactly does one go about looking for a smaller one specifically?
Don't forget to add me to the calf list

Hey, I found a few links you might check out. Even if these breeders don't mention having anything for sale, it doesn't hurt to call and ask. Don't know if these are *milking* Dexters or not.

http://www.missouridexter.com/index_...ersforsale.htm

http://modexterlover.com/dexters_for_sale

http://dextercattle4sale.net/

A couple people on here have Dexters and are in Missouri.

http://www.eatwild.com/products/missouri.html

If you start looking for an old-style Jersey(650-800 lbs), I'd just start looking for Jerseys for sale and see what sizes you find. We got our first one at a dairy. She just didn't give enough for the dairy, but she gave plenty for us! Some dairies will sell 3 or 2 teated cows that lost quarters to injury, etc. These cows usually still give plenty for the average family.

[francismilker]

I got my mini/old world jersey by chance at a dairy sale. I bid on what I believed to be a bottle jersey heifer. I put her in the pen with the 11 others and fed them all accordingly. While she ate the same and was in good health with no setbacks, she just never got real big. She's a good producer for her size and seems to throw the "small" gene into her heifers. No matter what I've bred her to the calves have all grown up considerably smaller than my others.