There ’s a quiet revolution hap in American food production . Farmers , from across many different regions andbackgrounds , are turn their own food . In backyard homestead , at little - land area farms and even on larger sized property , independently minded people are reimagining the summons of food output .
Some only raise solid food for their families and friend . Others enter a wider market bysellingtheir mathematical product to restaurants , specialty shop and professional chefs . Every farmer isdifferent . Each has a unique spin on the farm - to - table nutrient trend .
However , there is something they all have in common . They have experienced the rich flavor and nutritional value of homegrown food . And they desire to share it .
If you visit a local farmer market , you ’ll seea variety of fruits , vegetables , berries , herbs and junkie these inspired farmers cultivate . Youwill also see spin - off products : kale , soap , lotions , bath salts , handcrafts and cannedgoods .
If you ’re lucky , intermix with the gardenand craft token , you ’ll find local beef and dairyproducts . This is where a very special strain of cattle stand to become a mainstay in this farm - to - table food rotation : Dexter cattle .
A Heritage Breed
Dexter cattle originated in the Kerry region of southwestern Ireland where they were own by small landholders . These early Dexters roamedthe mountainous Irish landscape in sparseliving condition , developing the hardy , thriftycharacteristics that we value in the breed today .
The first recorded importation of Dexters to America lists more than 200 get in between 1905 and 1915 . Now , the growing popularity of this special breed has expanded their population into nearly every state . If you ’re thinking about raising and save one of the best inheritance breeds of America ’s husbandry past , stewarding a ruck of heritage Dexter cattle should be on your list !
record more : These small-scale livestock breeds are perfect for small farm !
American Dexter Cattle Association
Versatility
Dexter cattle are a bargain in the farming community . As one of the last tri - purpose cattle breeds in existence , Dexters are excellent gripe and milk producer . Some rancher also keep the custom of Dexter draft animals awake by condition them to become valued oxen .
Their versatility is demonstrated in their ability to thrive in many unlike climate , by browse on a wide variety of forage . When space and resourcefulness are at a premium , have one kine breed that provides an motley of food product and that is comfortable on your land and pocketbook is commodious and wise .
Dexter Bos taurus can serve you with that . American Dexter Cattle Association
American Dexter Cattle Association
Sustainability
One of the most important factors in the winner of an agricultural plan is sustainability . It ’s importantto minimize the challenges and optimise the accomplishment to keep an attempt levelheaded and strong .
Dexter cattle excel in helping rancher accomplish that .
As breeding animals , Dexters have a high fertility pace with a low rate of calving difficultness . Dexter bulls are bang for their even disposition and simplicity of handling . Dexter cows are typically excellent mother , displaying the type of nurturing instincts that make them highly prize in genetically superior operation .
The Dexter ’s diminished sizing reduces the environmental step on valued lea and waterways . Additionally , its ability to commute a wide-cut variety of aboriginal grasses and legumes into rich , healthy beef and Milk River allow it to fit well in traditional and nontraditional farming techniques .
Very few cattle can volunteer more sustainability advantages .
Read more : Pick your ruminant base on what your pastures can proffer .
Profitability
Dexter cattle are famous for their economy . They eat less but produce more , pound for pound , than enceinte breed . For example , Dexter cow eat less than half of what their commercial dairy counterparts consume , but still produce 1 to 3 gallons milk a solar day .
Cows can provide their farmer with this rich creamy Milk River , all while still provoke their own healthy calfskin , in a calf - sharing relationship .
Dexter steers produce well - marble beef using a assortment of salubrious feeding programme . They flourish in grass - fed program but also metabolize grains well for those that like to put up their wind healthy process feed .
Steers typically mature to processing age by 18 to 24 month , producing kick that is rich and complex in tang . With high - quality meat and humble snub , Dexter beef is perfect for health - witting families . This also match well into a salubrious - eating merchandising plan .
Appearance
Dexters are n’t miniature cattle . This humble heritage breed has of course maintained their modest size without employing miniaturization strategies used by some large breed .
Dexter calves typically matter 40 to 50 pound at birthing . A mature cows weigh from 600 to 800 lbf. .
Their stature ranges from 34 to 46 inch ( a majority in the range of 36 to 42 column inch ) , measure out at the articulatio coxae . By the fourth dimension a cow has had her first calf at or after 24 months , she has mostly reached her mature size of it .
Bulls weigh from 800 to 1,200 pounds . Their top run from 36 to 50 inch ( a majority in the range of 38 to 44 inches ) , measure at the hip . Bulls do n’t reach their fledged size of it until about 5 old age of years .
Dexters can be black , red or dun . self-colored colors , with occasional white on udders and/or behind the umbilicus , are the norm . Excessive white , pervasive spotting or brindling are n’t considered distinctive Dexter colorations .
Dexters are originally a horned stock , with beautiful , sweeping , midsized horns that are blanched with calamitous tips . Some horned Dexters have their horns intact . Others have been dehorn . Dexters can also be course polled ( or hornless ) , oftentimes passing on this hornless characteristic to their young .
Horned , dehorned and poll Dexters have all three found their niche in the agricultural community . So whether you are looking for tusk or polled genetic science in your Dexter herd , you could choose from many options across America . Breeders have chosen to centre their efforts on raise this well - flesh out breed of Bos taurus .
If you ’re watching trend in agriculture and seeing the spate in the farm - to - table food for thought rotation , keep an optic on Dexter cattle . They ’re lay to become a unexampled food manufacturer ’s best plus .
For more information about Dexters , check out theAmerican Dexter Cattle Association .
More Information
TheAmerican Dexter Cattle Associationis a vivacious residential district of fellow Dexter possessor with an yearly expo , a quarterly magazine and access to regional conductor with age of experience . If you reckon that Dexter Bos taurus might profit your husbandry speculation , begin your research at the ADCA site . you could contact ADCA representative by finding their email addresses on theADCA “ Contact Us ” webpage .
Regional directors are a great imagination to learn Bos taurus . And the“Member ’s Map”will give you a snapshot of where to find breeder in your realm .
A beneficial path to control the true pedigree of a Dexter is to own ADCA - register Dexters . Since 1957 , the ADCA has offer stock breeder a lineament register for Dexter pedigrees to be recorded and observe .
With animals turn over back to the earliest recorded purebred Dexters , the ADCA online pedigree serves as an significant enquiry puppet for breeders to canvas purebred Dexter cattle bloodlines . The ADCA also call for testing to genetically control the parentage of calf .
This clause originally appeared in the July / August 2022 issue ofHobby Farmsmagazine .
