Keeping Dexters

Dexters are quite easily kept on a small acreage and many people keep as few as two cows (you should always keep at least two cows). They can be kept outside all the year around as they are very hardy so long as they have shelter from wind and driving rain. Good hedges or field shelters are all that are required. Most animals however do spend at least part of the winter inside, mainly to protect pastures, as gateways and areas where you feed hay, haylage or silage will become a sea of mud at particularly wet times of the year. Housing need not be elaborate or expensive, a simple open fronted pole barn is normally more than adequate, as long as it is draught free at ground level with plenty of fresh air movement above the animals. This can be achieved by having a solid wall to about four feet and Yorkshire boarding above (simply slats with gaps between). A good dry bed is very important. Barley, wheat or oat straw regularly replenished as it is soiled will help keep your cows clean and give then somewhere comfortable to lie down.

Winter Feeding

When autumn arrives grass will lose some of its feed value.  If you have plenty of grass at this time it is usual to supplement your cows’ feed with a bought in ration in the form of dairy or beef nuts or sugar beet.  If you are short of grass but the weather is kind then hay fed ad-lib in racks or round feeders will suffice, high protein feed blocks or buckets can be a good supplement if your hay is not of good quality. Young stock in particular may require extra feeding at this time of year as it is always best to ensure they carry on growing and you should avoid any checks in their growth. If you house your cattle they can thrive on good hay only, but even though they are protected from the worst of the bad weather you must still keep an eye on their condition, avoid them losing weight by making regular assesments of body condition.

If you join our society you will be given a folder with comprehensive help on this topic.