Can anyone help? Have just moved to equestrian yard in Hampshire where we have too much good quality grass! Also unfortunately ground that has been grazed by horses for 12 years so a worm problem. Everyone has suggested Dexters but know nothing about cattle. Could someone answer a few basics:-
How practical is it for someone with no knowledge to look after them?
What is involved in the basic care - ie feet, worming, feeding etc?
How many do we need ie do you need two to keep each other company?
How well do they get on with horses? Would they pine if the horse was taken out of the field to be ridden.
How much does a cheap one cost?
What are the chances of getting someone to loan us a couple in return for free grazing as long as they look after feet etc?
How easy are they to halter train?
Do they demolish fences as readily as cattle seem to?
How long do I have to keep them in a field to remove the worm burden and does the grass have to be eaten right down for the worms to be gone?
Any other question that I dont know Im supposed to be asking!!!
Why not try to get an arrangement with a local Dexter breeder to start with and learn as you go, that would let you hopefully get an appropriate number on the ground without too much long term commitment. If the ground has only been used for horses worms should not be too much problem for the cattle, though trichostrongylus worms can infect both but rarely noted for causing problems. Cattle can be wormed with pouron stuff so may not need much handling to do that.You don't say what acreage involved but you would be better to have more than one. If they are to run with horses you need to watch as some horses can be hostile to cattle, and chase and bite calves, but freqently they all settle down and get on. Halter training is not particularly difficult for people used to handling animals but bear in mind they are as different from horses as cats are from dogs. Time will be as likely to be a factor in getting rid of the worm burden as grazing although a few will overwinter. I always like to see fields grazed well down over the winter but do not do that at the risk of poaching if it is at all wet. Dexters will poach the ground a lot lot less than horses. Fences do have to be reasonably sound but if they are never allowed to think they can escape then life is a lot easier - if they get used to makeshift fences they can push under through or over they will keep trying much more than if they are used to a fence being a fence. Get some advice from local Dexter people before you decide and don't just go for something because it is cheap. You may as well keep a reasonably good herd as rubbish, and you will get more out of them in every way.
Duncan
Duncan MacIntyre
Burnside Dexters 00316
Burnside
Ascog
Isle of Bute
Hi Catherine
We keep horses and Dexters too !
They all get on very well indeed , my colt started to be a problem when he was a yearling and my gelding is not very nice to them but my mares and foals adore them!
Duncan is right , once they know they can escape they do try and look fot it. Mine are very respectful of electric fencing now, providing of course it is turned on , they seem to know the minute the battery has gone down ! Don't forget though that the calves are so little they can get under so 2 or 3 strands maybe needed.
We started off with 2 cows and now have 4 cows , 3 heifers and a bull , plus the young 'uns that we grow for the freezer.
They are very addictive lovely little people and many a time I have even been tempted to keep them over horses !
They have ceratinly improved the quality of my grazing and do graze it down tight if left on the field.
They don't mind the horses coming in and out but there are a few of them , I don't think it would be terribly fair to keep one on it's own.
The other really useful thing is that they will eat the left over haylage or that which isn't of horse quailty , they are not as fussy ! We buy our haylage in big bales so we do get about 10 or 20 % that would othewise be wasted.
Happy Dexter searching and I'm sure you won't regret getting to know them !
I originally purchased a couple of Dexters for exactly the same reason - too many horses which grazed the fields very badly as well as the worm problems. The cattle have never been any trouble as long as you remember they do need a bit of looking after ie worming. I enlisted the help of a local farmer to help and I now have a herd of 40+ which are slightly more work but slill used to rotate round the horses paddocks. I have never had any problems with them demolishing fences but my fences are fairly good. The answer may be to get a coulpe of older cows which are halter trained as the leaders and go from there. I am cautious of putting very young calves with horses as we have had the occasional horse who will bully the cows but not generally. The best advice is however to go and talk to a local Dexter breeder to find out exactly whether they are what you want as opposed to perhaps letting a local farmer graze the fields with sheep some of the time.
Many thanks everyone. Looks like I shall be asking permission if we can have some Dexters! Would it be best to get them now or do you think we can remove the worm burden with a blast of all the fields in the spring? Main problem here apart from too much grass is ground is unbelievably wet - clay. And could anyone tell me what constitutes good fencing around Dexters. We have traditional post and rails - is that strong enough or would we need electric as well?
How do I go about finding local Hampshire Dexter breeders to see if we could have some on loan? Or is anyone out there interested? We have approx 20 acres split into paddocks.
Hi Catherine, like you we had the same idea.about 4 months ago we bought some dexters for the first time,in my ignorance i did not realise you have to apply to defra for a holding number and a herd number for the cattle passports, it's not to difficult to apply for but a lot of paper work to read & digest, thats if you intend to buy some dexters.dont let that put you off as they are well worth it & may put your horses in second place.as for the feet your local vet may have a foot trimming service to help in that department.
Paul
If more horse people around here (western Canada) were half as smart as you in regards to finding a solution to cleaning up their paddocks and looking after their pastures, the horses and the land would benefit greatly. Dexters are a great idea! You will enjoy them!
Although this is probably a dirty word- SHEEP- I have found mixing them with horses and Dexters keeps the grazing very tidy. The advantage of the sheep is that they keep any ragwort at bay and they are not heavy on the ground in winter.You could get a few running lambs in Autumn and either eat them as they get to the size you want or buy female (mule gimmer)lambs and sell them next year. Make sure your fences are multi-purpose though.
Cheers Louise
