#DEXTURE COW HOW TO#
#DEXTURE COW FULL#

The milk we get from our cow, Molly’s milk is very creamy and delicious. These small cows, weighing less than 1,000 pounds, are originally from. The milk has smaller fat globules which makes it easier to digest. A Dexter cow will produce 1-2 gallons per day of milk, 4% butterfat, which can be made into butter, cheese, and ice cream. 2.Dual Breedīecause they are considered a dual breed, Dexter cattle are excellent for both milking and beef production.

#DEXTURE COW HOW TO#

You can read my post on how to choose hay for cows if you have never bought hay before. Dexters easily finish on grass, and can be processed at 24 months, which means the same amount of time to finish but half the cost.

#DEXTURE COW FULL#

With a full grown cow we would have had to supplement with hay during the summer which would cost more money. Dexter cattle carry a genetic defect causing a dwarf phenotype in the heterozygotes (Dx+/-), while homozygotes (Dx+/+) are stillborn with extreme shortening. For us that meant that we could keep our milk cow and grow the calf for beef on the available pasture. During the summer months when grass is growing, a Dexter needs half an acre of pasture per cow, whereas, a full sized cow would need two acres per cow. Compare this to a standard sized cow, which needs one full bale of hay per day per cow, in the winter. In the winter, a full grown Dexter needs a half of a bale of hay( 20-25 lbs) per cow. I had never been around livestock before, and it was nice to start with something smaller and less intimidating. For pasture, a Dexter only needs a half an acre. A small shelter from the elements is sufficient for this breed. Because of their size, they require less space. Mild temperament.Dexter cattle are naturally small, and by that I mean they have not been genetically selected to be miniature. Yearling Mashona bulls also available for sale. The TSU herd consists of over 100 Dexter, Mashona x Dexter, and Mashona females.įor sale : Mashona herd sire E-20 is for sale. Fullblood Mashona cows were added in 2021. Mashona bulls are being crossed with the Dexter cows to produce F1 calves for evaluation. Dexter cows are small compared to other breeds, but this comes in handy. Known as the Poor Man’sCow, the Dexter can produce beef and milk on limited acreage. It’s also intelligent and able to sustain itself on weeds and unwanted vegetation. Even the bull has an even temperament and can be easily managed. The breed has tropical adaptations that may be of value in the southern states. The Dexter cow is a friendly, docile cow. The Mashona is a small-framed Sanga beef breed from Zimbabwe.

Mashona herd sires were introduced to the breeding program in 2019. The TSU foundation Dexter cattle are registered in the American Dexter Cattle Association herdbook (search under Owner# 10042). The Dexter cattle will be used to assess the production potential of non-traditional small-breed cattle for small-scale beef production as well as for teaching activities. Those two little letters can mean so much to your herd With over 80 years of combined livestock experience, we are serious about our cattle. It is considered a heritage breed like the Spanish and Myotonic goat breeds. The Dexter is a small-framed British breed that is dual-purpose in type. Most Dexter steers are considered mature and ready for processing by about 24 months of age. Yields of cream up to one quart per gallon are possible. There are many options in the Dexter Cattle and that is part of what makes this a wonderful breed for so many families.

Daily milking yields are commonly 1-3 gallons, with a butterfat content of 4-5. After getting a routine going and doing some training. Sweetie Pie is not in milk, but is very pregnant and should have her own calf within a month. Brandy delivered a bull calf fifteen days ago and is now in good milk. Tennessee State University established a herd of Dexter cattle in 2015 to complement the meat goat breeding program. Pound for pound, Dexters are efficient food producers, economically turning forage into rich milk and quality meat. We own two Dexter milk cows Brandy and Sweetie Pie. Dexter and Mashona Cattle Small-Scale Breeds for Small-Scale Production

Dexture cow