Post by shawnab on Jun 9, 2011 20:58:33 GMT -5
Hi Ella!
Welcome! I wanted to chime in here because almost 3 years ago, I had a major "cart before the horse" experience here.
I am also a homeschooling momma of young children. We had just bought our farm and I just HAD to have a milk cow to do everything that you described...cheese, raw milk, butter...the whole she bang.
I had fallen in love with the idea and price of the dexter and we brought home a first calf heifer, with horns. We thought we would probably get them removed, but then I learned that it was a very gruesome procedure, and decided no.
Well, those horns were the bane of my existence. They scared me to death. Our little cow knew she hard sharp pointed horns, and knew how to use them. Our cow was not "wild", but she was not calm or docile. She was spunky and frisky, and really had no interest whatsoever in becoming a pet. And, every time I tried to work with her, those horn sent me back in the house sooner than later.
Also, with 4 young kids at home all the time, I just didn't have the hours to spend gentling her up, or the confidence.
She became a great beef-cow mamma. A year later, we got an experienced Jersey, and its been great.
A couple more things I'd like to add...breeding a Dexter can be tricky. Some Dexter owners breed to full sized bulls, but you risk having a calf too big for calving ease. Dexter bulls can be hard to find.
Also, living in Idaho like you do, you do not...I repeat, DO NOT want a milk cow until you have a barn that will protect you from the freezing wind and blowing snow in the winter. We live at 3500' in a "little Siberia" region of California, and let me tell you, dealing with a milk cow during the dead of winter is a whole different ball game.
HTH!!
Shawna
Welcome! I wanted to chime in here because almost 3 years ago, I had a major "cart before the horse" experience here.
I am also a homeschooling momma of young children. We had just bought our farm and I just HAD to have a milk cow to do everything that you described...cheese, raw milk, butter...the whole she bang.
I had fallen in love with the idea and price of the dexter and we brought home a first calf heifer, with horns. We thought we would probably get them removed, but then I learned that it was a very gruesome procedure, and decided no.
Well, those horns were the bane of my existence. They scared me to death. Our little cow knew she hard sharp pointed horns, and knew how to use them. Our cow was not "wild", but she was not calm or docile. She was spunky and frisky, and really had no interest whatsoever in becoming a pet. And, every time I tried to work with her, those horn sent me back in the house sooner than later.
Also, with 4 young kids at home all the time, I just didn't have the hours to spend gentling her up, or the confidence.
She became a great beef-cow mamma. A year later, we got an experienced Jersey, and its been great.
A couple more things I'd like to add...breeding a Dexter can be tricky. Some Dexter owners breed to full sized bulls, but you risk having a calf too big for calving ease. Dexter bulls can be hard to find.
Also, living in Idaho like you do, you do not...I repeat, DO NOT want a milk cow until you have a barn that will protect you from the freezing wind and blowing snow in the winter. We live at 3500' in a "little Siberia" region of California, and let me tell you, dealing with a milk cow during the dead of winter is a whole different ball game.
HTH!!
Shawna