Wild Rose Acres - Dexter Cows

The Boss

This is Grandma's Jr.
JR is 3 in this photo Taken Aug ,2008

Jr. as I call him is a registered Dexter bull calf. Dexter's are not really miniature, they are just a small breed of cattle, they only get between 36 and 42inches tall. They are used for meat and milk. Same as a large cow only in less space with less feed.

I bought him from Dan Butterfeild of Grandma's Dexter Farm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visit Dan's page if you think you are interested in Dexter's.

I will be using Jr. to breed Bess and any others, I add to my small herd. I am getting to know Jr. and introducing him to some of the others that live here. Below are photos of his first days here , introductions.

Meeting Zeke and Riley

Looks like he is asking her what her collar is huh? Come back often and watch as Jr. grows up.

Jr, This spring with his gal pal. Jr. is just a little over a year old in this photo. He thinks he is a stud muffin and half.

Bess & friend.jpg (20849 bytes)

The Beauties of the Barn

Meet the new gal: Lazy L's Sarah

I purchased Sarah from Dan also, she is a dun, and bit older then Jr. but a sweet heart. I have to say I am impressed with the demeanor of these little cows.

I was told she had never had a halter on. So I asked, if the halter I had brought along, could be placed on her. Dan's uncle did just that for me. Thank you again for that.

When we got home, a five hour ride in the back of a mini van. We unloaded her and with a few tugs on the rope she followed me to her pen. I was so impressed. She then watched me as I filled her tank and brought in her feed.

This is such a change from the Holsteins I had worked with years ago. I plan on working with her all winter so when the time comes I can handle and milk her, if I so choose to. I don't think it will take much though as she is not wild in any way.

With her I can make a pet, with Jr. I will say I don't want a bull as a pet. This I learned back with them Holsteins, a bull can and will hurt you. So we put some manners on Jr. and let it be at that, don't want him in your pocket friendly.

Check back often and watch as Sarah and Jr. grow up, and make their own little Dexter's. This is Sara the fall of 2006

We have added another heifer .

Meet Muddy Creek GDF Julie

In this photo Julie is a Year old an is 32 inches tall

I purchased her from Dan Butterfield Grandma's Dexter Farm, and then had a girlfriend of mine pick her up. They where caught in a blizzard on the way here and had to do an over night in Fort Dodge. Now mind you this would not have been so bad except Julie was in the back of my friend’s mini van. She had no feed to speak of (it is true though, Dexter’s are true foragers) after foraging through the van Julie found she likes root beer and chips.

This trip usually takes about 3 hours, it took her almost 48. Once here our road was impassable so they had to trek across 2 fields in the blowing and drifting snow, over a mile, to get here. My dear husband walked to the highway to meet them and lead them here.

Here she is at 2 years old with her calf . She is still the sweetest little thing you could ever want to work around . I love her to pieces and would love to be able to clone her .

The drifts were huge below is an example

Not to say you don't want to see the back of a mini van after a cow has lived in it for 48 hours, living on chips and soda. It wasn't pretty. ( I wish now I would have taken a picture of the back of her van, before we cleaned it. But I think if her hubby would have seen his van he would have had a cow of his own. )

After all was said and done though it has turned out good. Julie is a sweet heart. And we all have a story to tell our grandchildren.

Check back often to see updated photos of Julie.

Bess is not a Dexter but she is a beauty of the barn , none the less .

Bess

I would like to introduce our newest member .....

This is Bess&,

Bess comes from a great family in Nebraska. The family I got her from called her Chocolate but since we have already had a pet with that name, I have renamed her Bess.I am hoping to halter break her. I also hope that in the future I can have her bred to start a small herd. Come back often to watch her grow.

Bess has been doing some growing this is her now. 8/23/2005

She is really shaping up into a nice looking cow.

Bess had a calf today May 29th ,2007 His sire is JR my Dexter bull . I havent given him a name as of yet but will post it when I do .

Check back often to see him grow .

Calves 2008

Rosie at a couple months old . I love how she is shaping up .

this is Rosie she will be staying here as she is the first heifer born to me .

This is Todd he will be for sale once he is weaned .

This is T-Bone he is out of Bess and as his name implies he is headed to the table .