Average Adult Dexter Cattle are about belt-buckle high to a typical adult man. Some lines are smaller with bulls at 38-42" tall at the hip and weighing around 900-1000 pounds, and some are larger with bulls at 46-50" at the hip and weighing around 1200-1300 pounds. Our Dexters are small to medium sized.
2. What color are Dexter cattle?
Dexter Cattle come in black or red (the original colors of the breed) or dun (a brownish color added to breed standards relatively recently).
3. What do Dexter Cattle eat?
They like to graze grass and clover. In winter, they will eat hay plus a little supplemental grain-based feed or protein tub supplement if the hay is very poor. Only feed a little grain if they are getting skinny.
4. What sort of shelter do Dexter Cattle need?
They can make do with no shelter, but need shade from the hot summer sun, and a wind break of trees in winter is nice. Also, they need a place to bed down in winter, that has decent drainage and isn't terribly muddy.
5. Do they need shots or de-wormer or any sort of vet work?
Our Dexter Cattle are selected to be naturally resistant to parasites and diseases.We only vaccinate or use de-wormers when absolutely necessary or required by law. We vaccinate animals for buyers, if they wish.
6. Is it easy to keep a bull to impregnate your cows?
Well selected Dexter bulls are friendly and very easy to keep and they will easily impregnate your cows each year to keep you in beef (and milk if you desire).
7. Do you need to do anything special with mothers when they are pregnant or getting ready to have calves?
Dexter Cattle are famous for being hardy and requiring no special care. Mother Dexters are famous for giving birth unassisted, but it can be wise to keep an eye out. Once in a blue moon, a mother may need assistance in giving birth.
8. Do the calves need any special care?
No, the mothers do all the work. Just make certain the mother is fed well (not too fat, not too skinny), and make certain the mother has access to clean water and minerals at all times. It's a good idea to tag calves with cattle tags in the left ear at birth, for identification purposes.
9. When does Cascade's Meadows Farm have Dexter Cattle available for sale?
We have a sizeable herd and almost always have some Dexter Cattle available for sale