thought you might like to see this video of mini c

[bookwormom]

http://green.msn.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx?bid=611&GT1=45002

[WileyCoyote]

Dagnabbit Bookwormmom!!! That was toooo cute and inspirational!

Sigh. Three year plan. Stick to the plan. Must. NOT. run. out. and. buy. the. Dexters. Now.

Argh.

[EarthMother]

Well, I was ready to run out and buy a couple until I found out they cost as much as the average cow. Whoa, that put my brakes on. Here in Missouri they are 1500 per bred cow. These breeders I got a reply from had 2 bred heifers/ Are they still heifers until thier first birth?
Has anyone else priced these mini cows? I wonder how the price compares to other areas. I don't think I am ready to sink $3000 -$5000 (including a bull) into cattle when I have absolutely no experience with them. I've raised eating rabbits, chickens, potbelly pigs, kids and a husband. How ever not any of these cost me $1500. I think I must agree with Wileycyote and plan for this purchase. I also think I will try to locate a Jersey cow. They aren't as big as a Holstien. I am going for a 27 acre mini farm including minature animals. If we do ever totally lose power, my family and extensions make 10 to feed and I believe we migt be able to consume a small pig or mini calf before losing them to rot.

[walls0stone]

A heffer is a female of breading age, that has yet to have a calf. First calf heffer would be the young animal you can get lots more young out of. Are you saying a cow and a bull for 3-5 grand? That could be ok, but that's like saying...two cars for 3-5 grand..uh what kind of car? what shape ect ect.

I've gone down this road before..but if you keep an open mind, you can get other small cows other than a Jersy. I think those things are a pain. They are known for being testy...do you have more than one? cows like company.

minie calf? that's like the size of a beagle. for what you talk about, my I sugest highlanders...they get fat on crap other cows won't eat.

Dexters are good oxen, (that can be male or female,) but you need to start them early on that.

Farm fads make me wonder if they have line bread this once rare animal to a point of poor health.

[AlchemyAcres]

I don't think I am ready to sink $3000 -$5000 (including a bull) into cattle when I have absolutely no experience with them.

That's wise!

There are plenty of good Dexter's available, but, because of the limited supply and great demand, I've seen a lot of very sub-standard and poor quality animals being sold for crazy prices.

What are you most interested in, milk or meat?

Have you considered goats?

Personally, I think that Dutch Belted cattle would make an excellent homesteading cow...longevity, good temperament (size isn't as much of an issue), easy keepers, do great on pasture....... milk, meat and, especially, fertility that has been bred out of the standard dairy breeds.


~Martin

[EarthMother]

Hey Martin,
thanks, you always make me slow down and think. The $3000 was for 2 bred females. The 5,000 was for the 2 bred cows and a bull. The 5 is an estimate. I've looked at goats. The only reason I hesitate is what I hear about the required fencing. I do not favor chasing down fence climbing critters. I want the ability to feed my crew in case everything in our world goes belly up. I am pretty well sold on kathadin (sp?) hair sheet. I am too old to try to learn to spin wool into yarn. About 1/2 of my 10 drink cows milk and eat beef. I can't but I can eat other things. I certainly will agree that I don't know what I am doing. I do know that I can handle the butchering etc. I am so appreciative toward all who are willing to help me learn the things I should know. Thanks again.

[WileyCoyote]

I've taken care of my friend's goats, and I really don't want them. They are rambunctious, and the billy thought his horns were great fun to use on people around the farm. My friend raised Boers, and they were pretty but a pain in the butt. Also to cut down on the hereditary diseases, we had to keep the kids in cages separate from the moms, and milk the dams. pastuerize the milk, then bottle feed the kids. You haven't lived until you've bottle fed 15-20 goats, squirming and kicking and planting those little hooves everywhere, each one demanding to be first. Then keeping them incarcerated was a pain. We tried staking them out and they chewed through everything but chain. Finally she kept them in separate chicken-wire and wood pole cages, closed off at the top. An even bigger pain, cause then they had to be fed and watered separately. Pasteurizing all that milk every day for six weeks or more made me realize one thing - I don't and will never like goat's milk!

I have thought about the Belteds, too, but I need something that can forage on less than a full size cow - my pastureland won't support too many cattle. Thought about Galloways but they are pricey too, and the information on them is not as thorough as on the Dexters. But you are right about the breeding problems - there is already a genetic problem called (I think) chondroplasia which causes the cows to be short-legged (even more than they are already). This has caused a split even among Dexter breeders and registers; now you can register them as general Dexters or as ONLY the long-legged ones (chondroplasia free). And by watching the Dexter boards, it seems like a lot of people get into breeding them because they are cute and don't consider the effort that it takes to keep and raise them - sorta like Easter bunnies and chicks.

There's a lot of good and bad with any choices, I guess, and it probably boils down to personal choice and needs as well as requirements for the homestead. Since I am really more interested in cheese and butter, and am a sawed-off little SLUF as it is, I have pretty much picked the Dexters for their ability to forage well, their height, temperament, and ease of multiplying, as well for their milk butterfat content and meat quality. I know that, in the Angus country where I live, I will be laughed at (politely). But that is kinda minor. It is best, I think, to read and study and go and observe long before one buys out of hand. Hence the aforementioned three year plan. Right now I think we will have Dexters - but that could change.

[bookwormom]

WHAT?????
Well, I was ready to run out and buy a couple until I found out they cost as much as the average cow. Whoa, that put my brakes on. Here in Missouri they are 1500 per bred cow. These breeders I got a reply from had 2 bred heifers/ Are they still heifers until thier first birth?

Now I am really confused. *should I up the price or what? * ours are registered and I was hoping to get 900 for a bred cow. *

we also keep a few goats, the goats are easier to handle, the cows have much better habits.
due to lousy forage conditions with this drought, we also have been letting them graze the lawn. they do a good job, stay long in one area, munch it down well, ate cleanly around the flower borders. We have not had to mow the lawn in a while. *they are not interested in my flowers and I have to keep the garden neat so they do not want to go in there and eat the grass in the paths. *also, one strand of wire keeps them, four strands of wire does not keep the goats. * I think we are going to stick with both though because we are well situated for both, having a lot of browse for goats and if it ever rains again our pasture situation would be good too. we just got a bunch of step on fenceposts for temp. fencing to manage our pastures properly. *Now I most certainly could not let the goats 'mow' the lawn. they would be everywhere I donot want them to be, including on top of the chickenhouse and do damage left and right. Chuck is destined for the freezer, I don't think we could see him as a bull, although he is a nice looking fella, but he seems a bit retarded. We have to look out for him, he is so slow, and also timid. by the time he thinks of eating, Blacky has come up and chased him away. Blacky is a bit like Lucy in Charly Brown. We are thinking of breeding Lola to a mini Jersey/Dexter mix bull. Grumpy is supposed to have a calf in December.

[bookwormom]

quote
Farm fads make me wonder if they have line bread this once rare animal to a point of poor health.

What makes you think that w0s?