Dexter Cattle Knowledge Base

Dexters can be wonderful milk cows! Their friendly disposition, curiosity, and willingness to always have a snack make them easy to train. Now, let's be clear not every Dexter is born ready to be a milk cow. Sometimes they never get the job. You do not have to buy a trained milk cow to obtain wonderful Dexter milk on your ranch. Of course it is easier to train a younger cow, than a cow who has been through several lactations. Never count out that older cow, as some are more than willing, but were never asked. I personally took a wonderful 6 year old cow and trained her to milk out in the pasture. She trusted me so much that she just shared her milk whenever asked. Those cows are the golden ones.

• That you must buy a trained milk cow- Dexters are easy to train, with the right approach. Having a trained milk cow would be great, but if it is not in your budget, then you can purchase a good candidate for milking and train her yourself. Persistent patience is the key.
• That you must milk everyday, without ever missing a day. This may be true in the commercial dairy industry because those cows do not have calves to nurse them down. Most Dexter breeders partake in a “calf share” operation where the calf remains with the cow, but may be separated for short periods of time, during the day to facilitate the milking process. The cows love routines that milking provides but if you are sick or have to travel, knowing that you have a calf to keep that cow comfortable gives you a peace of mind.
• That you are starving the calf by taking milk from its mother- Calves, especially younger calves, only nurse on 1-2 quarters for each session. This leaves 2 full quarters that can be taken once a day. By the time the calf is ready to nurse again, the cow has replenished her milk to a level that will feed the calf well. As the calf gets older, it will be ok if it has to wait one nursing session to get a full 4 quarters from its dam. Also, bcause our milk cows have always been the high producers, we are often relieving the cows of more milk than the calf even needs.
• I will have to buy a milking machine. You can use a milking machine, but hand milking is also very popular. Just like they did back in the day, you sit on an old bucket or seat, and use your fingers and hands to milk your cow. I personally have never used a milking machine on my cows. I prefer the hands on method so I can evaluate any issues with the let-down or other things I may notice. Milking machines are also fairly affordable these days, depending on the brand and setup you buy.

• It is a lot of work. This is true. It takes a lot of patience, planning, and commitment to milk your cows. There is work in the actual milking. There is work in securing the product after milking. There is work in cleaning all equipment so you are ready for the next milking. It never seems like work when you are doing it because you are so grateful for the experience.
• You get delicious milk- Nothing better than fresh milk! Most of the time this is absolutely true. Sometimes your cows milk will taste like what they have been eating, so keep them away from wild onions and garlic. Trust me that milk doesn't make good custard or chocolate milk! If the milk tastes off, you should look at your equipment ( is it clean and made of the correct material? What are you cleaning your equipment with?,) what is your cow eating?, is the cow suffering from some kind of infection or other health issue?
• I will get to make all kinds of food with my Dexter milk. Truth! You can make butter, custards, cheeses, soups, ice cream etc.

1. Disposition! The Dexter needs to be friendly, respectful and curious. Helpful if she is not panic stricken if separated from the calf for just a little while.
2. Good udder structure ( can only be determined if the cow has had a lactation.) A bad udder structure can make milking a challenge for a variety of reasons. You can not tell if a heifer will have good structure until she has her first lactation. The udder structure of her dam and her sire's dam can give you a good indication on the phenyotype of that heifer. Look at the ADCA conformation guide on Cow Mammary System page 11-12 found HERE!
3. Is your cow an Easy keeper or is she able to manage her weight without a lot of supplementation? It is helpful to have a milk cow that is somewhat of an easy keeper. If you are milking your Dexter each day, this requires energy reserves to make that milk again. If you have a cow that you are chasing her weight, then she may not be the cow to put in your milking area, unless she can be corrected with a bit more forage/feed.

Bar None's Cayla waiting for me in the milking barn

1. Set aside an area that is just for milking. This is for ease of operations, familiarity and cleanliness. You do not need a milking stanchion, that physically restrains the Dexter. Some prefer to use that type of setup but I can attest it is not required. It is helpful to have an area that is separated from the rest of the herd or you will have bossy visitors, especially if you use feed while milking. You may need an area where you can hang or set a feed bucket. You can use a pellet based feed or fresh alfalfa or a mix of the two. If your milk cow is halter trained you may need to have a place to tie her. The flooring should not be slippery. Plenty of ventilation is a must, but so is a weatherproof area, that avoids mud, rain or high winds.
2. Low stress always! If you make it stressful and scary you will get a cow that acts like that. Most commercial dairy cows love coming into the milk parlor. Keep it fun and enjoyable.
3. Routine, routine and more routine. Cows thrive on schedules. If I am even a few minutes late to the barn, my Dexters will let me know of their displeasure. When you have more than one Dexter to milk, they will have their line-up already figured out. It is best to not break that lineup, as it typically reflects the hierarchy of the pasture.
4. Allow your milk cow trainee to go in an out of the milking area. Offer them a snack when they come in and offer them something else like, grooming when you are ready for them to leave. Coming and going should both be welcomed requests for the Dexter.
5. As they become more comfortable with coming in the milking area, try grooming her to show her how relaxing this area is. If she is eating a snack, consider carefully introducing the equipment, like a bucket/towel you use to clean the udder. ( Do not clean the teats if they are still heavily pregnant. You do not want to initiate a hormonal reaction that may or may not cause uterine contractions.) If the cow is willing and already comfortable with your touch, gently clean the udder. Get in the habit of NOT double dipping the towel in the cleaning solution, as that can introduce the opportunity of infection. Always be careful when doing this the first time, as they may kick, if they are uncertain about what you are doing. When training a cow, I typically start with my hand on their side and run my hand down to the udder. I will typically touch the inside of the back legs too, much like a calf would do when finding the teats. You are desensitizing them to the feeling of your touch, which IS different their calf nursing.
6. Now that your cow is comfortable with coming into the milking area, and has somewhat of a routine, with your practice sessions, you are ready when the time comes to truly milk the cow.

Let them get used to going in an out of the milking area

This Dexter cow loves it so much she doesn't want to leave

The letdown sounds like something that should be so disappointing, but in reality, it is what actually makes milking hands smile! The let down is the time where the cow's body allows the milk to flow freely. When a cow is scared they produce adrenaline, which actually counteracts the letdown horomone Oxytocin. This results in the cow holding back the milk. In nature when the cow is stimulated, with the sight or sound of her calf, her body produces oxytocin that promotes the nerve impulses to let the milk flow. Since we do not resemble her calf, we must behave in a way, that over time, produces the same result in let down. Some things people try are grooming the cow before to relax her, having the calf in the milking area with her, removing any interruptions, distract her with more snacks, etc. The let down will be more or less forceful, depending on the cow. Learning this pressure will help you monitor and oversee her production. One of my milk cows used to be so excited to see me in the morning that I could see her milk just spraying on the ground….she could barely hold it back, by just the sight of me walking to the barn. I was honored by the love and trust, but it meant that I had to move fast to get her cleaned up and milked down.

Above: Fresh milk ready for the refrigerator from Dynasty Ranch

Above: When you run out of room in the fridge to put anymore fresh milk you make something quick like vanilla coffee creamer or German vanilla custard. Yum!