We began raising cattle in 2005, purchasing a registered Dexter bull calf and several bred Dexter cows and heifers. We were a little nervous as we approached our first calving season since 10 of the 12 females were heifers, but we needn't have worried--they all delivered healthy calves without any assistance.  And since Dexter bulls mature at around 15 months, the young bull we had bought was ready for service right on schedule the following summer.

A few months after we had established our herd, two of our local Ag representatives offered to stop by to give us some assistance with body condition scoring--they had never seen Dexters and were also interested in taking a look at the herd. It was concluded that because Dexter cattle are a dual purpose breed, (meat and milk), standard body condition scoring techniques don't always apply. Dexters can take on a "leaner" appearance and still be in good condition because of their dairy influence. Numerous visitors to our farm have been amazed at the calmness of Dexters when strangers walk amongst them.

The following year, a calf was born during a late winter storm and it froze to death. Chris decided to milk the cow, and it didn't take long before she was lining up to be milked (and get her handful of grain). We couldn't keep up to her milk supply. Pat tried her hand at making butter, Devonshire clotted cream, mozzarella, yogurt, ricotta, and cheddar cheeses and we enjoyed way too many 'creamy' desserts that summer! The two of us couldn't use all the milk she produced but it didn't go to waste---we were able to feed the excess to the chickens.

As numbers allow, we offer our purebred cattle for sale as breeding stock.   We have also provided links at the end of this page as an additional resources. 

  

 Pound for pound no cattle can match the diversity of a Dexter, the smallest British breed of cattle. Standing just 36-44 inches at the shoulder, they are the perfect size for a small acreage. Some people have asked us--why Dexters?

• Dexters efficiently turn grass pasture into rich milk and lean meat.
• They are gentle, calm and easy going.
• Dexters are a hardy breed that perform well in a variety of climates. In North America, all that Dexters need is a place to get out of the wind and sun. Many even prefer to stay outside in winter rather than going inside a shelter.
• Dexters are easy calvers and good mothers.
• Economical to keep, a Dexter consumes about 1/2 what an Angus or Hereford would under similar conditions (average 12-15 lbs of hay/day).
• Unlike large breeds of cattle selected to grow fast on grain, Dexters thrive as grazers on natural pastures, making them a good fit with our grass-fed farming philosophy. When grass finished they provide a healthy meat product containing Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids.
• A Dexter cow gives approximately 2 gallons of milk a day, a much more manageable amount for a single family than the typical Holstein yields. The fat globules in Dexter milk are very small which makes the milk easily digested. The cream readily separates and produces outstanding ice cream and butter.
• A full grown cow averages 750 lbs (height of 36"-44") and a bull averages 1000 lbs (height 38"-46").
• When raised for beef, each side yields 55% - 65% of live weight with a lean, fine-boned carcass.  They produce a manageable amount (150 lbs + or -) of tender, flavourful meat, rather than the 300- 400 lbs that is produced from a full-sized steer. This convenient size suits smaller families and requires less freezer space.
• Dexters are agile, sturdy little 'oxen' and can be trained to plow and pull wagons. Their strength belies their size.
• Looking after Dexter cattle can be fun for young people and gives them a sense of accomplishment particularily since the cattles' size makes them less intimidating for all ages.
• Dexters can live to more than 20 years old and many continue to calve for more than 15 years.
• Dexter cattle are listed on several national livestock conservancies , making them a good match for people who are interested in the preserving rare breeds.
• Dexter may be black, dun and red.

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Our cattle graze our native grass pastures during the summer and are fed a pure vegetarian diet of grass/alfalfa hay in the winter.  During the coldest part of the winter and while feeding their calves, we offer them a small amount of grain for a little added energy.  Our aim is to provide a natural meat product therefore they receive no growth hormones or antibiotics. The breeds we raise are all hardy and we believe in letting their own immune systems have a chance to work without interference.  The beef we produce is government-inspected and professionally cut and wrapped by a local butcher to customer specifications.   Our customers appreciate knowing that their beef is produced without hormones or antibiotics, has been fed a pure vegetarian diet and that it has an outstanding flavour!  It comes directly from us, the producer, with no feedlots involved.   It is quite simply, a pure, delicious, premium beef product.

Premium Beef 

We operate our farm on a small scale, and because our cattle are pasture/grass-fed, it can take them longer to reach market weight than it does for feedlot animals.  Because of this longer time frame and the high demand for our delicious, premium beef product, there may be a wait time for our beef.  We sell our beef  "by the side".  We raise smaller breeds of cattle so a side generally yields about 150 pounds ( + or -) of  tender, flavourful meat.  For more information on ordering a superior tasting beef products, see 'Grass-Fed Beef'

Breeding Stock  

Chris and Pat Bothe

Box 60 Group 4 RR 1

Anola , MB. CANADA

R0E 0A0 Phone: (204) 866-4110 Email: pcbothe@nlis.ca 

Sales Policy:

All live sales require a 50% non-refundable deposit along with an agreed-upon pick up date.  Animals will not be released to the purchaser until final payment is made.  Any animals not picked up by the agreed-upon date will be re-sold, or under special circumstances, held with a $3 per day/ per animal boarding fee until picked up.   Any costs for customer-requested health testing or registrations are the responsibility of the purchaser and must be paid for at the time of the service.  All bred females are sold as "pasture bred". 

LINKS:

Canadian Dexter Association:http://www.clrc.ca/dexter.shtml

The Dexter Cattle Society (British): http://www.dextercattle.co.uk/

Purebred Cattle Dexter Association (American) : http://www.purebreddextercattle.org/

Rare Breeds Canada: http://www.rarebreedscanada.ca 

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy: http://www.albc-usa.org/