Dexter Cattle Knowledge Base

1. Forage quality determines # head per acre- Each property dictates what amount of livestock it can hold. It is our job to try to maximize that space through good pasture management practices. If you have the most lush and beautiful pastures around you may be able to raise more Dexters than someone who has poor pasture quality. Pasture quality is dependent on the soil content, precipitation, maintenance, erosion control etc. It is better to start off with less Dexters until you are sure how your pastures will hold up to a grazing herd. I read people saying you can have 1 Dexter per acre, but I can't help but think, how do they know what kind of pastures or lack there of someone has? If you have only a treed lot with no pastures, then you will be spending a lot of money on hay unless you clear some of those forest areas.
2. Take pasture management courses to help understand how to best improve your land.
3. Talk with your LOCAL Agricultural Extension office to see if they would be able to do free soil samples. They can also advise on what type of seeding would do best on your property.
   • Texas List of County Extension Offices found HERE!
   • Louisiana List of Parish Extension Offices found HERE!

Make sure your pasture size can easily hold your herd size

1. Types of Fencing- Barbed wire, Horse fencing (2“x4” rectangles,) Cattle panels (4“x4” squares), Hot wire (electric fencing,) wooden and/or steel pipe fencing.
2. Perimeter and cross fencing- Perimeter fencing is very important to be strong because not only does it keep your Dexters on your property, but it will help keep other animals off of your property. Cross fencing are the internal fence lines that separate multiple pastures, within your property lines.
3. When you first bring home new Dexters, you should contain them in a smaller area to allow them to adjust to your property. If you have other cattle, you should really keep the new cattle separate from your existing cattle for at minimum 3 weeks. This protects both groups, from injury and potential disease. Breeders should watch for dormant diseases to become active after times of high stress, like shipment, moving properties etc. Stress decreases the immune system response and allows quiet diseases/infections to become visible. So, it is important for the safety of your Dexters to have a smaller pasture or holding area to allow for times of adjustment and healing.
4. STOP trespassing incidents by humans: Section 30.05, Texas Penal Code, provides that a person commits an offense, of trespassing, if the person enters or remains on property of another without effective consent. You must provide NOTICE at entries of your property. Put signs up on the perimeter of your property if adjacent to hunting grounds or other possible foot traffic. Also in Texas, purple paint applied at eye level on posts and trees to warn trespassers of no entry. If purple paint is used, then the purple paint must be vertical lines of not less than eight inches in length and not less than one inch in width; placed so that the bottom of the mark is not less than three feet from the ground or more than five feet from the ground; and placed at locations that are readily visible to any person approaching the property and no more than: 100 feet apart on forest land or 1,000 feet apart on land other than forest land.

The sign above is a joke, but would be funny to put next to a real NO Trespassing sign

1. Types of hay- Most in Texas and Louisiana purchase Coastal Bermuda hay.
2. Quality/testing of hay- If you buy your hay from a serious hay supplier they have likely sent their hay product in for nutritional testing. You typically have to ask them for this information, as most people do not know to even bring it up. You want hay that is:
   • Crude protein (CP) testing at the least 10-12% for growing Dexters/Lactating cows and maybe 8-10% is good for pregnant cows and bulls.
3. Hay Storage- Hay that is stored inside a building is going to retain a lot more of the nutritional value than if it was stored outside in inclement weather. Even getting hay up off the ground or out of direct contact with dirt will drastically reduce nutritional loss.
4. Pounds per head- How much hay a Dexter needs can be estimated. Go HERE for more detailed information.
5. Winter Hay- Make sure you have stored up on what you will need for the winter or other times of year. Sometimes hay suppliers sell out of their supply by the time they stack that last cutting ( August or September.) In the south you will find yourself stacking and getting hay in the hottest part of the year. This is how you ensure that you were able to get the freshest cut hay and hay that your herd will enjoy. Make sure you can get good quality hay BEFORE you buy your Dexters. Not all hay is equal! In fact there is a lot of junk out there.

1. Water Sources (Natural sources like pond, creek, lake or a purchased tank in various material options.)
2. Weather considerations ( location and types water sources)
3. Proper height and access of water source for all ages and sizes of Dexters
4. Ample water and access available at all times.
5. Caution with the green blue algae that can grow at certain times of year. Can be toxic to animals

Water tanks for calves and cows- accessible height is important- calves need access to water by day 3-4 of life.

1. Make friends with your farm vet. You will rely on your vet for local advice and help.
2. State required vet tests- Some tests are required to be done by a licensed Vet (I.e. Brucellosis, Trichomoniasis, etc.) and can not be administered by the rancher.

1. Working area ( If you don't have a squeeze chute you will need some kind of holding pen, in the event it is required.)
2. Transportation- Do you have a way to haul your cattle if necessary? Some vets will ask you to haul them to their clinic rather than have them come out for a farm visit. There are various types of livestock trailers to consider, but I would advise not getting a horse trailer that would require the cow to unload backwards, like in horses. Cows like to see where their feet are going.
3. Shelters-are Not required in warmer climates, but are nice to have in the event of bad weather and younger or injured animals. Dexters do need SHADE in Texas and Louisiana. Make sure you have plenty of trees or other shade available for the Dexters to cool down in.
   1. There are 3 areas of concern in colder weather:
      • Wet- is it raining?
      • Wind- is it windy (wind chill)?
      • Temperature- is the temperature cold with wind chills below freezing? One of these items above isn't a problem. It becomes a problem when you have ALL three occur at the same time. Dexters are hardy cattle, but that doesn't mean they won't be miserable in such conditions. If you lack shelter and the above occurs, make sure your cattle have plenty of good hay and water to eat. Eating is what will keep them warm, as their rumen works to digest their forage.

Above from L to R: Carport loafing shed; Steel framed shed; Wood framed barn with stalls