"A Cow for all Seasons" Photos are provided by the Dexter Bulletin Library Written by Sue Hannaford
There is little disagreement that Dexters are versatile, hardy, suited to small acreage properties and (selectively bred and properly maintained) can provide quality meat and milk for their owners. However, dual purpose cattle, such as Dexters, have not been breeds of choice with ‘commercial’ growers in a beef cattle industry that prides itself in specialization.
This has prompted a number of producers (and show ring judges) to speculate on the direction that Dexters ought to take to ensure commercial sustainability and long term viability.
 There is another way of looking at the concept of ‘commercial’. It can mean thousands of acres and a full time career of farming, but doesn’t have to. Commercial is whatever can make money. Perhaps it really means the best return a producer can obtain within the constraints of:
- The size, topography and location of the property
- The potential stocking rates
- The existing infrastructure
- The experience and abilities of the producer
- The time expended in obtaining a return
- Potential and existing markets for the product and the price those markets will bear.
And, whether it is for personal use, or for on-sale, in this regard the versatile Dexter is amongst THE most commercial breeds anywhere in the world.
 Dexter Beef SidesThis small Irish breed (about two thirds the size of other British-style breeds) is dual purpose (produces both meat AND milk), enabling Dexters to function as house cows as well as beef producers and, even when not milked for the house, the cows give quality milk for their calves to promote excellent growth rates. This provides a possible market for vealers, or permits the suckling of an extra calf for extra profit. A number of Dexter growers run businesses specialising in milk products – such as high quality cheeses.
Dexter beef is second to none. Individual cuts of meat are about two thirds the size of other breeds which is perceived as a more acceptable option in a health conscious society. Whole sides of beef are just the right size for the home freezer and there is a good market for custom kills for friends, neighbours and the like. This is a profitable option – particularly for producers who cannot guarantee a constant supply of product for other markets. Producers report they are unable to meet the demand in this area.
If they don’t want to do this, then they can sell straight to the markets, or to a number of specialist Dexter/Dexter cross feedlots around the country. Those who choose to do this must be prepared to meet the market specifications. The emergence of a desire within the community for semi-organic, home-grown produce also provides opportunities for commercial development.
There is another commercial market: those buyers who are NOT meat/milk processors, but are looking for an improved lifestyle. On the outskirts of all cities and regional centres around Australia, larger farming properties are constantly being subdivided into small acreage blocks to service the requirements of such buyers. They will often initially purchase livestock without the intention of its being productive – just as ‘grass munchers’. A buyer who elects to keep a horse or exotic livestock such as alpacas – or even pays hundreds of dollars for a pet pup – is often one who will be attracted to the history and romance of the Dexter. Lifestyle buyers will also respond well to halter trained, friendly cattle, and such training is a necessary part of obtaining premium prices in such markets. 
And that is before we even consider the stud stock side of the industry!! Prices obtained here can be very rewarding but, as with any breed, only for quality specimens, prize winners or sought after blood lines.
All these options can be profitable. As well, because of their smaller size, Dexters can be stocked more heavily than other breeds, and create less damage to the environment. In years of drought, their smaller size means it is viable to retain bloodlines, even though some cattle have to be sold. Dexters are easier to handle with fewer infrastructure requirements, increasing the attractiveness of the Dexter option. This is particularly the case for people with smaller land holdings and those with little cattle experience.
 Making money is more than income – it is also outgo! If I have hardy cattle (like Dexters) I can expect fewer veterinary bills. If I have easy calving cattle (like Dexters) the same applies. If I have smaller, easy-doing cattle (like Dexters) my feed bills will be lower. If I require less expensive infrastructure because my cattle are smaller and more manageable (like Dexters) then I can use my money on other things. And if my cattle are quieter and easier to handle (like Dexters) then I need less expensive on-farm help with their care. So what is commercial? - With hundreds/thousands of hectares, a producer has many options in terms of cattle (including Dexters). It will be a full time operation, usually involving all members of the household. If the property isn’t inherited, there will be an enormous amount of capital tied up for many years into the future and the profits may also have to service a heavy mortgage. Usually, such a producer will have to diversify; growing his own hay as well as at least one other cash crop of some sort. He may run stud cattle, but often only as one part of a larger commercial beef operation.
- With 20 hectares, the operation will probably be stud cattle, or growing out steers bought in from elsewhere. The producer will grow his own hay, and probably work off farm as well (or have another intense horticultural or aquacultural operation on farm).
- With 3 – 10 hectares, the only way a producer can be ‘commercial’ in the sense that no off farm work is performed, is through an intensive on-farm horticultural or other operation. So, in this situation, the producer may well work off farm or be retired. On the other hand, his land will also be his home, and less of his money may be tied up in land purely for the enterprise. Therefore, he may have more disposable money to service his lifestyle. He will certainly be able to run a Dexter stud (although not bigger breeds), or grow Dexters at a profit for his own use or for the market.
All of these operations can make money. All of these operations can lose money. Which operation presents the most rewards and which the least risks? Which fits with your aspirations, experience and lifestyle? That is the one which for you is the best commercial operation in your particular situation. Good luck.
RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE Milk in Dexters Written by June Pluthero
A commercial dairy cow in full production is expected to calve once a year and milk for 300 days. This she can not do on grass alone. She requires improved pasture, hay, silage, grain, high protein supplements or a combination of the above.
Australia has no regulated milk recordings for the Dexter cow so it would be misleading to quote figures collected from overseas without knowing the cow’s grade, her environment, or the amount of supplementary feed consumed. It is not very useful to milk a cow occasionally, or for a few weeks or months and to quote the amount of milk obtained as her average yield.
So, what Do we know?
We do know that, being dual purpose, a Dexter can feed her calf and supply enough milk for your family, multiple suckle foster calves, or be milked for production. We also know that the Dexter milk has small fat globules and is similar in composition to goat’s milk, therefore making excellent cheese.
Commercial Dexter Milking  Photo: Small Cow Farm
Commercial MilkingCommercial cheese making is carried out in various Australian States for boutique markets. Dexter cheese has received Champion prizes at Royal and Agricultural Shows, particularly the soft cheese varieties. Dexter breeders make high quality cheese, butter and yogurt for themselves, family, and friends.
Like all dairy breeds, if you are expecting your Dexter to work this hard she will need some supplementary feeding. You will be rewarded threefold for the extra outlay. A Few General Tips for Handmilking Written by Jean Witcombe - Clip long hair off the udder.
- Wash the udder with warm water and then dry it. The warmth and massage will relax the udder and aid milk “let-down”.
- Use some Vaseline on your hands to lubricate them.
- Cream comes down last, so if you don’t want all the milk that day, strip out one or two quarters completely otherwise you won't get any cream. The calf will balance things up very smartly.
Cows can hold up their milk - suddenly nothing comes out although you can feel there's plenty there. Going to another quarter or quietly massaging the quarter in question will usually overcome the problem. Bringing the calf in closer to the cow but not letting it suck can also help.
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Success for Dexter Steers
As a beef animal, Dexters are competitive with any breed. The results of the trade cattle judging at the Perth Royal Show are always discussed widely in the trade and stud cattle sections at the Show and by the major buyers/processors for butchers in Western Australia. In 2006 the results were conclusive and a ringing endorsement for the quality of Dexter beef. Out of the 197 cattle entered in both the led steer/heifer classes there were only two Dexters. They were:
Lightweight Class - Entry 702: a Dexter/Limousin X (Dexter dam/Limousin sire)
Mediumweight Class - Entry 703: a Limousin/Dexter X (Limousin dam/Dexter sire). The following information is a composite of feature reports in Elders Farm Weekly and Countryman newspapers – the two leading rural newspapers in Western Australia.
Entry 702:
1. First place in class 2. Champion Lightweight led steer 3. Best price of the day at auction 4. 5th ‘on the hook’ from 43 Mediumweight entries
Photo: Garnant ‘The 385kg Dexter-Limousin cross steer was the champion lightweight led steer of the show. At auction, the trade took a liking to the soft, well muscled cherry red steer competing strongly before the final top-priced bid of $2800.’ ‘…(The purchaser)… said they only supplied their private and commercial clients with Dexter or Dexter-cross products from their Meckering butcher because he believed the Dexter delivered quality where it counted.’ ‘For their body size they have superior eye muscling, IMF and marbling and produce a boxed meat yield of 76% – 82%,’ he said. ‘Its meat is fine textured, making it a connoisseur product and it’s a shame other processors haven’t recognized these qualities of the breed. Through vertical integration of the operation I am gaining more control right the way through the process so I can produce and guarantee a quality product’. Bidders at auction stuck to a solid level throughout the fixture to maintain good averages, with butchers particularly keen on the light to medium weights.’ This steer weighed 385kg liveweight and dressed out at 61.8% - one of the best results on the day. So good was the expected yield recovered from this animal that the he was changed by his breeders from the lightweight class in the led steer section to the Mediumweight class in the carcase competition. His statistics included perfect scores for meat color, rib fat and pH.
Entry 703:
1. Champion Mediumweight carcase ‘on the hook’ 2. Grand Champion carcase ‘on the hook’ With the banner headline “Dexter-Limousin cross dominates”, the influential rural press reported the results of the 2006 commercial carcase competition at the 2006 Perth Royal Show. The Limousin/Dexter cross steer which dominated the prime steer and heifer carcase competition, did so in a bigger yarding of commercial cattle than in recent years and went on to be awarded the Grand Champion carcase. He was a 14 month old steer, fed under full feedlot conditions for 100 days. His total points were 98 out of 100, a comprehensive 4.1 points ahead of the Reserve Champion – a Charolais/Murray Grey X. He weighed 434kg liveweight and dressed out at 256kg, which equaled a dressing percentage of 58.9%. This placed him in the Mediumweight section of the competition, a section well supported by the Australian domestic market. The carcase had a P8 fat of 10, rib fat of seven, marbling of one and a 97.5cm square EMA. This resulted in perfect scores for eye muscle, p8 fat, rib fat, meat colour, marbling and pH.
These exceptional (for any breed) results will assist Dexter beef producers to convince more people of the potential for their product. Unfortunately There is no photo of the grand champion carcase, but the Xander/heifer photo (bottom) was taken immediately prior to the mating.
Billabong Xander the Great/Limousin Heifer In accepting the Grand Champion award, the breeders assured onlookers that the steer was the result of a Dexter bull over a Limousin heifer.
Photo: Mark Rawlings and Trish Cabassi with the carcase of Entry 702 (Garnant) Some further facts for the curious . . . . . . . The breeders/exhibitors were Trish and Michael Cabassi of Billabong Dexter and Leipold Limousin studs. The Dexter sire was Billabong Xander the Great . The purchasers of the Champion Lightweight led steer were Mark and Margaret Rawlings (Home Grown Dexter Beef), Meckering, Western Australia. The mating between Limousin bull and Dexter female (Entry 702) was NOT intentional and is not recommended. It is also interesting to note the relative sizes of the mature, fully-grown Dexter and the 13 month old European breed heifer. (See photo above). This was a point of interest for fellow exhibitors at the show, who queried whether AI might be necessary with such a height difference. (It wasn’t.) Most cattle entered in this competition, (about 70%) as well as ALL champions and reserve champions, were crossbred animals. This is common to most carcase competitions. - The light and mediumweight steers brought the best prices, relatively, with considerably less interest in the heavier weights. This light / medium weight market is one into which most Dexters and crossbred Dexters would fit most comfortably.
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