Milking Dexters

[Saffy]

Our dexters have stacks of milk, I assumed they all did but these were bred by Beryl - originally for milk production. Even after she had long given up milking she felt that keeping the potential for milk was an important trait in the breed.

I am sure they would compare favourably size for size with an old fashioned fresian herd, if they were to be milked and like Duncan suggests were fed for milk production.

Stephanie

[domsmith]

Thinking about this more. the guy that makes stinking bishop cheese runs a few gloucester cattle on a small scale. making cheese and feeding the whey to gloucester old spot pigs sounds perfect and he must do it viabley and his cheese is world famous.

would be worth googling him to see what he does.

dom

[Broomcroft]

I've got dexters that produce sufficient but not enormous amounts of milk and others that have masses. I think there's a lot of variation, probably more so than any other breed.

[wagra dexters]

Beryl's "my American friend Rose" has Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery in NY state. Her website is www.kefircheese.com
Margaret

[domsmith]

Not sure about kefir cheese, but what a great thing to do. i am sure all that equipment patched up and made to work will be a nightmare. all credit to them, it must be a great place to be

just been at a harvest celebration in glasgow, one of the stall holders had pictures of his grandfathers ayrshires. even he said those are your sort of cows, all solid wee things, didnt look much more than waist height and horned.
looked perfect to me

d

[Denise]

Hi all, can I weigh in here - I thought the milking records were in the UK Dexter herdbooks - i.e. Beryls herd of years gone by, and Jane Paynters, and I dont know who else?? but surely those figures are proof? Since both had to be commercially viable herds, they wouldnt have had cows who didnt have good quality/quantity production.

And, now we have the A2 versus A1 milk genes entering the question. Just to add confusion further. Some of our breeders in Australia have commenced to have their milking cows tested for the A2 gene, which is supposedly more beneficial than A1 milk, especially to lactose intolerant children.

If you want more info - try wikipedia - althought the content is questionable, the reference sites down the bottom of the entry are more than interesting!

but here is the direct link to the A2 commercial site http://www.a2corporation.com/



regards

[Carol K]

If you are really interested in A2 milk get the Book "Devil In the milk" by Keith Woodford.
It's quite the eye opener, but I'm warning you it's not what I'd call an easy read. Worth it though.
A friend lent his copy to his vet. The vet is a total believer from just reading the book.
Anyway, it will give you the opportunity of making up your own minds.

Carol K

[Denise]

Hi Carol - I dont disbelieve, and thanks to you guys we now have the ability to test for this gene worldwide now, instead of just the commercial dairy herds who are part of the A2 group.

So far we've only had a few members in OZ who have tested, and I have yet to hear of any animal here that is A2/A2.
regards

[Carol K]

I've had my small herd tested for A2 and when we have more animals tested it will be interesting to see if A2 runs in lines etc etc. My results were 4 animals A2/A2 and 3 A1/A2.
I contacted a friend in the Pacific NW as I know they have run some milk tests on their Dexters, here are some updated figures.

Subject 1:
6 1/2 months into first lactation, providing 1 1/2 gallons a day without calf and twice a day milking
Butterfat 5.38 average and protein 4.14 average out 4 tests.
8-9 months into first lactation providing 3/4 gallons a day without calf and once a day milking
Butterfat 6.56 average and protein 4.37 average out of 5 tests.

Subject 2:
6 months into 2nd lactation providing over a gallon a day with out calf.
Butterfat 4.46 Protein 3.97
1 month into 3rd lactation providing over a gallon a day with calf.
Butterfat 3.25 Protein average 3.86 out of 6 tests

Subject 3
6 year old cow provides 1 1/2 - 2 gallons a day without calf.
Butterfat 5.11 average protein 3.90 out of 3 tests

Subject 4
7 month into 2nd lactation providing 3/4 gallon a day without calf
Butterfat 6.43 protein 4.10 average out of 2 tests

Subject 5:
6 months into 2nd lactation providing 1/2 gallon a day without calf
Butterfat 3.27 Protein 3.72 average out of 2 tests.

I was wowed by the butterfat content of some of their Dexters, I mean over 6% for an average on some!
Anyway thought you would all be interested in some figures that were more present day.

Carol K

[LarryMag]

Hello again to all
Firstly many thanks to ALL who have commented. It has really given us lots of food for thought. Up to now we have been swinging between the Jersey and the Dexter but have now decided to opt for the Dexter.
We are planning to aquire two (preferably in Ireland if possible, it would be easier) suitably Milky cows in April/May of next year.

The next step will be to start using the milk. We have a few ideas, but they are at the moment still only ideas.

We had not thought of the A2 milk so will be reading up on that side of things as well (thanks Carol).

We will also be looking at the whereabouts of Beryls herd linage to see what potential may be there, Stephanie.

Once again all your comments and experiences are very helpful to us, thanks again.

Larry

[Minnie]

Hi Carol,

It's very interesting your test results, which is something we look to doing down the track a little. The butterfat content of some is impressive, that's for sure.

I'm just not entirely convinced about the A2 yet, as the only supposed science has been done by the A2 corporation, I'd like to see some more work there.

But if the testing was cheap and as part of the butterfat testing I'd probably do it just to see.

I know we had a person in our group that convinced everyone that ALL dexters are A2 which wasn't great.

Vicki

[JamsHundred]

I came to A2 milk early when another Dexter friend made me aware of the science. He knew someone that was able to test through dairy channels and my herd was one of two that were tested early in the US. As I felt it important for other homesteaders and smallholders to be able to test their animals as well I began a fruitful relationship with two of the principals of the A2 Corp and was delighted when they decided to license testing in the US.

The simplest statement of A2 milk is that it is NATURAL milk. It is the milk of your mother, your sister. It is the milk that was found in all mammals in the beginning, including all cattle. At some point the A1 mutation came into the cattle breeds and it is believed that it spread widely in some breeds due to selective breeding with popular sires, both A1 and natural.

It is not the A1 beta casein that is the problem in the A1 milk it is a protein in the milk named BCM7 which seems to be the culprit in many health problems.

This protein is now connected to diabetes, coronary heart disease ( especially in men it seems), autism, and some mental disorders. The science has been ongoing for many years.

Both the dairy interests in NZ and in Australia have fought the A2 research tooth and nail because of it's impact on their livelihood. After many years of attempting to discredit the A2 Corp and it's work they have not succeeded and one could make the assumption that if they could have they would have.

Legacy, a preservation group in the US facilitated testing at UC-Davis in California and will process paper work for any Dexter owner worldwide who wishes to have their Dexters tested for A2. No fee to do so. The cost of the test at UC-Davis is $25.00 US. Owners can also test direct and the process is rather simple indeed!
Email: Sharethelegacy@aol.com for test forms and info.

I have been disappointed in the number of Dexters that are NOT A2/A2. There is a significant percentage of A1/A2 Dexters and a good number of A1/A1.

I am a believer. I really wish to drink only A2 milk and think that not only America will clammer for a change in our dairies but it will slowly move around the world. I believe NZ and Australia already have had consistent change in their production herds.

Anyone who needs help or information regarding testing can email me direct and I'm more than happy to help if I can. JamsHundred@aol.com

[domsmith]

Nothing to do with A2 milk (dont have a clue what you are on about there) but the original post.

been today to a small dairy in Ayrshire. milking 8 cows for making ice cream for there tea room and farm shop. they are all chained now in cubicles for the winter probably 12 cows and heifers all in a long line in a modern barn. the cows and other animals are an attraction for the visitors to the shop.
the cows are all ayrshires and jersey. they have a couple of dexters outside again for the public to see.

they are into their pedigrees and do alot of AI and flushing. whilst i was there a jersey heifer was born out of an ayrshire cow. whilst the real dam looked on from a pen opposite. 3 other heifers in the line of cattle also carried her embryos. quite a strange thing.

anyway they are making a good living from there little herd, down from 140 milkers in a parlour to milking 1 at once with a portable milker.

thought you might be interested

dom

[LarryMag]

Hi Dom
Yes, indeed that is in the line of where we talk of going, very similar. I mean the ice cream and not the breeding Would be intrested to get the name (you can PM if you wish).

Jams - we will certainly research the A2 discussion, if we are lucky enough to source a milky cow or a maiden hefier off a good dairy line we will be very lucky never one mind an A2 one. Even though the Dexter originated less than 100 miles from where I live they are as scarce as hens teeth!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry



Edited By LarryMag on 1288132576

[domsmith]

I dont think A2 milk is of any relevance to any normal uk or ireland consumer at the moment so dont even consider it when buying stock.

no secret it Jo and Willy Templeton at Syke farm, Mauchline, ayrshire

http://www.ayrshireicecream.co.uk/

dom