Tell me about dexters please

Pasohorsegal · #1 07/12/11, 02:26 PM

I have read a little about Dexters but havent heard any first hand info. about them . where do they come from , do they make good family cows . How do they deal with heat and very cold weather? Temperment? Milk? are they costly? ETc, Etc

Reed77 · #2 07/12/11, 04:21 PM

I don't own dexters, but but a friend does. some dexters come from Ireland. They are good first cattle and good for families too, their size makes they easier to manage then an average beef cattle. I've been told they do good in both hot and colt climates. There are milk and beef lines in dexters depending on what you want. Around here you could get a young dexter for $700-$1500, it all depends on area

CraterCove · #3 07/12/11, 04:37 PM

Dexters are what I am after too. You can find a lot about the breeds history online. They are a great size and they are kept for dual purpose (meat and dairy) so you can produce purebreds and not feel like you are butchering gangly dairy stock.

All the Dexters I have met, so far, have had calm even temperaments. They come in naturally polled as well as horned but expect to pay a premium for nat. poll.

Read up on Bulldog dwarfism and water babies and make sure that you get stock that is tested. It's a double recessive, so you can have one parent animal that has this trait to potentially pass on but not two with it. Just knowing will help you avoid this nasty gene.

I was happy to drop 1k on a very pretty little heifer but unfortunately circumstances beyond my control required I abandon my deposit and wait another year before pursuing another.

Don't let anyone talk you into buying a bull, however, unless there is just no one anywhere near you who has one for freshening-- it's not that the bulls are 'bad', in fact all that I have met were complete puppydogs, even older well used males. They simply require separate housing and are an additional liability in feed.

Pasohorsegal · #4 07/12/11, 04:46 PM

So there are two differnt blood lines one for milking and one for meat? Oh Im from Santa Rosa grew up in Napa vally.

linn · #5 07/12/11, 04:49 PM

I have three Dexters and love them. They are small and easy on the feed bill and the pasture. Dexters are hardy and deal well with both heat and the cold.
Some lines are much milkier than others. Make sure to check the background of the cow or heifer. Lucifer of Knotting, Woodmagic, Hillview Morris, Brambledel Redberry Prince, and Wee Gaelic Mr. O'Toole are bulls to look for in a pedigree. Anything heavy in Lucifer of Knotting, Brambledel Redberry Prince or Woodmagic should have milking potential.
First calf heifers often don't give a lot of milk, but production will improve with each lactation.

Pasohorsegal · #6 07/12/11, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraterCove

Dexters are what I am after too. You can find a lot about the breeds history online. They are a great size and they are kept for dual purpose (meat and dairy) so you can produce purebreds and not feel like you are butchering gangly dairy stock.

All the Dexters I have met, so far, have had calm even temperaments. They come in naturally polled as well as horned but expect to pay a premium for nat. poll.

Read up on Bulldog dwarfism and water babies and make sure that you get stock that is tested. It's a double recessive, so you can have one parent animal that has this trait to potentially pass on but not two with it. Just knowing will help you avoid this nasty gene.

I was happy to drop 1k on a very pretty little heifer but unfortunately circumstances beyond my control required I abandon my deposit and wait another year before pursuing another.

Don't let anyone talk you into buying a bull, however, unless there is just no one anywhere near you who has one for freshening-- it's not that the bulls are 'bad', in fact all that I have met were complete puppydogs, even older well used males. They simply require separate housing and are an additional liability in feed.

I dont have a clue what water babys are or Buldog dwarfisum is I'll look it up Im just looking for one family cow & Calf .. I breed horses havent a clue about cattle

Pasohorsegal · #7 07/12/11, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linn

I have three Dexters and love them. They are small and easy on the feed bill and the pasture. Dexters are hardy and deal well with both heat and the cold.
Some lines are much milkier than others. Make sure to check the background of the cow or heifer. Lucifer of Knotting, Woodmagic, Hillview Morris, Brambledel Redberry Prince, and Wee Gaelic Mr. O'Toole are bulls to look for in a pedigree. Anything heavy in Lucifer of Knotting, Brambledel Redberry Prince or Woodmagic should have milking potential.
First calf heifers often don't give a lot of milk, but production will improve with each lactation.

I understand about the lactation , Im just intrested in a family cow and read that they were smaller . I love the Jersey but as I said Im a Horse women , dont have much cowey experance..

linn · #8 07/12/11, 05:18 PM

The smaller short-legged Dexters are the ones that carry the "Bulldog gene" or chondrodysplasia. Long legged Dexters don't seem to have this trait. You can make sure by checking the background of the cow you buy to make sure that the ancestors did not carry this gene.
Here are a couple of good articles on chondrodysplasia and Pulmonary Hypoplasia Anasarca. I am just including them so you will know what these conditions are. I sure wouldn't let the fear of my cow having a condition like this keep me from buying a nice little Dexter cow.
http://www.dextercattle.org/genetics...droArticle.pdf

http://home.purebreddextercattle.net...d=58&Itemid=90

G. Seddon · #9 07/12/11, 05:39 PM

Read ALL that you can, visit as MANY as you can, read buyer's checklist 25 times (read, memorize and inwardly digest it). You can find breeders by checking out the membership list and the pedigree finder -- both are on the ADCA website (www.dextercattle.org). They're great cattle, but as with anything else, do your homework before writing any checks.

Pasohorsegal · #10 07/12/11, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linn

The smaller short-legged Dexters are the ones that carry the "Bulldog gene" or chondrodysplasia. Long legged Dexters don't seem to have this trait. You can make sure by checking the background of the cow you buy to make sure that the ancestors did not carry this gene.
Here are a couple of good articles on chondrodysplasia and Pulmonary Hypoplasia Anasarca. I am just including them so you will know what these conditions are. I sure wouldn't let the fear of my cow having a condition like this keep me from buying a nice little Dexter cow.
http://www.dextercattle.org/genetics...droArticle.pdf

http://home.purebreddextercattle.net...d=58&Itemid=90

Oh Thank you ! I need all the advice I can get!!

Pasohorsegal · #11 07/12/11, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pasohorsegal

Oh Thank you ! I need all the advice I can get!!

Well I read the article and Im scared out of the Dexter , Think I'll look for a small jersey! LOL Wow do all breeds have genetic problums? Never had problums with my horse breed! Hummm Intresting for sure ...

genebo · #12 07/12/11, 09:57 PM

Don't be frightened by the honesty and forthrightfulness of the Dexter associations. They're not hiding anything, that's all.

Chondrodysplasia simply means that the animal is a dwarf. In Dexters, that shows up as short legs and wide bodies and heads. You don't want to breed two such dwarfs together, for the result is a dead calf in a small percentage of cases.

How many such cases occur? None among informed breeders, but a few do happen. Fewer than Jerseys that die from mastitis, fewer than large beef breeds that die from difficult births.

Every breed has it's inherent faults. Dexters have two. There has been so much effort to identify every Dexter that is affected that a DNA test was developed to do just that. It caused a lot of talk and somehow makes it seem like an ominous thing just waiting to happen, but it isn't. I don't think there is a DNA test for dwarfism in any other breed. They have it, you just don't hear about it.

You're safer with a Dexter than with almost every other breed. Dexters have so few calving problems, very little mastitis and milk fever, and thrive in circumstances that would challenge the heavy breeds.

Dexters are one of the only breeds that can provide both milk and beef to a family with small acreage. A single cow can provide excellent milk while raising a calf with some of the best beef in the world. With a larger breed, you'd have to choose milk or beef, for you could only keep one.

Drinking Angus milk or eating Jersey beef isn't going to appear on anyone's bucket list, but eating Dexter beef and drinking Dexter milk may well be. They're both very good.

cowkeeper · #13 07/12/11, 10:06 PM

Paso girl, Take a look at the picture of G.Seddon's 15 yr old Dexter on the thread about oldest cow to have a calf. Superb cow! ck

G. Seddon · #14 07/13/11, 08:38 AM

Pasohorsegal, I didn't mean to put you off Dexters; however, I strongly suggest you read and look before getting any. I've seen way too many people buy without receiving adequate (any) information from the seller about the status of the animal they're getting. If you aren't sure, take someone with you who is experienced. I advise visitors new to Dexters (or any breed for that matter) to get a couple of steers to see how they like having cattle...easy to manage and if you change your mind, you can eat your mistakes.

CraterCove · #15 07/13/11, 08:54 AM

That is great advice G.Seddon.

And yes, this problem in Dexters is now much less of a problem because people are testing. And having one with the gene isn't the end of the world either because you need two with it to even have a chance that it will express. As stated its a double recessive.

Also as much as I like Jerseys... I mean who doesn't like a cow that wears mascara and eyeliner? I'd not get one if you are looking for a calm and friendly first cow.

Pasohorsegal · #16 07/13/11, 09:10 AM

Good advice what about crossing Dexters with another breed like Jersey? And yes this will be my first cow.

Pasohorsegal · #17 07/13/11, 09:14 AM

I have 11 registered horses , had a cow years ago. Just want a family milk cow and mayby a calf or two for meat... Just want to get a return , Horses are great for pleasure but no return!

CraterCove · #18 07/13/11, 09:15 AM

I'd judge who I crossed a cow with by her size and the size of the bull. and if I was milking my Dexter I'd breed to either another dexter known for good beef or another small/lowline breed again known for beef. I want my girls to milk and my boys to taste good!

Pasohorsegal · #19 07/13/11, 09:18 AM

Yes I did awesome cow!

linn · #20 07/13/11, 09:18 AM

I was worried that those articles would scare you. No need to be scared though. Any breed carries certain problems. Dexter breeders are upfront about discussing these two problems. In the last few years, Dexter breeders have been diligent about testing for and eliminating carriers. Even if your cow would happen to carry one of these genes, it doesn't preclude her from being a great family cow. It is not something that will harm anyone drinking the milk.
By simply checking the background of any cow you buy, you can eliminated the possibility of the cow carrying either of these genes.