The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: Ladygrey on July 03, 2012, 12:28:17 pm

Title: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 03, 2012, 12:28:17 pm
Hi there :)

I may be able to gain some more land, well basicly a farm.. but I am looking into doing a small herd of suckler beef.

I am interested in Dexter cattle and would love to hear from anyone on here who keeps them! :)

How much is it to buy them in? how many cattle do you recommend per acre? Also do you sell your calves live to the pedigree market? or do you sell the beef?

Sorry for all the questions,

Thanks Jess
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Rosemary on July 03, 2012, 01:54:57 pm
We keep Shetlands if you are interested in keeping a small, British rare breed. There are only about 750 breeding cows, so your support for the breed would be welcomed.

The Shetland is small (cows about 350-400kg), milky, hardy and thrifty but has the ability to produce crossbred calves from continental bulls if that's the enterprise that you want to have.

There is good information for first-time cattle keepers on the Shetland Cattle Breeders Association website www.shetlandcattle.org.uk (http://www.shetlandcattle.org.uk) - the info would be useful regardless of what breed you decide to go with.
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 03, 2012, 03:24:01 pm
Hi Rosemary  :wave:

Looking at the shetland that may be a good idea! I much prefer smaller breeds of cattle to go with my small pigs and smallish ewes I will be getting, it would mainly be for beef but I would definitely be interested in making dairy products and I would love to breed pedigree so I can show and sell live.

I am definitely interested in the rarer breeds and I would like to be able to have open farm days, so a breed that was also interesting would be ideal!

Do you know if the pure shetlands make good beef animals? or I suppose I could do a few pure shetlands to sell live and then shetland crosses to do for beef. Do you know what breeds I can cross onto a shetland cow for beef production?
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Deere on July 03, 2012, 06:17:11 pm
To get an idea of prices you could have a look on the dexter society website, they usually have a few for sale on there and most have the prices on as well as their location.

We sell our beef to local resturants and also sell quarters or eights to people we know straight from the butchers shrink wrapped, labelled and boxed ready for the freezer.

Early doors for us as we are just getting the website up and running and contacting other local business's in the area.  We have several repeat customers already and are getting new orders all the time.

www.ashford-grange.co.uk (http://www.ashford-grange.co.uk)

still pretty basic but it's the future for selling now if you haven't got a website...... Lol

Tim
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 03, 2012, 07:14:50 pm
Looks like you are doing well!  :thumbsup:

I sell lamb straight to consumer and would love to get a website up and running, but I can only think about doing that after I expand, due to not being able to keep up with demand  ::)

Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: smithycraft on July 03, 2012, 07:22:52 pm
We have had Dexters for several years now but haven't found them particularly easy to handle.  We started with one in calf and built up a small herd.

Last year we took two to slaughter and the last two will go when the freezer is empty.

On the plus side, the meat is superb.

Have a look at this website for an idea of prices

http://www.dextercattleforsale.co.uk/ (http://www.dextercattleforsale.co.uk/)
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: chickenfeed on July 03, 2012, 08:33:17 pm
we keep a couple of dexters for the family freezers the meat is outstanding, dad keeps simmi's limmi's and angus to sell on but the only ones we east ourselfs is the dexter.
 
we find them easy to handle ......anything is easy compared to a limmi.
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Rosemary on July 03, 2012, 09:14:01 pm
The Shetland was developed as a house cow so is generally docile and easy to handle. Mine are halter trained (even the bullock to some extent) and they were no bother. When they are lying cudding, it's nice to go and sit with them in the field - very relaxing.

The Shetland is a house cow, so dual purpose. The beef is fabulous.

The most common beef cross seems to be the Simmental but the dam of mine is running with a Charolais.
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 03, 2012, 10:24:52 pm
Thanks for replies  :thumbsup:

I think easy handling is definitely a must, I will be running these cattle 95% on my own, with help only available some evenings. So its important that they dont have tendancies to run wild!

Would it be possible to cross a limi bull onto a shetland? using AI of course
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: SallyintNorth on July 04, 2012, 12:25:35 am
I think easy handling is definitely a must, I will be running these cattle 95% on my own, with help only available some evenings. So its important that they dont have tendancies to run wild!

Would it be possible to cross a limi bull onto a shetland? using AI of course

Sorry LG, does not compute. 

Why on earth would you want to use a Limousin bull when you need easy handling cattle????  ???  Use an Angus, a Hereford, a North (Red) Devon, a South Devon, a Shorthorn... but not a Limi! 
Plus, prices for offspring of pedigree registered Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn bulls now fetch a premium - 10p / kg deadweight for the first two, 20p / kg for Shorthorn - from Morrisons, which does seem to filter down to the store cattle prices too.

You can get pretty much any breed of bull on AI - whether or not you can get your Shetland (or any other breed of heifer and later, cow) to hold to the AI is another matter...
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 04, 2012, 09:19:16 am
Hi Sally  :wave:

"Why on earth would you want to use a Limousin bull when you need easy handling cattle?    Use an Angus, a Hereford, a North (Red) Devon, a South Devon, a Shorthorn... but not a Limi! "

I dont know how to do quote boxes..

My Friend Nia Griffiths of Mynach Limousins (Cwmfelin Mynach) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mynach-Limousins/118396181573793 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mynach-Limousins/118396181573793)

Every single one of her pedigree Limi's are as tame as a jersey house cow, she cuddles them all like big puppy dogs and they love and trust people! They are wonderfully looked after and are extremely calm and biddable beasts!

I am sure that many limi's are not nice animals, but I apologise and due to my experience I found that they can be lovely creatures.

Thanks for your suggestion on breeds! I do like hereford crosses but my only experience with them are dairy crosses. But I suppose if they are using hereford AI it must be for some good reason.  :)
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: SallyintNorth on July 04, 2012, 10:31:23 am
LadyGrey, your friends' Limis look great.  But can you get their semen for AI?  That's the problem - and we have it too - how can you determine what will be the temperament of the calves of an AI bull?

The Hereford is a traditional beef breed, producing old-fashioned beef with a marbling through it.  Several of the supermarkets now favour one or other of these breeds, and put the breed of the sire on the packaging.

I would have thought Hereford on a Shetland (which is a dairy animal, I think?, just a more beefy type of a one than some? - more like the original Shorthorn and less like a Holstein) would be a good cross for good tasty beef - I'd certainly be interested to hear how it goes if you try it.
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 04, 2012, 11:55:16 am
I can not get their actual bulls AI, but what my boyfriends farm does is, they go and find a lovely bull/cattle and then look up his nearest blood relatives that are on the AI bank.

Thier dairy cows are crossed with hereford, belgian blue, aberdeen angus and sometimes charolais, all are lovely and easy to handle, the only ones I dislike are the angus crosses! they are more pushy and harder (for me) to feed.

A Shetland is a multi purpose breed so yes beef and milk, I do like herefords and so yes may try hereford but will do lots of research and see what I can do. :)
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: SallyintNorth on July 04, 2012, 12:49:56 pm
I can not get their actual bulls AI, but what my boyfriends farm does is, they go and find a lovely bull/cattle and then look up his nearest blood relatives that are on the AI bank.

It obviously works for your boyfriend's farm (excepting those pushy Angus apparently!  ;)) but he'll know it isn't 100% - we had a lovely Charolais bull, quiet as anything, but his offspring were 'touchy' and couldn't be trusted when under pressure.  Poor old Lad had to go - and he went, quiet as a mouse to the last...  :'(

Anyway, you clearly have good sources around you and are taking a lot of trouble to do your research, so I'm sure you'll come up with something workable and wish you every success.  I hope we'll hear how you get on  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 05, 2012, 09:24:58 am
Yup its deffinatly not 100% :) they just like to see the bulls "in the flesh" aswel

Thats so sad about your bull  :'( poor chap

I would love to do research into how much is nature and how much is nurture, because Im pretty sure that Nia's limmis are like that because of the way they are handled.

Thanks so much :) getting alot of good advice from people on this forum aswel :) will let you know how the plan works out
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: exmoorlady on July 05, 2012, 09:39:18 am
Just reading your threads and I gather you are now disregarding dexters as they are hard to handle. I have had them for 3 years now and find them easy to handle.
 I was a complete novice having never had cattle, I have to do most of the work with them on my own. I have  halter trained all my cows to make life easier. I show some of them and milk one of them I sell any spare heifers and the steers go in the freezer. I also think it depends where you get them from, I wouldn't buy steers or heifers without checking that they had a good temperament . They are easy calvers good mums and of course the meat is wonderful. I am not saying they are perfect but what cattle are? You have a lot of good breeders in your part of the country check them out before disregarding them completely. Good luck whatever you decide to do.


Sharon :cow:
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 05, 2012, 10:17:09 am
Thanks Sharon :)

I have yet to disregard any kind of cattle, (apart from I would definitely prefer the smaller kinds!) I first looked at Belted Galloways as my friend breeds them, but then thought something a bit faster growing and less escape inclined...

I am open to suggestions, and I like how readily available the dexters are, the only information I couldnt find about them is are they ok to live outdoors all year round? and can you cross larger sires onto them?

I do prefer the chunkyness of the dexter over the dairy shape of the shetland, but I am doing research into this and trying to find a breed to suit :) I breed kunekune pigs which I suppose are the dexters of the pig world.

Are yours short legged or long legged? is there any difference apart from the legs? ie temperament etc

Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: exmoorlady on July 05, 2012, 11:09:57 am
We keep both types. The long are obviously best for meat as they are bigger. one of my short legs has a bit more attitude but otherwise there is no difference in temperament. There are always plenty of long legs around as the show people only keep shorts.
They are fine to live out all year as they are a very hardy breed




I have friends that have put angus, british blue and simms over their dexters but I like to keep mine pure. The meat is second to none with tremendous flavour and marbling.  :cow:

Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 05, 2012, 11:11:45 am
Thanks :) I think thats what is nice about the dexters, is that I dont have to cross breed them to get a good beefy animal

I just rang up the Dexter cattle society secretary and had a chat,
she gave me the number of a field adviser nearby and I am going to go and visit her this weekend to see her cattle and see about whether Dexter cattle can suit my future system or not.

In the mean time I will pay a visit to my friends Belted Galloways and im waiting on a reply about the shetlands,

I know this sounds like im going off everywhere with deciding, but I really want to get this right :)
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: SallyintNorth on July 05, 2012, 12:39:07 pm
I know this sounds like im going off everywhere with deciding, but I really want to get this right :)

Not at all, it sounds like you are doing a sensible amount of research and making sure you make the right choice for you. :thumbsup:

BH has a piece of advice about selecting stock.  Only ever buy an animal you like instantly on first sight - you'll always like that animal, and if you buy a one that you didn't quite take to at first, you'll always have a down on it when anything goes wrong.  I think a similar thing applies to choosing a breed.  It's not wrong to choose a breed because you like them, so long as there's nothing about them that wouldn't fit your system.  (Says she with her OSB pig, Jersey house cow, and Castlemilk Moorit sheep-for-meat-and-fleece  ;))

Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: exmoorlady on July 05, 2012, 02:06:40 pm
I totally agree with Sally about buying something you like at first sight. Sounds like you're doing all the right things Good luck whatever you choose.
Sharon :thumbsup: :cow:
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 05, 2012, 05:00:26 pm
Thanks for the advice :) I will see how the visit goes and let you know,
I am visiting the land tomorrow and then the Dexter cattle on saturday  :)

So excited! :)

Sharon what is your stocking rate for your Dexters?

Jess

Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: princesspiggy on July 05, 2012, 06:09:26 pm
we got shetlands and are complete cow beginners. they are v easy to care for and very hardy. i think u could sell shetland beef locally as a premium, rather than diluting it with other breeds.
its partly nature, as to how easy they come round to handling, but its alot down to how much effort u put in.
most are ruled by their belly which is a big help.
we can handle both of our girls but one is super tame as we are gona milk her. the other is as tame as she needs to be. if i had loads of free time she would be perfect too, but its not necessary here.


shetlands do have wide pelvis' tho and are reg crossed with other beef breeds and the calves are bigger than their mums pretty quickly.
we havent had chance to taste any yet...

its nice to support a british rare breed if they suit ur needs    :love:


check out
 www.shetlandcattle.org.uk (http://www.shetlandcattle.org.uk)
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: ayrt1010 on July 05, 2012, 07:03:36 pm
I started off with a cow and calf and now have 2 cows and 3 calves, they are my babies and are so friendly, they will do anything for food! They are simply great!!
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 05, 2012, 08:05:32 pm
Thanks Princesspiggy :)

Only thing with pedigree shetlands as beef is that they seem a bit dairyish. so maybe not quite as beefy as a beef breed...

If I knew of any shetland herds in my area then perhaps I could plan a visit :) I am waiting for an email reply from the shetland cattle society :)

And thanks ayrt your cows sounds lovely :)
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Rosemary on July 05, 2012, 08:07:23 pm

I would have thought Hereford on a Shetland (which is a dairy animal, I think?, just a more beefy type of a one than some? - more like the original Shorthorn and less like a Holstein) would be a good cross for good tasty beef - I'd certainly be interested to hear how it goes if you try it.

The Shetland is a dual purpose breed - although small it produces a good beef carcass. Technically, it is a beef breed since I can claim beef calf premium for my pure bred calves.
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: princesspiggy on July 05, 2012, 08:45:09 pm
heres a pic of my maya. shes not a skinny flyn.

The Shetland is a dual purpose breed -
triple purpose i believe as they were used in harness too.


choose which ever u are passionate about, helps u get out of bed in the morn!! lol
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Blackmyre on July 06, 2012, 08:35:17 pm


If I knew of any shetland herds in my area then perhaps I could plan a visit :) I am waiting for an email reply from the shetland cattle society :)

There are seven Shetland Cattle Breeders Association (SCBA) herds within about 50 miles of the Basingstoke area. I'm not sure who you mailed, but I would strongly recommend contacting the secretary of the Shetland Cattle Breeders Association (info@shetlandcattle.org.uk). If you try that and don't get a reply, please PM me and I'll investigate for you.


Steve.
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 06, 2012, 08:49:25 pm
Hi Steve :wave:

I emailed to info@shetlandcattle.org.uk, I dont know if this is the secretary or not ??

 I am visiting two cattle breeders this weekend, the dexters and another breed that has caught my eye ;)

I would be happy to visit some shetlands aswell, if there arent any too far away :)



Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Blackmyre on July 06, 2012, 09:19:29 pm
Hi. Yes, mails to that address should get through to the secretary (Barry). As Rosemary noted though, he might be rather struggling with the elements at the moment.


Looking at the Shetlands For Sale section of the SCBA web site, there's a member in Buckinghamshire (just over 50 miles from the Basingstoke area) with a heifer calf for sale.


I have mailed a couple of other SCBA members near you to see if they would be willing to show off the breed. I'll PM you if I get a positive response.




Steve.
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Blackmyre on July 08, 2012, 04:15:42 pm
OK, I have now sent you a couple of PMs with contact details of SCBA members with Shetland herds within about 20 miles or so from you. They'll be happy to hear from you, and will no doubt be more than willing to show off their cattle so that you can see  the breed is like first hand.


Good luck.




Steve.
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 09, 2012, 08:57:06 am
Thanks so much :) sorry I havnt replied, had a hectic weekend

I visited the Dexter cattle on Saturday and I loved them! they were so calm and easy to handle, and a nice chunky beefy cow but with short little legs, I really liked them :) so will see if I can get a visit in with the shetlands but I think my boyfreinds mind is pretty much made up about the dexters :)
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Blackmyre on July 09, 2012, 10:24:54 am
No problem. I have been known to miss PMs before on other forums; I wasn't sure whether they were easy to miss here, so I thought I ought to post a "Heads Up" in forum just in case.




Steve.
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Scotsdumpy on July 09, 2012, 10:38:42 am
We've got a dexter x jersey as a house cow - we got her as an in calf heifer, so we were both novices!!
Her first calf was born dead and deformed - there is something to watch out for in pure bred dexters which causes birth defects - a genetic problem to do with 'short leg' and 'long leg' types.
Our first attempt with AI was a success - a rare breed Kerry produced a bull calf. He was very easy to manage and has just recently gone to market where he fetched a good price.
We tried again with the Kerry but was unsuccessful but with the advice of the AI lady we opted for a belted galloway which she assured us could get a dead cow in calf!! - she was right! We now have a yearling heifer who is a bit headstrong.
Last year we went for a Welsh Black which was successful on the first try and we've got a little heifer calf.
We got our semen through GENUS who don't normally list the rare breed cattle but the RBST have straws available - best to ask your local AI contact.
Good luck with whatever you choose - they have to be right for you!!
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: princesspiggy on July 09, 2012, 12:33:45 pm
No problem. I have been known to miss PMs before on other forums; I wasn't sure whether they were easy to miss here, so I thought I ought to post a "Heads Up" in forum just in case.




Steve.


u can link them to ur email, that way u dont miss them  :D
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Blackmyre on July 09, 2012, 12:55:34 pm
Yes, but [a] I didn't know offhand whether that's on by default (or whether it had been disabled) and  I have found the eMail notifications on some forums to be very unreliable.


[Edit] Not sure why that bit came out in bold - didn't mean to shout!
Title: Re: Dexter Cattle
Post by: Ladygrey on July 09, 2012, 01:44:59 pm
Thanks for the info scotsdumpy  :thumbsup:

And it wasnt that I missed the PMs, its just that I didnt get to go online this weekend :)