Dexters are a very small breed of cattle originally from Ireland. They are tri-purpose, great for meat, milk and draft. They are very intellegent, can be trained, and are very inquisitive. The more they are accustomed to being around us, the more they give of their unique and precious personalities.
Dexters are easy keepers, as they do not eat as much, nor require as much acreage as larger cattle. Dexters have a very unique history and set of genetics. Please refer to www.dexters4u.com for all the science on Dexter cattle. Gabriella Nanci has done a wonderful job of covering all the details.
Dexter cattle can do important work for sustainable agriculture. There has been an amazing surge over the years in goat ownership, and there are numerous goat cheeses on the market now. The Dexter can have the same acclaim. A "contented cow" is a joyful thing to behold! Let's hope there is new interest in raising Dexters for the work they can do to bring milk to our tables. We hope that our model for a Dexter dairy will inspire others, and be an example for others to build their own imaginations on. Dexter milk is exquisite, and well worth our efforts.
We grass feed and pasture our cattle, and we use no drugs or other additives in their feed or care. The milk is as clean and fresh as can be! We love our cows, each one is a friend and very unique. They are part of the family. Their well-being comes first in our thoughts before production concerns. Therefore, we make sure they mother their calves for as long as they can before we wean the calves. Our cattle always have access to pasture, and are never confined. Being small, one can have a humane approach to dairying, so that the care for the cows is as important as the milk they give. That is very important in a world where dairying seems to forget to value the very one that gives us the treasure she has.
We love the closeness we have with our herd. I think they like it too! Having quality time with them twice a day, training them to become docile milkers, and teaching them polite manners in the milk parlor has been very rewarding. We look forward to many years of enjoyment making our new product and being with our family of milking Dexters.
Have a look at some of our Dexters! They are all registered purebred cattle and we choose the very best genetics for our breeding program. We give our cattle the best quality lives we know how to give them. They truly live the "life of Reilly'!!
