Great side by side comparison. We have three Jersey's, Opal (who is due to calve soon) Prime and Chuck. You could not ask for better cows, very sweet, loving cows who are remarkably nimble. Ours are chow hounds and we use them with our goats to clear wooded sections of our farm. Great workers. We believe in giving our stock the most love and affection possible, knowing that when the day comes to send them off, they enjoyed life to the fullest and never lacked for anything. Not easy for most people but I think it translates into the best beef possible. It also shows in the quality and taste of the milk, nothing better.
Thanks! It is definitely a possibility and I wish we could take out that variable. I think the guy on "Just a Few Acres" channel put it best when he said something like their nature is influenced by the genetics of the breed and of the herd. Seeing the herds both heifers came from (before us), these attributes were evident in the herds as well but that could likely be traced to their purposes and training for several generations back.
@@CriaAndKiddFW , Our dexter heifer was handled and pet and snuggled daily for 6-7 months but as she has grown she has progressively gotten more skittish. The Jersey we got at 4 months old and had sheep companions. We wish we could take out that variable. When she has a calf we will see what her calf is like (if we breed her to a jersey). We currently have a dexter-jersey heifer calf our dexter had two months ago. Currently she is easier to handle than any of our dexter calves. We got both our original dexters (now two time moms) from two different herds. I think the genetic disposition and temperaments just aren't great examples for the dexter breed-- they were more beef oriented and one herd didn't handle and the other did some. We've learned a lot about cattle since getting our first two dexters. Probably would be pickier if we were to do it again. Their production and conformation are also not great examples of the breed but we got them as heifers; if we had decent cows and they were the calves thrown, as they grew out they should have been culled for disposition (one) and conformation (udder and feet on the other).
Right on thanks for that. Your original videos made me decide to get a dexter. I ended up getting a jersey dexter cross heifer and and dexter to breed her. AI kits didn’t look like fun lol.
A dexter jersey cross might have been good for us originally. We finally had a dexter jersey calf this spring and will be posting a video of her very soon. Enjoy your dexter adventure!
A one of each comparison perhaps isn’t as useful as a more in depth one would be. We’ve had both and both breeds have varied just as much from animal to animal as the other. The Dexter is dual purpose, the only better meat their is would be Japanese Wagyu. It’s not a strong milker as far as volume, compared to the jersey, but the quality of the milk is 95% as good. A Jersey steer will give more meat, the meat is well above average, but it’s not to the level of the Dexter. We actually market Dexter beef, I couldn’t market Jersey the same way. It’s not the same high level of flavor. We don’t market dairy products, but as a family of 8, we drink about 2.5 gallons of milk every day. That’s all the dairy performance we need. We generate MORE revenue due to the size of a side of Dexter beef. After a 30-40 day dry age, it’s just a tick over 100 lbs. Our customers are an upper middle class type with a sophisticated pallet and a deep understanding of quality, who get the effectiveness of a thorough process. They don’t want a sloppy water laden 350 lb side of beef that they have to buy an extra freezer to freeze all that water. Either breed will thrive if your 100% grass only. As with any breed, the quality of the meat ties in with the quality of your grass and grazing practices. Breeds capable of the 1100 lb plus live weights will not produce good tasting grass fed meats, no matter what grazing methods you follow. They’ll actually be under nourished. Yes, I know the buffalo were grass only, but I’ll guarantee you the meat was like shoe leather! When you throw the grain into the bovine diet, you loose the beneficial fat profile very quickly. I’ll concede that animal health can be managed. I will finish on corn per request, but at that point, the animal is going to choose grass over grain feed. I have to mix in molasses to trick them into eating it. Just my 2 cents
We are a small homestead and can't raise a sizable herd of each. The dexters don't produce enough milk for our needs and we look forward to how the jersey performs. Temperament and disposition do vary by animal, and by line, and by breed. We are enjoying the meat from our first dexter steer. Our one remaining dexter steer has no respect for our fences while the dexter cows and heifers do (fortunately). I can hardly wait to get him in the freezer.
@@cozycowfarm we’re milking 3 Dexters. Don’t even use a head gate. If you want one single animal as a family milk cow, the Jersey will definitely come through for you! She’ll throw out some good eating meat cattle over the years too. Just please don’t go get a bull for one heifer... another you tuber did that and he’s going to end up killing that poor girl. They need at least 4-5 ladies.
@@LtColDaddy71 We love our AI tech and that method for many reasons. Since our herd will likely never get over 8-10 it really doesn't make sense financially anyway, nevermind separate risks. It helps that we work closely enough with our animals daily to catch heats relatively easily.
@@LtColDaddy71 I wondered why the heck they got a huge bull for just 1 cow?! I mean I guess they want to be "self sufficient" but it's a waste of alot of feed! Idk
The first two we got as yearlings and they had horns--we didn't want to subject them to a dehorning at that age. We bred them to heterozygous polled bulls and have had 2 calves with horns and 2 without. Our original plan was to live with what we got...whether they were born with horns or not. However, we plan to dehorn this year's horned (dexter-jersey cross) heifer calf while still young enough to do so as we may end up keeping her and I would prefer to not have the pointy bits. Horns are pretty but I don't love working with them. Ironically, some dexter enthusiasts think the polled gene is inferior and added in and not truly dexter... but then dehorn their cattle. It seems much more humane to me to breed to not have horns rather than to dehorn after the fact.
Great side by side comparison. We have three Jersey's, Opal (who is due to calve soon) Prime and Chuck. You could not ask for better cows, very sweet, loving cows who are remarkably nimble. Ours are chow hounds and we use them with our goats to clear wooded sections of our farm. Great workers. We believe in giving our stock the most love and affection possible, knowing that when the day comes to send them off, they enjoyed life to the fullest and never lacked for anything. Not easy for most people but I think it translates into the best beef possible. It also shows in the quality and taste of the milk, nothing better.
Great video. Loved them playing with the pumpkin.
Great video! I'm wondering if Ria is easier b/c she was a bottle baby instead of nursed from mom, so she is easier to train from the start.
Thanks! It is definitely a possibility and I wish we could take out that variable. I think the guy on "Just a Few Acres" channel put it best when he said something like their nature is influenced by the genetics of the breed and of the herd. Seeing the herds both heifers came from (before us), these attributes were evident in the herds as well but that could likely be traced to their purposes and training for several generations back.
@@cozycowfarm I
@@CriaAndKiddFW , Our dexter heifer was handled and pet and snuggled daily for 6-7 months but as she has grown she has progressively gotten more skittish. The Jersey we got at 4 months old and had sheep companions. We wish we could take out that variable. When she has a calf we will see what her calf is like (if we breed her to a jersey). We currently have a dexter-jersey heifer calf our dexter had two months ago. Currently she is easier to handle than any of our dexter calves. We got both our original dexters (now two time moms) from two different herds. I think the genetic disposition and temperaments just aren't great examples for the dexter breed-- they were more beef oriented and one herd didn't handle and the other did some. We've learned a lot about cattle since getting our first two dexters. Probably would be pickier if we were to do it again. Their production and conformation are also not great examples of the breed but we got them as heifers; if we had decent cows and they were the calves thrown, as they grew out they should have been culled for disposition (one) and conformation (udder and feet on the other).
Jerseys are goof balls. Sometimes I sit back and laugh at their antics when I am watching 4H and dairy shows.
great video had to sub love your channel name!
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it!
Right on thanks for that. Your original videos made me decide to get a dexter. I ended up getting a jersey dexter cross heifer and and dexter to breed her. AI kits didn’t look like fun lol.
A dexter jersey cross might have been good for us originally. We finally had a dexter jersey calf this spring and will be posting a video of her very soon. Enjoy your dexter adventure!
interesting
A one of each comparison perhaps isn’t as useful as a more in depth one would be.
We’ve had both and both breeds have varied just as much from animal to animal as the other.
The Dexter is dual purpose, the only better meat their is would be Japanese Wagyu. It’s not a strong milker as far as volume, compared to the jersey, but the quality of the milk is 95% as good.
A Jersey steer will give more meat, the meat is well above average, but it’s not to the level of the Dexter.
We actually market Dexter beef, I couldn’t market Jersey the same way. It’s not the same high level of flavor. We don’t market dairy products, but as a family of 8, we drink about 2.5 gallons of milk every day. That’s all the dairy performance we need.
We generate MORE revenue due to the size of a side of Dexter beef. After a 30-40 day dry age, it’s just a tick over 100 lbs. Our customers are an upper middle class type with a sophisticated pallet and a deep understanding of quality, who get the effectiveness of a thorough process. They don’t want a sloppy water laden 350 lb side of beef that they have to buy an extra freezer to freeze all that water.
Either breed will thrive if your 100% grass only. As with any breed, the quality of the meat ties in with the quality of your grass and grazing practices.
Breeds capable of the 1100 lb plus live weights will not produce good tasting grass fed meats, no matter what grazing methods you follow. They’ll actually be under nourished. Yes, I know the buffalo were grass only, but I’ll guarantee you the meat was like shoe leather!
When you throw the grain into the bovine diet, you loose the beneficial fat profile very quickly. I’ll concede that animal health can be managed. I will finish on corn per request, but at that point, the animal is going to choose grass over grain feed. I have to mix in molasses to trick them into eating it.
Just my 2 cents
We are a small homestead and can't raise a sizable herd of each. The dexters don't produce enough milk for our needs and we look forward to how the jersey performs. Temperament and disposition do vary by animal, and by line, and by breed. We are enjoying the meat from our first dexter steer. Our one remaining dexter steer has no respect for our fences while the dexter cows and heifers do (fortunately). I can hardly wait to get him in the freezer.
@@cozycowfarm we’re milking 3 Dexters. Don’t even use a head gate. If you want one single animal as a family milk cow, the Jersey will definitely come through for you! She’ll throw out some good eating meat cattle over the years too.
Just please don’t go get a bull for one heifer... another you tuber did that and he’s going to end up killing that poor girl. They need at least 4-5 ladies.
@@LtColDaddy71 We love our AI tech and that method for many reasons. Since our herd will likely never get over 8-10 it really doesn't make sense financially anyway, nevermind separate risks. It helps that we work closely enough with our animals daily to catch heats relatively easily.
@@LtColDaddy71 I wondered why the heck they got a huge bull for just 1 cow?! I mean I guess they want to be "self sufficient" but it's a waste of alot of feed! Idk
I see you don't de horn the cows
The first two we got as yearlings and they had horns--we didn't want to subject them to a dehorning at that age. We bred them to heterozygous polled bulls and have had 2 calves with horns and 2 without. Our original plan was to live with what we got...whether they were born with horns or not. However, we plan to dehorn this year's horned (dexter-jersey cross) heifer calf while still young enough to do so as we may end up keeping her and I would prefer to not have the pointy bits. Horns are pretty but I don't love working with them. Ironically, some dexter enthusiasts think the polled gene is inferior and added in and not truly dexter... but then dehorn their cattle. It seems much more humane to me to breed to not have horns rather than to dehorn after the fact.