FAQs

How many Dexters can I run on 5 acres?


It depends on soil and pasture quantity and quality, climate, whether the property is irrigated / fertilized etc, and how much of the property is covered by the house, garden and outbuildings.  However as a general rule, in good pastures with adequate rainfall you could start with one Dexter per acre.  Monitor that and see if you need extra feed at certain times of the year or whether that is a comfortable number for you to carry.
           

What do I feed them?


Pasture is their staple food, when it is plentiful.  When pasture isn’t sufficient, you should feed oaten or lucerne hay. Meadow hay can be excellent, but may also bring unwanted weeds onto your property. Particularly with lactating mothers, a supplement of dairy pellets (1 kilo per animal per day mixed 50:50 with chaff) can be very useful.

Mineral block supplements are also beneficial, particularly in dry feed situations.  There are a number of different types of mineral blocks.  Advice as to which one is most suited to your requirements can be obtained from your veterinarian or your local rural supplier.
           

How much do I feed them?


Again, it depends on the amount and quality of the pasture available.  Grass is not necessarily quality pasture.  Cattle do well on pasture alone if it is of good quality all year round.  In most places in Australia that isn’t the case.  If the cattle are starting to lose weight, supplement their feed with hay or propriety cattle feeds ALWAYS mixed 50:50 with chaff.    Their weight will be your best guide to how much is required.
           

Give me some tips to keep my Dexters healthy


The following practices are essential for the welfare of your Dexters:

  • All cattle should be drenched for internal and external parasites.  Drenches come in either oral or pour on types.
  •  In some areas buffalo fly and ticks are a problem and these can be controlled by specific ‘pour on’ preparations or dips.  Some tick vaccinations are also available.
  • Cattle should be inoculated with 5-in-1 or 7-in-1 vaccines.

Your veterinarian will give you advice which is specific to your area about when, what and how often.  Check your cattle regularly so that you catch any problems before they become serious.
           

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What facilities do I need?


Your Dexters need adequate fencing.  Check with local breeders what works best for your area.   Your Dexters will need a constant supply of clean water.  All cattle need some shelter from the extremes of heat, cold and strong winds.

From time to time you will need to restrain your cattle for halter training or for veterinary care.  In order to do so you will need, as a minimum, a small yard.  If you also have a headbail and a race to funnel them to the headbail, you will find their care much easier.


           

How do I transport them?

If they are halter trained a horse float is ideal – and something you can manage yourself.  If not, you will need a trailer or truck – which may involve employing a carrier.  If you do use a trailer or truck, make sure there are loading/unloading facilities (such as a ramp) at both ends.            
Are Dexters beef cattle?

Dexters are dual purpose cattle.  That means they have qualities of both beef and milk producing cattle.  In Australia most, but not all, Dexters are used for their meat.
           

What is the meat like?


With grass fed animals the meat is tender and lean.  With grain feeding it is finely marbled in the prime cuts and a lighter colour.  There is now a genetic test available for tenderness, so you can know this quality in your cattle.
           

How old are they when you send them to market?


The age of animals being sent to market depends on the market.  Vealers will be sent straight off their mothers.  Most others will try to achieve minimum dressed weights of 180 kg (350 – 360 kg liveweight) in order to meet commercial markets.  Depending on the Dexter involved this can mean anything from 14 months upwards.  Cattle can be sent off at any age, but will bring less money if they don’t meet market specifications.

The best market for smaller or younger Dexters is custom kills.  These can be pre-sold to friends/customers and cut up into sides of beef.  They are an ideal size for the home freezer.  This may be a more profitable market for those unable to meet commercial requirements.
           
I've never heard of them; where do they come from?
The Dexter is an old Irish breed of cattle, which became rare and endangered in its homeland in the 1960s and 1970s.  Because their qualities are now more widely recognized, Dexters have become firmly established as the cattle of choice for small acreage farmers in many places throughout the world, including Australia.

 

Are they quiet?

Yes, Dexters are people cattle.  Their size inspires confidence in many people who are not able to handle the larger breeds.  Having said that, do not expect cattle OF ANY BREED to be easy to handle without your being prepared to put time into regular handling from an early age.  People buying any cattle for the first time would be wise to pay a little extra, for the time breeders have spent making these cattle docile and used to people.  It will be money well spent.  And, as with all breeds, there are variations in temperament between individual Dexters.            
How long do their coats get?
Dexters are a short haired breed of cattle, but the length of coat may be affected by the climate and the season.  In colder climates the coat may be longer and thicker.  It will usually shed when the weather warms up.  Calves will often have longer and thicker coats than adults.  It protects them from variations in the weather.  Individual Dexters may vary slightly in their coat length.            
Do you milk Dexters?
You can do.  As a dual purpose animal, there should be enough milk for the calf and the family as well.  Obviously, some breeding lines and crossbred Dexters are milkier than others.  There are a number of breeders who use such Dexters to supply Dexter milk products such as cheeses to boutique outlets.

 

What do I need to know about the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)?


The properties of all cattle owners throughout Australia must be registered with their respective State Department of Primary Industry or Agriculture Department, which will issue them with a Property Identification Code (PIC).  Links to those departments are available on the LINKS page of this website.

Because of variations between states, you will need to contact your state department for specific details of the requirements for transport or movement of cattle within your state.