Dexter Cattle

The Farming Carpenter

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I am north of Tyler, Tx in both east Texas. Lots of cattle around here. I’m buying a Dexter steer next month to finish out for beef, up near Sulphur Springs. There is a Dexter breeder the next town over, about 15 miles from us. They are around here, just not conspicuous. LOL We are retired, have 8 acres, 3 horses, 3 hogs going to slaughter August 17, 19 Katahdin sheep, 15 chickens and 5 Livestock Guard Dogs.

I am delighted that you got so much help. Dreams do come true.
Sounds like you have a nice place. If you ever make it to RI, please let me know. You are always welcome here. I am blessed with 33 acres of land, but mostly wooded. I do hunt here. Believe or not the deer are very big around here and we can hunt 7 days a week form September 15- January 30. Bow, Crossbow, shot gun and black powder, NO RIFLES. LOL. Have you had much luck with the Dexter's? As you can tell, not many around here.

thanks again.

Larry
 

Grant

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If you don’t mind driving half way across the country Dexters are plentiful and reasonable here.



Here’s a 12 animal herd for $6000
 

Baymule

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Sounds like you have a nice place. If you ever make it to RI, please let me know. You are always welcome here. I am blessed with 33 acres of land, but mostly wooded. I do hunt here. Believe or not the deer are very big around here and we can hunt 7 days a week form September 15- January 30. Bow, Crossbow, shot gun and black powder, NO RIFLES. LOL. Have you had much luck with the Dexter's? As you can tell, not many around here.

thanks again.

Larry
No rifles! What about a slingshot? :lol: I've never hunted up north, but I am told the Texas whitetails are small. Haven't hunted in years, on 8 acres it ain't gonna happen.
This will be our first Dexter, he is 18 months old, we'll keep him about 6 months, then take to slaughter.
 

The Farming Carpenter

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No rifles! What about a slingshot? :lol: I've never hunted up north, but I am told the Texas whitetails are small. Haven't hunted in years, on 8 acres it ain't gonna happen.
This will be our first Dexter, he is 18 months old, we'll keep him about 6 months, then take to slaughter.
RI is so small, if you fire a rifle in any direction, it will end up out of the state before it stops. LOL
Good luck with the new Dexter and please keep me updated on its progress.
 

misfitmorgan

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Here is another contact from Connecticut.
https://dextercattle.org/for-sale/#Connecticut

This actually looks pretty close to you. Family milk cow(jersey dexter X), she has a 2 month old heifer calf and is running with a mini zebu bull. You might be able ot make arrangements to have her preg checked to confirm or have her AI'ed with dexter semen.
https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/grd/d/bridgewater-family-milk-cow/7361907831.html

Here is a breeder from New Hampshire
http://miniature-cattle.com/breeders.htm#ct

From what I can gather this farm in RI offers AI.
http://escobarfarm.com/links-education/#aitech

You can also ask your USDA extension office or your vet if they have any leads on AI services. You will also likely want to talk to some of those people who are breeding dexters (the people you buy from) to see if they offer semen for sale or breeding services if they are pretty close. To have a cow AI'ed here it is only $75 for a single cow or $50 per cow for larger herds. The expensive part is having semen straws shipped in because they have to ship very quickly and are in a very large container. If you choose to do AI ask your vet if they offers tank rental for semen storage or if they knows anyone who does, that way you can order several straws and only pay shipping once but not have to deal with keeping it all frozen yourself. We will be starting our AI journey in a year and a half and plan to order 10-12 straws so we can AI our 2 heifers/cows for 2-3yrs before needing to order more. Plan 2 straws per cow per breeding season.

Glad to be of help.
 
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farmerjan

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@The Farming Carpenter ; There are actually alot more Dexters in New England states than in some other areas because of them being better suited to smaller landholdings... and because in the states where there are larger cattle operations, Dexters do not sell well; and for people to make a living with feeder cattle or cow/calf operations, they are heavily discounted because they do not work on feedlot operations. You just have to get on the internet and do a little more indepth searching... and checking things like the craigslist , listings.
 

The Farming Carpenter

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Here is another contact from Connecticut.
https://dextercattle.org/for-sale/#Connecticut

This actually looks pretty close to you. Family milk cow(jersey dexter X), she has a 2 month old heifer calf and is running with a mini zebu bull. You might be able ot make arrangements to have her preg checked to confirm or have her AI'ed with dexter semen.
https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/grd/d/bridgewater-family-milk-cow/7361907831.html

Here is a breeder from New Hampshire
http://miniature-cattle.com/breeders.htm#ct

From what I can gather this farm in RI offers AI.
http://escobarfarm.com/links-education/#aitech

You can also ask your USDA extension office or your vet if they have any leads on AI services. You will also likely want to talk to some of those people who are breeding dexters (the people you buy from) to see if they offer semen for sale or breeding services if they are pretty close. To have a cow AI'ed here it is only $75 for a single cow or $50 per cow for larger herds. The expensive part is having semen straws shipped in because they have to ship very quickly and are in a very large container. If you choose to do AI ask your vet if they offers tank rental for semen storage or if they knows anyone who does, that way you can order several straws and only pay shipping once but not have to deal with keeping it all frozen yourself. We will be starting our AI journey in a year and a half and plan to order 10-12 straws so we can AI our 2 heifers/cows for 2-3yrs before needing to order more. Plan 2 straws per cow per breeding season.

Glad to be of help.
Thank you so much. That is much closer to me and they are registered. I will be looking into today.
Have a great day.

Larry
 

misfitmorgan

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Thank you so much. That is much closer to me and they are registered. I will be looking into today.
Have a great day.

Larry
No problem!

Don't forget to ask if they are willing to have her bred before you pick them up or if they are running with the bull or offer breeding or semen services.
 

The Farming Carpenter

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OK, so I went and visited one of the farms listed. The Dexter's look pretty good. The only concern was the mom cow was wheezing a little, but it might have been the heat. They are asking $3300.00 for three. Momma cow, one of her heifers', and her latest steer from this year. Not sure if that's to high, or about average. I asked a lot of local farmers and it was about 60-40 split. Most said it was about right. What is the opinions out there? She is registered and they are willing to get the off spring registered. Thanks, They are not a common cow for RI. That is the main reason why I want to offer a different meat around here.

Larry
 
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