3/4 Dexter Crosses

[Broomcroft]

Hi

I know in the past some people on the board have bred 3/4 dexter crosses but I can't remember what they've said.

Anyhow, I've crossed my pedigree Dexters with a pedigree Angus for 2 years now and have had about (edited) 80 calves in all. Now for the first time, I've put some Angus-Dexter cross heifers with my little non-short Dexter bull. At 15 months, they're as big as he is!

Anyhow, what I wanted to know is what to expect? Do they keep their additional shape, size. I know they may or may not be polled, well I think I know as the bull is horned and the heifers are polled, but carry the horn genes from their moms.

The people who crossed may not use this board any more, so not expecting any replies, but if you don't ask....

[domsmith]

I am not going to be much help here. but..

i have a dangus that has calved 3 times now. the first is due to be finished this year. its is horned and looks exactly like a pure dexter but might be 10-15% bigger. that one is horned.

this years calf looks very angus like, but its eyes are very pale and does look a little scary!

i have another dangus calf for the first time 3 days ago, she is a much better type of dangus, a very nice beast, very commercial i feel. good calf easily calved and dexter in appearance, will see how it grows.

like i say not much solid to help you with

[helena]

hi
maybe not a good idea but for many years I have crossed my last two short dexters with our commercial stock bulls simmental limi and now blonde.when i had ben loyal he always served the commercial heifers.last years simmental leaflet had a picture of a very old dexter very small with a simmental calf that only reached my knees .For reasons best known to herself after years of non breeding and retirement she must have liked the new simmental bull anyway the picture was printed with the words easy calving.for size I think the angus is a better cross I have been lucky in knowing the ease of calving of my stock bulls but this year i have made an effort and will use some of the semen in store I have many old bulls so it will be good to see pure little dexters again.on another note I have just lost a dexter cross MRi cow aged 20 who produced her last calf in 2010.we have noticed that anything with a bit of dexter in it never takes any harm and from the moment its born has a will to live.

[Broomcroft]

Limo, Sim and Blonde, you're very brave. I have a friend who crossed Limo-Dexter for a few years, didn't have a problem. We've had a few biggish calves with the Angus, but apart from one backwards that I had to use a jack on mainly because it was -14C and 4 a.m. in the morning (and a heifer not a cow), we've still not had an issue. Personally though, as you suggest, I wouldn't use a continental.

It'll be interesting to see how the Angus-Dexter crosses perform as cows. I'm just considering whether to go over entirely to the crosses as a suckler herd because I've got a good batch of heifers now, and they really look like they'll do well, and if they last a long time as you say, so much the better.

[Marg Rawlings]

Hi Clive
Here in Oz we have been crossing Dexters in grading up programs for a number of years. I think (dangerous I know) you will end up with PB Dexters again. Our lines which started with Angus have better body capacity, rump width (hip/thurl/pin) and volume, and pass both these traits on to their offspring. It was a very good cross in terms of beef production and if that is the reasoning behind your move, you will probably achieve good results.

If you look at our website Eva Diva, Crakka Jakka, Criss Cross, Fable,are all from Angus bases and when we have gotten to PB they have all have better beef qualities than a lot of the PB females we purchased so many years ago, while still retaining their milk.

Good luck with your crossing, I hope you have as much success as we did.

[Broomcroft]

Thanks Marg, that's what I wanted to know, i.e. that they pass on the improved shape, so hopefully I'll get the same. What I've got with the first Angus-Dexter cross is a much more body, width along the back is very noticeable, back-end. They have small heads for their body size. They also convert forage into body very easily. Having been to the market today to see some pure angus's sold, just a small herd, mine are better than they were by quite a margin. They are shorter and stockier.

I'll try and get some photos of the heifers I've put back to the dexter bull, when it stops raining!

Nice looking animals you have there.

[domsmith]

Just killed a bullock out of a dangus, put back to the dexter. looked like a dexter, but finished quickly at just 24months could have a gone a couple of months ago but i wanted him just right.

he scored r4l my first ever. 124kg a side. what a cracker! butter yellow fat.

Anyone who came to the sunnyside beef day he was the bullock we put through the crush for all to feel, sorry to see him go.

I hope our customers appreciate him.

dom

[Broomcroft]

I'm really glad to hear that dom. Looking at mine they are starting to look ready at 18 months and younger! Haven't been sure how long to take them on, certainly doesn't look like they'd go past 24 so going to take mine at 22'ish.

It would be great to have feedback on the flavour.

Do you do mail order?