Dexter Cattle For Sale Discussion Board

Posted: **Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:10 am**

We have a 2.5 acre field in devon adjacent to our cottage and we have wanted to keep cattle for some time, after a year our considering it looks as though Dexters would make the ideal bovine selection. We would like two, do they prefer company? is 2.5 acreas enough for 2? and what are going to be the easiest to keep cows or bulls? Any advice appreciated.
Thanks

Jon

Posted: **Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:39 am**

As no-one else has answered yet I'll plunge in (as usual). This is simply my opinion, your acreage is a bit low to consider breeding because yes cows must have company so if you start with 2 you will have their 2 calves, plus the next year's calves (so 6 animals) before you can send the first 2 calves to sale or slaughter. I suppose you could try to sell all weaned calves, but it will be difficult if you can't find homes for them when you need to. If you are planning for your own beef, 2 or 3 castrated males (steers) might be OK. You will need to house them in the winter to protect the grazing and also probably buy in hay or haylage because you almost certainly would not be able to grow enough from your acreage to feed them while they are inside. Bedding also needs to be bought.

Even though Dexters are small cattle you will need some way of restraining them for necessary vet's visits (TB testing for instance). Cows which you keep for some years (and make pets of) may be easier to handle in these circumstances than young steers/heifers which you only have for shorter periods.

Try to visit a local Dexter owner, I'm sure they will help.

Posted: **Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:37 pm**

Thanks Sylvia, we weren't considering breeding they would be pampered pets whislt keeping the grass down. What would you suggest getting to keep long term? I am going to construct a field shelter for winter use. We want to get the Dexters as young as possible, in your experience would you get 2 bulls or 2 cows? What would be the long term maintenance differences. How green am I?

Posted: **Fri Apr 22, 2005 1:31 pm**

Not bulls - steers/bullocks yes but really you would have to consider eating them before they were 30 months of age. Cows, pampered cows fine but again, you would need to buy animals which were not being bred from for some reason.....age? And yes, they do need company

Shetland sheep would be my preference for such an acreage!
Just finished lambing (well, almost a couple may be very late or missed the ram) 73 lambs from 40 ewes and beautiful colours and patterns this year.

I have 50 acres and 17 head of Dexter cattle (counting 2 Xbred heifers, followers/calves) and including 73 lambs, 150 Shetland sheep. This is as many as I would ever carry on our land unless I bought in haylage
Good luck Jo

Posted: **Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:48 pm**

Jonathon,
I think in your situation I would choose 2 steers (castrated bull calves). They would make fine pets and great lawnmowers, and give you many happy years. I don't know if you would have time, but you could always get into training them to be oxen, pulling a cart etc. Dexters live to quite an age, so you would have long term pets and lawn care and great manure to make compost out of. get them when they are weaned, make sure you have good fences and have fun with them, groom them and get a good book on general cow care, get a good vet, and you are on your way to being a happy Dexter owner. Good luck to you,

Carol

Posted: **Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:00 pm**

Jonathon

Unless you want a mud patch go with Jo's advice - sheep are cheaper to purchase and maintain (though you need a 'shearer'), are easier to handle, won't damage the land and if you are not too soft hearted produce excellent 'lamb'.

Peter

Posted: **Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:49 pm**

Jonathan, I am the secretary of the Devon Group, living near Tiverton and you would be really welcome to come and see my herd or I can direct you to a herd closer to you. There are lots of local enthusiasts and experts I can put you in touch with who would be pleased to help and advise you. Good luck, Fiona

Posted: **Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:01 pm**

How many Dexters to the acre?

Well, it depends if they are standing up or lying down.

If they are lying down you will get many more short legs than long to the acre.

And shorts are often wider in girth, so standing up you will get less.

So if you really want to pack them in try alternate rows of long leggeds standing and short legs lying down.

Posted: **Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:15 am**

Oh Duncan! :laugh:

Jonathon, I'd go for either two weaner steers and buy in winter feed, or get some sheep. You can buy self-shedding sheep like Wiltshires or Dorpers, if you don't want to be bothered with shearing.

Posted: **Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:54 am**

I can throw another option into the ring. I have Dexters, Shetland sheep and Alpacas (and 120 acres, so I'm not suggesting all 3 !!)

At present the value of 'pet' alpacas has dropped like a stone although they are still not as inexpensive as sheep. Steer clear of the high priced so called high quality new imports and do a bit of research. As yet these are not animals which are eaten in this country. E-mail me if you want more info.

Posted: **Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:39 am**

Sylvia

In terms of husbandry (sorry don't know the gender free term) are Alpacas closer to sheep or cattle eg effect on the land, winter housing, winter feeding etc?

Peter

Posted: **Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:45 am**

Jonathan,

A note of caution,if you do consider sheep, also do a bit of research and buy a placid breed or I can guarantee you WILL regret it!!!
You will still need better fences than for cattle but will be less likely to get an ulcer worrying about where they are this time!
A few docile breeds are suffolk, ( a big sheep with a white fleece and black head - too fat and lazy to get out, texel,all white - too fat and lazy to get out and greyface dartmoor, huge curly white fleece, white head with black smudge above the muzzle, -too laid back to care but also can't see to get out due to long curly fringe over eyes.)
Don't worry to much if you have sheep and one dies unexpectedly of apparently nothing at all, all sheep do this it is a national sport, they are born to die, they love it.

May I also say that how many of any animal you can keep depends as much on the quality of your land, ( steep or flat,marshy or well drained, good soil or clay,sandy, rocky, depth of top soil etc,),quality of ley,(types of grass in field,) quantity of inedible weed,(docks, nettles, thistles, buttercup, mathern etc) as it does on quantity of land.
I know this is complicated but it has to be taken into account other wise a guess could be way off the mark.

Also I am a volunteer for a horse welfare society and go and check prospective carers pasture etc and often find that they think their paddock is bigger than it is because when they bought the house it said and so many acres, not realising that house, large garden, circular drive, stables, stable yard and menage actually stand on a large part of it! I am sure you wouldn't make this mistake but it happens more often than you think so they thought they had two and a half acres and actually have about one.

Stephanie

Posted: **Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:21 am**

If you are thinking of sheep try Southdowns,they are a rare breed,the meat is great and they are as dosey as hell!.
To have 2.5 acres and self sustainable with cattle is nigh on impossible in my opinion,at the best try 2 short legged steers and kill them at 24 months,then get 2 more.I know it sounds a bit harsh but its practical.
Mark.

Posted: **Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:33 am**

Here we are promoting Dexters!! If we are looking at sheep I owned some Ryelands for a few years and "laid back" did not even begin to describe them. They were easily approachable in the field, and almost had to be carried through gates when a move was needed.

But to go back to Dexters, we began our smallholding enterprise with sheep, then wanted to get a source of fresh milk for the house, and had more or less decided on goats, when a visit to the Royal Show at Stoneleigh in the mid 1980's gave me the first sight of Dexters which I had heard all about but never actually seen. The goat idea went right out the window, and we spent the next year or two trying to get a Dexter, which were much scarcer then.
We began with one cow and calf, now have numbers varying from 8 to 14, and have to rent other grazing. But our home holding is only 2.4 acres. Of course the cow needs company, but her calf is company and once the second calf comes along you will have either a steer coming up to selling or slaughter, or a heifer to sell in calf.

At Burnside we try not to confuse food producing livestock with pets. There needs, I think, to be a clear distinction. We have kept hens, ducks, geese, sheep and cattle for food, and I hope that all are well cared for in their lifetime. We also have fell ponies, and cairn terriers, and they are very much pets and family members.

Stephanie, is the female term for Husbandry not Midwifery?

Duncan

Posted: **Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:52 am**

PeterO
Alpacas 'tread lightly on this earth' which neither cows nor sheep tend to do. Yes they need a shelter but ours go out during the day all through the year (their choice). In grazing terms similar to (larger) sheep and a bale of haylage in the barn in winter lasts our group of 30-odd females weeks rather than days and the same for the lads. Shearing essential every year or every 2 years. Entire males similar temperament to females ie very careful with their owners. Therefore castration not necessary although it is all the rage now. Better stop now or Duncan will be slapping my wrist again. E.mail me if you want more info.