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Post by karenp on Aug 10, 2017 13:33:48 GMT
Dexters are advertised as a dual/tri purpose cow ideal for as a small acreage family cow. Understanding that anyone who wants to milk their cow is a breeder on a small scale, it seems that most everyone I hear from online is a large scale breeder, few even milk. Anyone else out there with one or two cows that milk and produce beef mainly for their own consumption on small acreage? (we have 8 acres, but not all of it is pasture)
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Post by genebo on Aug 10, 2017 18:34:23 GMT
I have 10 acres of pasture. I keep 1 bull, 5 cows and their calves prior to sale or slaughter. I do not milk, but keep my freezer well stocked.
I run as near as possible to an all natural farm, with no vaccinations, antibiotics or hormones and a minimum of chemicals used in fly control.
All of my Dexters are pets, with gentle temperament. That comes from their close daily association with me and their growing up being home-schooled by their gentle mothers and herdmates.
My Dexters and their support animals are my whole life. I have retired from other pursuits to devote all my time to the farm. My bride and I run it.
That's not to say that I'm overworked. Each of the other animals on the farm is here in support of the Dexters. The goats, muscovy ducks, chickens and guineas save me untold hours of labor, giveng me more time to enjoy the Dexters.
My farm is always open to visitors who come here to see the little cattle. I spend a lot of fun times with total strangers and my Dexters.
Many of my Dexters go on to a life elsewhere to be milked. I love to keep track of them. They tend to go to smaller farms than mine. People who appreciate the small size and easy keeping. A lot of them adopt the casual milking schedule that my neighbor practices: once-a-day milking with an occasional missed day.
I'd do that myself except for a bad hand from a teenage accident. It hurts to milk. I do it only for demonstration to visitors and for training.
Karen P, we are close enough together that I've always wished I could get you to stop in some time. If you ever travel down I85 you miss me by only 12 miles. I'm 20 miles off of I95.
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Post by bruff64 on Aug 10, 2017 18:45:34 GMT
We have 62 acres split between 2 locations. 9 acres is open pasture and the recast heavy timber. We currently run 2 Dexter Cows, 2 dexter bulls, two Dexter calves, 2 Kerry cows, 2 dex-Kerry calves, on e Kerry bull, two mini Hereford cows and one mini Hereford bull. We beef out the steers or bulls for our own consumption. We are working towards a milking herd (2-3) cows for the future but are not milking now. Trying to finish up the working career in the next ten and then do the milking routine. Raise our own pork and poultry as well.
I would like to settle with just the Kerrys and the Herefords but every time I try to sell off the Dexters I find myself pulling back. Having three breeds is not manageable at my scale. Especially with bulls
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Post by karenp on Aug 10, 2017 19:29:01 GMT
I have 10 acres of pasture. I keep 1 bull, 5 cows and their calves prior to sale or slaughter. I do not milk, but keep my freezer well stocked. I run as near as possible to an all natural farm, with no vaccinations, antibiotics or hormones and a minimum of chemicals used in fly control. All of my Dexters are pets, with gentle temperament. That comes from their close daily association with me and their growing up being home-schooled by their gentle mothers and herdmates. My Dexters and their support animals are my whole life. I have retired from other pursuits to devote all my time to the farm. My bride and I run it. That's not to say that I'm overworked. Each of the other animals on the farm is here in support of the Dexters. The goats, muscovy ducks, chickens and guineas save me untold hours of labor, giveng me more time to enjoy the Dexters. My farm is always open to visitors who come here to see the little cattle. I spend a lot of fun times with total strangers and my Dexters. Many of my Dexters go on to a life elsewhere to be milked. I love to keep track of them. They tend to go to smaller farms than mine. People who appreciate the small size and easy keeping. A lot of them adopt the casual milking schedule that my neighbor practices: once-a-day milking with an occasional missed day. I'd do that myself except for a bad hand from a teenage accident. It hurts to milk. I do it only for demonstration to visitors and for training. Karen P, we are close enough together that I've always wished I could get you to stop in some time. If you ever travel down I85 you miss me by only 12 miles. I'm 20 miles off of I95. My mother lives in the Northern neck of Virginia, even closer than to to you. Next time I'm down to visit her I'll try to get her to come with me to visit you if you're available. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2017 21:44:28 GMT
We have 40 right now. But on the Dairy side small scale. I hold back a couple from the main herd for miking. I have been milking for several years.
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Post by otf on Aug 10, 2017 22:35:19 GMT
We have 62 acres split between 2 locations. 9 acres is open pasture and the recast heavy timber. We currently run 2 Dexter Cows, 2 dexter bulls, two Dexter calves, 2 Kerry cows, 2 dex-Kerry calves, on e Kerry bull, two mini Hereford cows and one mini Hereford bull. We beef out the steers or bulls for our own consumption. We are working towards a milking herd (2-3) cows for the future but are not milking now. Trying to finish up the working career in the next ten and then do the milking routine. Raise our own pork and poultry as well. I would like to settle with just the Kerrys and the Herefords but every time I try to sell off the Dexters I find myself pulling back. Having three breeds is not manageable at my scale. Especially with bulls Oh wow, I cannot imagine having that many different breeds, esp. the bulls. Three different breeds? I could not do it. And anytime you have an additional location, even if it's a quarter mile from the main farm, it adds to the workload. When we had two bulls in adjacent fields, I put up an additional line of electric fencing, just in case..... And now I have zero bulls! And now it's very quiet in our pastures. |
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Post by bruff64 on Aug 10, 2017 23:24:43 GMT
Yup, I am a cow hoarder. Time for an intervention
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Post by genebo on Aug 11, 2017 3:36:12 GMT
Gale, having quiet pastures isn't natural for you. I'll bet it's lonely.
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Post by otf on Aug 11, 2017 12:15:03 GMT
Yes, Gene, it is quiet, but they're a congenial group of 6. Much as I loved having the calves and their antics to look forward to, it was also stressful in some ways. But we've got plenty of pasture space!!!
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Post by jamshundred on Aug 13, 2017 2:28:15 GMT
I know a number of Dexter owners who began as small holders. Like potatoe chips, they could not stop at a couple and they have lots of cow chips in their pastures now
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