I suppose you could try to sell all weaned calves, but it will be difficult if you can't find homes for them when you need to. A rare breed until recently, they are now considered a recovering breed by … Cows, pampered cows fine but again, you would need to buy animals which were not being bred from for some reason.....age? is 2.5 acreas enough for 2? It is a thrifty animal and capable of thriving on a half acre per head of good pasture, given the typical Dexter's small size. by PeterO » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:00 pm, Post This tiny ad told me: 100th Issue of Permaculture Magazine - now FREE for a while, current server time (not your local time) is, https://permies.com/t/143456/permaculture-projects/robkaiser-project, https://onpasture.com/2019/03/11/the-most-effective-pasture-rejuvenation-method-ever-and-its-free/, question regarding silvopasture grasing rotation time. Your type of land will also have a lot to do with it, if its heavy clay then Their purity is insured by a rigorous registration standard, which only accepts full-blood on the certificate if it comes from two full-blood registered parents, much like the Dexter cattle registry. … The small size of Dexter cattle comes with many large benefits. by Jonathan » Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:37 pm, Post If you plan to feed your cow mostly on grass then the average cow needs at least 3 acres ( this would be a bit less for a dexter). I think on 1 acre you could have 2 dexters without damaging the land. We would like two, do they prefer company? Stressing them out will incline them to poor health. These animals are easy on fences. Originating from southern Ireland, Dexter cattle were bred to be small in size, docile, natural grazers, excellent mothers, and adaptable to changing climates. by PeterO » Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:39 am, Post The cattle were fed bought hay through the winter. Last week I went to visit my friend Katie to learn more about Dexter cattle, American Guinea Hogs, and other homestead-scale livestock. Barley and rice pollards are both good feeds. How Many Acres Per Cow Do You Need? Let’s look at the numbers: 1 acre is 4000 square meters. And yes, they do need company, Jonathan, I am the secretary of the Devon Group, living near Tiverton and you would be really welcome to come and see my herd or I can direct you to a herd closer to you. Being much smaller than conventional cows they don't need as much space for pasture. Regardless, 1 acre is plenty of room for two cows, and you can bring in any hay you need. Post By Victor Shelton / February 17, 2020 / 1 Comment Print Email. If you are planning for your own beef, 2 or 3 castrated males (steers) might be OK. You will need to house them in the winter to protect the grazing and also probably buy in hay or haylage because you almost certainly would not be able to grow enough from your acreage to feed them while they are inside. The best place to pray for a good crop is at the end of a hoe! Registered cows measure between 36 and 42 inches in shoulder height at three years of age, and weigh approximately 750 pounds. In 2009, when our children were old enough to enter 4-H, we thought showing this gentle and easy going breed was the way to go and wanted everyone to be aware of this special bovine. by Sylvia » Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:52 am, Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited. Barbara Martin wrote:Having a mini CAFO is probably not a good idea. Four cattle, and that's only for a month or two at best. In addition, “revenue per acre” needs to be considered. These breeds of cattle seem to be gaining in popularity as a meat source for those wanting to raise their own food on just a few acres and for those looking for a breed that does well on a grass-finishing system. We have a 2.5 acre field in devon adjacent to our cottage and we have wanted to keep cattle for some time, after a year our considering it looks as though Dexters would make the ideal bovine selection. In our scenario, we based figures on calves that were 30 lbs. A lot of people cry when they cut onions. 1 acre per cow is a low estimate and relies on the cow being off the grass in winter and fed bought in hay or silage. In most areas you can graze two Dexters per acre without supplement. Are you raising tiny, thrifty heritage breeds like Dexters or huge, specialized animals like Holsteins? Stressing them out will incline them to poor health. Dexter cattle will produce between 1 – 2 gallons of milk per day, with high butterfat content (4%). How green am I? They’re a common choice for children in 4H projects because they’re docile and easy to handle, and their shorter stature makes them less intimidating to children. Generally, the horns are white in color, but the tips are black. I have Dexters, Shetland sheep and Alpacas (and 120 acres, so I'm not suggesting all 3 !!). We raise dexters for beef and usually only have 3-4 at a time. by Sylvia » Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:54 am, Post Their low weight means that they’re ea… by Inger » Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:15 am, Post Dexter Cattle are small & efficient. Dexter Cattle: Feeding and Housing Dexters. If raised for beef, Dexters will produce a tender, lean meat. Any advice appreciated. That means we should be able to have 10 to 13 cows. • The name of a good local cattle vet. Cons of Dexter Cattle Initial Cost. by Duncan MacIntyre » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:01 pm, Post How Many Cows Can Be Farmed Per Acre? This is where all the Topics and Replies are stored, click on the above link to enter! Last Updated: 22.01.21 Many people choose to use custom cattle ear tags because it offers them the possibility to … I think to compare a homestead-scale operation where you have a cow or two on less acreage than you'd prefer, one acre for two head rather than two acres for one head, is somewhat, if not misleading, certainly obfuscating; feed lots are terrible, but two cows on an acre, even with a calf each, isn't the same as a CAFO. They were easily approachable in the field, and almost had to be carried through gates when a move was needed. They are a naturally small breed of cattle, but many people refer to them as miniature. Approximately 6-7 ounces of rice pollards, per Dexter cow, per day would be enough. Instead they go straight to the liver, lodge there, and end up being problematic for your cattle. Thanks Sylvia, we weren't considering breeding they would be pampered pets whislt keeping the grass down. You would need to do a rotation that allowed for complete recovery. Chris Kott, thanks for the info. Due to the gentle nature and ease of care of Dexter cattle, we now have a thriving ranch in South Texas with one of the larger herds in the state. by Sylvia » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:39 am, Post Breeding Texas Dexter Cattle. What would be the long term maintenance differences. Bulls are slightly larger at 38 to 44 inches shoulder height, and weigh in around 1000 pounds. For Sale $1400, or open to Trade: (for Like same Heifer) or Cow, or Steer. A full size cow requires at least 2ac of good pasture (even with rotation) so a Dexter needs at least half that per head. It’s that whole supply & demand thing. What would you suggest getting to keep long term? by Jonathan » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:10 am, Post Just some thoughts... A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. dominic ps my dexters will be at the small holder festival in lanark next week with the scottish dexter society. -Le Livre du Colon, 1902. How many Dexters to the acre? by Mark Bowles » Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:21 am, Post Welcome to the DexterCattleForSale Discussion Board. I am going to construct a field shelter for winter use. Good luck, Fiona, I can throw another option into the ring. They then curve forward and upward, and there’s some space between the 2 horns. When you reach your lowest point, you are open to the greatest change. If they are lying down you will get many more short legs than long to the acre. This is much more manageable for a small family than the larger quantities produced from other cattle breeds. You may have heard a rule-of-thumb is that it takes 1.5 to 2 acres to feed a cow calf pair for 12 months. I am considering mini dexter or mini zebus to milk or. As livestock producers we often focus on productivity per cow. Welcome to make Offers. The trick is not to form an emotional bond. Bedding also needs to be bought. Those cattle were moderate framed so running dexters on that land could probably be done at 2 acres/head. Welcome to Bolton Farm! This is simply my opinion, your acreage is a bit low to consider breeding because yes cows must have company so if you start with 2 you will have their 2 calves, plus the next year's calves (so 6 animals) before you can send the first 2 calves to sale or slaughter. They require no help birthing calves. MOTHER's staff discovers a little-known but productive small-farm cow: Dexter cattle. Born out of our 2nd year Calving program, from Pasture Raised Dexters, she will continue on the fine lines of the True Registered Irish Dexter Breed, and will make a great addition to your herd. It looks like our rule-of-thumb held up pretty good, 11 cows on 20 acres, is 1.8 acres per cow. It might be possible, but I would plan on feeding at least some. If your land has been assessed at having a DSE of eight (8) that means you can run eight (8) dry sheep per acre or one 400kg dry Angus store cow or steer. As a general rule, moderate to light stocking rates for well-managed pastures in this area are: one animal unit (cow with calf) per 8 - 15 acres on native grass; 3 - 6 acres on tame pastures (bermudagrass/bahia grass); 50 - 75 acres on wooded areas. Are you providing supplemental feed like a feedlot? To ranch successfully, three profit driving ratios – cows per person, acres per cow and fed vs. grazed feed need to be kept in mind. There are lots of local enthusiasts and experts I can put you in touch with who would be pleased to help and advise you. A half acre of good green grass per animal, or 12 to 15 pounds of hay and a little grain each day is enough in temperate climates. But if that cow has a three month old calf at foot she will need up to 18 DSE so you could then only run one cow and calf for every 2.2 acres or one per hectare in rough figures. Here we are promoting Dexters!! So if you really want to pack them in try alternate rows of long leggeds standing and short legs lying down. Huxley, I'm not sure if your goal is to be able to provide all the feed from your property. A Dexter cow can be much more expensive to purchase than a conventional breed. 1) As a rough guide allow approx one acre per mature animal, if your Dexters are going to have free access all the year round. With regards to minerals, stay away from chelated minerals. It depends. This time of year, especially after you have shifted from grazing to fed feed such as hay or baleage. https://www.facebook.com/Duffryn-Dexter ... 609196773/. by Carol K » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:48 pm, Post You can easily expect to pay about $1500-$2000 for a Dexter cow. The Dexter is probably the smallest breed that was developed in the British Isles, with mature cows weighing between 600-700 pounds and mature bulls weighing about 1000 pounds. Specialization is for insects. by Jo Kemp » Fri Apr 22, 2005 1:31 pm, Post Because Dexters are more difficult to find (and probably because small-scale farmers are willing to pay for them.) Located in Spring Branch, Texas - just north of San Antonio - our 132-acre farm and ranch is home to Dexter Cattle. 2 cows with cross calves at foot. Well, it depends if they are standing up or lying down. Cattle are unable to digest chelated minerals. And shorts are often wider in girth, so standing up you will get less. Let’s see how this rule-of-thumb holds up. Not bulls - steers/bullocks yes but really you would have to consider eating them before they were 30 months of age. If so, it would be hard to do on just 1 acre, though I think you could get there eventually by improving the pasture and maybe through silvopasture techniques. The smallest of the European cattle breeds, they are about half the size of a traditional Hereford and about one-third the size of a Holstein Friesian milking cow. Is surface water or irrigation a concern? At Deer Run Acres we chose the Dexter Cattle breed because of their docile temperament, compact size and ability to … One acre is not enough for us and I think even if we had them on 5 acres they would destroy it from walking on it. If you are thinking of sheep try Southdowns,they are a rare breed,the meat is great and they are as dosey as hell!. We want to get the Dexters as young as possible, in your experience would you get 2 bulls or 2 cows? We have really good soil with an acre pasture broke up into 3 lots. lighter than the calves out of 1,400-lb. Read to wean, current on vaccinations, and VET care. Small cattle breeds have generated a lot of interest over the years. The American Dexter Cattle Association is a non-profit corporation, established in 1977, with a mission to protect, improve, develop, and promote the interests, standing, and quality of the Dexter breed; and to assist members in adding value to their animals. cows. After raising Brangus cross cattle for many years, Bolton Farm learned of this hardy and docile breed and began raising Dexter Cattle for sale and grass fed beef. You should be able to stock more cattle per acre than with normal-sized cows Dexter cattle are a breed of cattle originating in Ireland. If we are looking at sheep I owned some Ryelands for a few years and "laid back" did not even begin to describe them. A full size cow requires at least 2ac of good pasture (even with rotation) so a Dexter needs at least half that per head. Dexter cows are horned. by Duncan MacIntyre » Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:33 am, Post Considering their small size, the body is wide and deep with a well-rounded hindquarter. As no-one else has answered yet I'll plunge in (as usual). At a liberal 5 square feet per bird, even a 10-by-10-foot paddock per day is plenty for 20 laying hens. To keep an animal an entire year, you're better off with a ballpark figure of one head per four acres. The horns of the bulls tend to extend directly to each side. A mature cow weighs in at roughly 600 to 800 pounds, or about one-third the size or your average Holstein, making them ideal for small land holders to manage. We planted rye, clover. Once we found the Dexter and researched this wonderful breed, we made our decision that this was the ideal cow for our farm. 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