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Post by wvdexters on Oct 18, 2014 21:53:46 GMT
Well, Frank goes to the processor this week. Winter is coming, and it's time, but I can say this is the first steer I've ever had second thoughts about. Usually about this time, I can't wait to get them out. The thoughts of all that good beef in the freezer, and freeing up a space at the hay feeder are so appealing. But that was in the past and was always with angus and angus x's. Not my dexters.
He will be our first dexter done. Our first little shorty born here. You can probably tell I'm a little attached, we all are a bit. Well that is everyone but my son. He is looking forward to steaks. LOL
We found a new guy, who does custom processing in the area and is familiar with Dexters and grass fed beef. He answered all my questions right and hangs his beef 2-3 wks according to cover (sometimes even going a few days longer if requested). So hopefully we are good here. We have heard such good things about Dexter beef, and can't wait to taste it. The pictures you all post look incredible. He is a shorty and about as big around as he is tall. Mostly grass/hay fed, with just a little grain for treats.
He's almost 18 mos.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Oct 19, 2014 10:46:57 GMT
He looks pretty good for 18 months, almost certainly because he's a carrier, and so although you may not get a hanging weight you're used to from your other steers, keep in mind your inputs have been lower and he's getting in sooner than another breed, and sooner because he is a non-carrier.
I know very well the feeling about can't wait to get them in, but with the Dexter (especially a short one) it's another matter. It took us a long time to get used to/over the chondro carrier steers we've processed. The non-carriers we've had an easier time with, because they seem to get into more trouble, they like to stand in the hay ring, etc...
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Post by genebo on Oct 19, 2014 16:27:46 GMT
In case your second thoughts overcome you, you'll still be in good shape. I like to keep my Dexters until they are 27 months old before sending them to the processor. They develop more internal marbling and flavor. The beef is easier to cook, with more fat in it.
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Post by wvdexters on Oct 19, 2014 17:17:45 GMT
We actually thought about holding him off another yr, but he injured his knee earlier this summer while he was running around. It's improved some but he still has a good limp especially after he has been lying around on it for a while. We've been watching him and are concerned about how he's going to do as he gets older and puts more weight on it. And with snow and ice coming, it's going to be a struggle for him to get around this winter.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Oct 20, 2014 14:05:13 GMT
That's a good call. Better to play it conservatively, since so many things can happen if you decided to wait that wouldn't make it possible, or would require dropping whatever you're doing in order to salvage what you've already invested in him. Accidents happen, but better it's to a steer than your special boy Macklynn!
I still have some work to do on some areas, but I've tried to make sure the farm is as safe as possible for the herd. Sometimes on Facebook or something I'll see people posting photos of how they've re-purposed pallets into all kinds of things for their livestock, including hay feeders. I will no longer let a pallet onto our pasture for any reason, they are too likely to fall apart and nails drop into the ground. Before I got smart about it(and got livestock), I had some out there that broke apart, or I would use them to start the fire on the piles of brush and branches that I had cut. All of those areas are now covered with 12-16" of dirt that I spread over the ground.
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Post by genebo on Oct 21, 2014 13:37:58 GMT
I burn pallets on the gravel drive, then use a strong magnet to pick up the nails. You would be shocked to see how many nails come out of a pallet.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Oct 21, 2014 19:06:22 GMT
Gene, you're correct about the amount of metal that comes out of those things. Pallets sound great to many people, they're often times free and can serve a variety of uses. They can be deadly to our Dexters (and other livestock) and in the long run it just isn't worth it. For the pallets I use outside of my building, they are all plastic. We are also extremely careful about the polytwine and/or net wrap on our bales as well.
Steers seem to have a way of finding trouble, like goats.
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Post by genebo on Oct 21, 2014 20:01:02 GMT
Some years back my next door neighbor lost several Angus cows to plastic hardware disease. He never removed the poly twine from his round bales and by spring he had piles of poly twine where he was feeding and spread nearby.
The cows that didn't die were scrawny. He sent all but a few to the auction.
Babe and the neighbors that help all say that Jackson needs to leave here. He's overly friendly and is the bottom of the pecking order. In order to get something to eat, he has to get there first and grab a few mouthfuls. All except for grass. As a result, he's the most purely grass fed Dexter of them all.
Anytime Babe puts out some hay, she looks around for Jackson. Here he comes, full speed, bucking and sunfishing and skidding to a halt too close for comfort. It tends to panic my humans.
If ever a steer deserved the nickname of Butthead, he's it.
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Post by otf on Oct 21, 2014 20:50:20 GMT
Gene, do you have a cattle sorting stick she can use to wave at Jackson when he's running headlong toward her? It'll stop him short and he will respect that stick forever more.
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Post by genebo on Oct 22, 2014 12:28:04 GMT
She used it for the first time yesterday. She only had to show it to him and he started backing away. I forgot to remind her to have it in her hand when she puts out hay for Brenn. I hope she remembers.
She's out there now, feeding minerals mixed in feed.
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Post by lonecowhand on Oct 23, 2014 22:43:47 GMT
Is Brenn also an enthusiastic diner like Jackson?
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Post by genebo on Oct 24, 2014 14:22:50 GMT
Brenn is a regular eater, but has never been overly enthusiastic about it. He is the perfect gentleman.
He can afford to be. In his position as herd bull, he has never had to compete for food. The others either save him a spot or move away as he approaches. He holds the position of "bull"! All other positions are subservient.
There is only one position of higher stature in the pasture, and that is "human".
In my pasture, the lowest position in the pecking order is held by Jackson. He has to scramble to get what he wants.
Family really counts in my herd. Each of them are sons or daughters of Brenn, except for Eve. She is accepted as Bambi's daughter, since it was Bambi that carried her and raised her. Even though Jackson is Brenn's son, he was born and raised on a different farm by a totally unrelated cow. He was a year old when he came here, traumatized by being "cowboyed" to get him in the trailer, and limping. He became the weakest of my herd and earned himself the bottom ranking. His leg healed, mainly because he learned to avoid pushing and shoving matches with the other members of the herd. He attached himself to me and learned to come running to me as soon as he spotted me. I usually had him a treat (Hey, he's a steer. Gotta fatten him up!).
Now that Babe has taken over the chores Jackson's behavior has not changed, but Babe is not tolerant of it. She has only been working with cattle for just over a month. The same is true of the neighbors who help her do her morning chores. Face it, they are a little intimidated by the cattle. They have never been close to big cattle. These look big to them. Big and scary. It may take quite a while for them to get over their anxiety when the cattle come running when the are taking some hay to Brenn.
Time will cure all these problems. They will learn not to be bothered by the cattle's running to them and I will one day rejoin the work force. My big ambition is to lay Babe off from her position as cowgirl.
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Post by wvdexters on Oct 24, 2014 14:37:22 GMT
Steers do seem to get themselves into trouble don't they. He loved running through the fields as fast as he could go even after he first twisted that knee. Never let it heal completely.
That metal is terrible. I bought a metal detector and have been going over all the pastures especially around the old fence lines. Big job but it's getting done.
Gene, I know what you mean. We had a cow that did that yrs ago. Scared me to death when she'd come barreling down the hill in the mud straight for us. Hopefully he'll be moved soon, so you won't have to deal with him anymore.
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Post by lonecowhand on Oct 24, 2014 15:56:50 GMT
Genebo, So Babe carrying the "sorting stick" while going out to feed Brenn is for the benefit of the other cattle who think it's second helpings time? Good for Babe to wear so many hats.(and you.) A winter off for you and Brenn, and you'll be right as rain.
wvdexters, I note the past tense on Frank. You guys produced a good looking steer there.
Keep working that metal detector,I know you're looking for nuisance metal, but someone out by me just found a five POUND gold nugget with one of those!
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Post by wvdexters on Oct 24, 2014 23:46:03 GMT
That's what I keep saying. Every time I come in, the first thing my hubby asks is "Well, do I have to go back to work tomorrow?" LOL So far the answer has been yes. But you never know. This is an old place. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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Post by wvdexters on Nov 19, 2014 22:32:09 GMT
The votes are in and Dexter beef is DELICIOUS. We took advantage of a break in the weather (between the sleet showers) and grilled. Fork tender with lots of marbling. Especially for his young age.
I don't know his live weight, but the hanging weight was over 250 lb. Not bad for such a short, shortie. He hung for 3 wks, and the processor commented on how nicely he cut up. Especially for grass-fed. He'd done dexters in the past but was really surprised at how much beef was on him. You should see the soup bones! And the burger is great too.
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Post by genebo on Nov 20, 2014 0:50:59 GMT
Try putting some of your worst cuts in a pressure cooker. Short ribs, bottom round, neck bones; they all taste good!
I brown the meat, then lift it to put some cabbage under it. Cover it with potatoes, carrots and a couple of onions. Salt and pepper.
Cook it at 10 pounds for an hour. The meat will fall off the bones and not a single bit of flavor escaped while it was cooking.
Serve it with cornbread. It's so good it'll make you slap your Pappy!
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Post by wvdexters on Nov 20, 2014 22:48:46 GMT
Thanks for the recipe Gene. We will try it, sounds good!!!
Just got a phone call from Mom and Dad. 2 more votes in .... They love it.
It's almost like filling your freezer for free. We have hardly any input in him. Just hay/pasture and the occasional treat. The processing fees were very reasonable and we picked it up frozen. Really, really like Romney Meats. Clean, great service, and very nice people, easy to work with.
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Post by lonecowhand on Nov 21, 2014 17:49:16 GMT
That's great wvdexters, how does it compare to the angus you have raised in the past?
Genebo , you got me on that one, "slap your Pappy!" That's one I've not heard before! I'll try that recipe!
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