Good info! Have had my Dexters for 10 months now and we love them. Brought our first Dexter Steer home from the processor yesterday. He was 27 months old, grass fed and finished on grass and a flake of alfalfa daily. I called the Processor to ask if he had enough fat to dry age 21 days. He laughed and said “yeah and he could age even longer if you wanted”……. He was impressed with how much fat a Dexter grass fed steer had
That's pretty solid advice for any livestock really. I have seen it often with chickens where people don't think about the weather in their area and the chickens suffer from it. Breed-specific needs are important regardless of the animal.
Buy quality stock in any kind of animal, and get some actual hands on experience before buying. Read, talk to owners and learn something new every day, best advice I ever got.
@@dexterranch question! I have my husband and father in law. But I mostly do all the farm chores everyday. What would be the most important and most difficult task on a day to day basis when raising Dexters by yourself?
Day to day I would say it would be making sure they have hay in the winter. Which if you have the right equipment then that isn’t so hard. I feed round bales so when I first started I only had a hay buggy, and it was a bit of a physically challenging chore then. Water can become a situation in the winter depending on your climate and how you take the water to them. If you are constantly having to deal with frozen water then that’s also challenging, but generally speaking after everything is set up and working there is nothing of much concern on a day to day basis. The hard work is getting the systems/fencing/Waterers/equipment in place and working. And then of course if an animal gets sick / needs loaded in the trailer/ gets out, but all of these things are not day to day. Hope this helps!
No. 1. Prepare for winter. No. 2. Grass fed cattle are different. Transitioning from grain fed or mixed feed is difficult on the cattle. No. 3. Don't buy cheap cattle No. 4. Make contacts. Reach out to other breeders of Dexters. No. 5. (most important) Understand beef cattle conformation. Udders, feet, hips, back....
Sir I’m in southern West Virginia, I have several small pastures that I can rotational graze. The pastures have more weeds than grass and I’ve been reading that dexter cattle can do better than other breeds in these conditions. I’m looking to buy 2 heifers. What’s your advice. Thanks in advance.
If you haven't run any sheep-you might consider it. They do require protection (LGD is my preference) but they'll eat a lot of things cattle don't care to. Also just use higher density on the weedy stuff, let it get stomped down and many deposits made. It'll get better. I'm a Southpoll fan myself.
@@dexterranch oh yea just like you've been talking about, hooves, utters, temperament, and blood lines, so yes people 100% DO your research. I promise it pays off in the long hall. It's funny are farm's are alot a like, the name of are place is "Red Dexter Ranch. We raise in my opinion the finest red dexters in Minnesota.😁 so I love your channel sir, your doing the Dexter community a great service.
I grew fodder a couple of years ago. I actually had a video about it for a while but it didn’t get many views so I removed it. I wasn’t able to make the amount of time it take to tend to it make sense, and I feel like in order to grow enough to keep up with the demand you would need a dedicated climate controlled building. I grew it in my home. I still think it has its place. Just have to build an automated system to reduce some of the manual input. Thanks for watching!
If I ever have a couple acres of land, I’d like to have a small herd of them roaming those acres maintaining the land. If not miniature cattle, some hair sheep and llamas. Just some lawn pet that maintain the pastures.
@@kenjiro2676 it's the best thing going, tons of free resources and info to help you out. You'll be able to have more animals and better grasses/forbs moving those animals around with temporary fencing. There's a bunch to learn but it's worth it if you want to have the healthiest animals and land.
Hi Scott. Milk on demand. I don’t milk my cattle currently, but could anytime I wanted. I think that would change if they’re calf was taken away after birth.
You totally miss titled this video. It should say I knew absolutely nothing, 0.0, natta a thing about livestock my when I bought my cattle . Talk about stating the obvious!!! What did the poor animals have to go through while you were on your learning curve?
Some times people Have to justify getting ripped off and over paying for things just like I was told milk cows are not good for meat but they taste great to me
Agree ! For my last 14 years of dairy farming i had a 35 cow herd of Registered Jersey cows that grazed along a state highway. Very picturesque ! I did rotational grazing and the dairy cattle got moved to a new grazing strip after each milking (2x a day) Every so often strangers would stop and I was happy to answer questions or give advice. One advice I gave was to have a good supply of hay lined up. When they asked why, I stated on my central MN farm you will only graze 5 months out of the year and have to feed hay 7 months. Most of them would hang their head as my facts burst their fantasy of year around summer and cows grazing 365 days a year.
I'd guess you're more violent than any farmer. Meat is definitely food. According to many religions, meat is food. Who are you to go around telling others they are wrong?
You must not be Christian. Meat is food. Do you go around telling everyone their religion is wrong? Who are you to tell anyone their beliefs are wrong? They can tell you that right back. Good for you that that's what you think but keep your self righteousness to yourself.
@@bushbabybotha9943 Actually the brain runs on carbohydrate--pure and simple. Protein from animals is second-hand protein and is only good for building blocks or it goes though a less efficient path to energy. Nutrition is a hobby of mine. You are right about "murder".
Good info! Have had my Dexters for 10 months now and we love them. Brought our first Dexter Steer home from the processor yesterday. He was 27 months old, grass fed and finished on grass and a flake of alfalfa daily. I called the Processor to ask if he had enough fat to dry age 21 days. He laughed and said “yeah and he could age even longer if you wanted”……. He was impressed with how much fat a Dexter grass fed steer had
That’s awesome mark. I like comments like this. Thanks!
What was the hanging weight of the steer and how many pounds of processed beef did you get back?
That's pretty solid advice for any livestock really. I have seen it often with chickens where people don't think about the weather in their area and the chickens suffer from it. Breed-specific needs are important regardless of the animal.
Thanks for the input. And thanks for watching!
Very informative video especially for first time owners if livestock.
Great advice!
These 5 things hold true for any kind of livestock regardless breed or purity of breed
Thank you.
This is the same for any bovine and other farm animals as well 😅
Buy quality stock in any kind of animal, and get some actual hands on experience before buying. Read, talk to owners and learn something new every day, best advice I ever got.
This is good information thank you. I’m looking to get into Dexters.
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!
@@dexterranch question! I have my husband and father in law. But I mostly do all the farm chores everyday. What would be the most important and most difficult task on a day to day basis when raising Dexters by yourself?
Day to day I would say it would be making sure they have hay in the winter. Which if you have the right equipment then that isn’t so hard. I feed round bales so when I first started I only had a hay buggy, and it was a bit of a physically challenging chore then. Water can become a situation in the winter depending on your climate and how you take the water to them. If you are constantly having to deal with frozen water then that’s also challenging, but generally speaking after everything is set up and working there is nothing of much concern on a day to day basis. The hard work is getting the systems/fencing/Waterers/equipment in place and working. And then of course if an animal gets sick / needs loaded in the trailer/ gets out, but all of these things are not day to day. Hope this helps!
@@dexterranch thank you for taking the time to reply. I’m in Eastern Kentucky
No problem. I enjoy talking chatting about Dexters. I would recommend them to anyone and love to see more people raising them. Good luck.
Awesome information
It will help in my adventure to buy Dexters
Thank you. And good luck!
Thank you.
Thank you for watching!
No. 1. Prepare for winter.
No. 2. Grass fed cattle are different. Transitioning from grain fed or mixed feed is difficult on the cattle.
No. 3. Don't buy cheap cattle
No. 4. Make contacts. Reach out to other breeders of Dexters.
No. 5. (most important) Understand beef cattle conformation. Udders, feet, hips, back....
Thank you!
I’m in tx where could find a good place to buy some
Dexter can u show my caf haw many are they
Very Valuable Info...Thank You Sir.
Thanks for watching Darius!
I’m in NE Oklahoma and interested i. Getting some dexters. Do you have any for sale?
I am South of Stillwater and there several quality Dexter producers in the area.
Do you have any information
thanks from a city boy
Sir I’m in southern West Virginia, I have several small pastures that I can rotational graze. The pastures have more weeds than grass and I’ve been reading that dexter cattle can do better than other breeds in these conditions. I’m looking to buy 2 heifers. What’s your advice. Thanks in advance.
If you haven't run any sheep-you might consider it. They do require protection (LGD is my preference) but they'll eat a lot of things cattle don't care to. Also just use higher density on the weedy stuff, let it get stomped down and many deposits made. It'll get better. I'm a Southpoll fan myself.
@ thank you sir
Are you located in US? Kerry would be awesome too
Very good info!
Thanks Alton!
I agree, we paid $2000 for are Dexter milker she as all are red heard come from great stock.
The good ones aren’t cheap, you really do get what you pay for when it comes to cattle.
@@dexterranch oh yea just like you've been talking about, hooves, utters, temperament, and blood lines, so yes people 100% DO your research. I promise it pays off in the long hall. It's funny are farm's are alot a like, the name of are place is "Red Dexter Ranch. We raise in my opinion the finest red dexters in Minnesota.😁 so I love your channel sir, your doing the Dexter community a great service.
Thank you Shaun. I really appreciate that!
Where is your farm located??? Which State??
Hi! I am in Southeast Kansas.
Grow your own fodder from Barley seeds etc. Ready in 10 days
I grew fodder a couple of years ago. I actually had a video about it for a while but it didn’t get many views so I removed it. I wasn’t able to make the amount of time it take to tend to it make sense, and I feel like in order to grow enough to keep up with the demand you would need a dedicated climate controlled building. I grew it in my home. I still think it has its place. Just have to build an automated system to reduce some of the manual input. Thanks for watching!
None of this is strictly pertaining to Dexter cattle.
If I ever have a couple acres of land, I’d like to have a small herd of them roaming those acres maintaining the land.
If not miniature cattle, some hair sheep and llamas. Just some lawn pet that maintain the pastures.
Even then, if you don't rotate them, the land/soil and animals won't be as healthy as they could be. Just food for thought.
@ I guess I’ll have to learn about rotation and have a system set in place before I ever consider it.
@@kenjiro2676 it's the best thing going, tons of free resources and info to help you out. You'll be able to have more animals and better grasses/forbs moving those animals around with temporary fencing. There's a bunch to learn but it's worth it if you want to have the healthiest animals and land.
Are Dexter's a milk on demand or a have to milk daily?
Hi Scott. Milk on demand. I don’t milk my cattle currently, but could anytime I wanted. I think that would change if they’re calf was taken away after birth.
Look up Greg Judy
Thank you!
Except for #4, these rules all apply to any cattle breed in general.
Everyday why?
Poor planning and resource management is likely. And can affect us all.
5 things I wish I had known.
Where are you located?
SE Kansas.
You totally miss titled this video. It should say I knew absolutely nothing, 0.0, natta a thing about livestock my when I bought my cattle .
Talk about stating the obvious!!!
What did the poor animals have to go through while you were on your learning curve?
and buy your animals in summer so you better can see the conformation without all the hair!
This is a good point 👍
The only time a cheap cow might be worth it is if you're looking to just fill your freezer.
Haven't had a problem with my 300$ Dexters
Some times people
Have to justify getting ripped off and over paying for things just like I was told milk cows are not good for meat but they taste great to me
this virtually applies to any breed of cattle
agree but We absolutely love our dexters!
A true Dexter has horns, not polled.
Stop talkin' and show us your dexters !
Many other videos on the channel show them. Thanks for watching!
watching this video at 2.0 X speed
All 5 of these comments/complaints apply to ANY livestock. Did you do like so many newagers and think all this was easy?
Agree !
For my last 14 years of dairy farming i had a 35 cow herd of Registered Jersey cows that grazed along a state highway. Very picturesque !
I did rotational grazing and the dairy cattle got moved to a new grazing strip after each milking (2x a day)
Every so often strangers would stop and I was happy to answer questions or give advice.
One advice I gave was to have a good supply of hay lined up.
When they asked why, I stated on my central MN farm you will only graze 5 months out of the year and have to feed hay 7 months.
Most of them would hang their head as my facts burst their fantasy of year around summer and cows grazing 365 days a year.
It's Not Food It's Violence 💔💔💔💔💔💔😭😭😭😭😭😭😡😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
You better not eat meat of you’re full of sh*t
I'd guess you're more violent than any farmer. Meat is definitely food. According to many religions, meat is food. Who are you to go around telling others they are wrong?
Animals have bad luck for living with psychopath humans on the same planet 💔💔💔💔💔💔😭😭😭😭😭😭😡😡😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬
They were put here by God as food for us. It's not luck. And it's definitely not bad luck.
Meat is Murder
Smh ignorance 🤦🏾♂️
Meat is brain food, yours is starving.. murder is the unlawful and intentional killing of another human being.
@@bushbabybotha9943 Pure cow milk,is good for brains,when the cow is protected.
Ghee is great food n medicine,also.
You must not be Christian. Meat is food. Do you go around telling everyone their religion is wrong? Who are you to tell anyone their beliefs are wrong? They can tell you that right back. Good for you that that's what you think but keep your self righteousness to yourself.
@@bushbabybotha9943 Actually the brain runs on carbohydrate--pure and simple. Protein from animals is second-hand protein and is only good for building blocks or it goes though a less efficient path to energy. Nutrition is a hobby of mine. You are right about "murder".