Dexter bull

pancho · #1 01/20/12, 10:42 AM

Found this on the local craigslist today. Thought I would repost for anyone looking for a dexter bull. Located near Jackson, Ms.

Dunn colored Dexter Bull for sale. The bull is 9 months old and will make an excellent herd bull. (Can be registered) Dexter's are a small breed of cattle that are great for small farms and small acreage. They require less feed and less space. Dexter's are easy to handle can provide a family with milk and meat. $400.00 call 601-278-0518

genebo · #2 01/20/12, 11:04 AM

A bull is so important to your herd. He provides 1/2 the gene pool for your calves. You owe it to yourself to make sure you get the best bull you can. Nobody should ever buy a bull sight unseen.

As far as "Can be registered", sometimes this is a long hard way from actually being registered. In the ADCA, in order to be registered, both parents must be registered, the sire of this bull must have a DNA genotype on file and this bull must be DNA genotyped and a copy placed on file. The PDCA and the LDCR also have restrictions on registration.

If I saw this bull and liked it, I would ask the owner to register the bull before I bought, with the understanding that I would pay the cost of registration if it is successful.

Craigslist is a good place to advertise your cattle, but it's also a place that is completely unregulated. You must be very careful when buying livestock that way. Always go see the animal first and never take someone's word about an issue in doubt. It has come to that.

We frequently read of people who bought cattle that "Can be registered" only to find out otherwise.

lakeportfarms · #3 01/20/12, 11:52 AM

All excellent points by Genebo. At a minimum I would want to have him registered. Ideally you'll have both sire and dam to look at before you purchase. The price for him is low, and at that price I think it's unreasonable to ask the seller to provide chondro and PHA testing, but that would be another issue to consider or work into your purchase agreement.

A bull is an investment in your future herd, whether you plan to retain them or sell them. It makes sense to get the best bull you can, especially if he'll be servicing more than a few cows. Otherwise it would be better to find a good A.I tech and purchase semen from a number of exceptional bulls.

Karin L · #4 01/20/12, 04:42 PM

For me are two huge red flags for me that would make me reconsider investing into getting this bull: 1. "can be registered" and 2."will make an excellent herd bull." At 9 months of age and with no picture and the fact that he is not already registered tells me that you may get jipped on this. I'm really raising the BS flag when someone says something is "excellent" without any other proof.

So if I were you, I would take a wide berth around this sort of thing.

SteveO · #5 01/20/12, 06:45 PM

Not a bad buy 12 months to Hamburger

Laura Workman · #6 01/24/12, 11:01 PM

To play the Devil's advocate here, I knew some people who had a nice little red bull about 15 months old. Both parents registered, sire verified, and all that. This guy wasn't registered because they weren't sure there was a market for him as a bull. He wound up being steered, and they saved the money and trouble of registering him. That is a very low price, and if he's not too far away, I'd go take a look at him. Before going, I'd get the registration numbers on the sire and dam and have a look on the websites to see if his sire was verified and what the bloodlines were. Then, while I was there to look at the bull, I'd look at the sire and dam's paperwork. I would want ALL the paperwork necessary for transfer in hand before I bought the bull.