Dexter Cattle
We brought Dexter cattle to our farm in the summer of 2014 with the idea that they would be our living fertilizer spreaders. One of our goals at Summer Solstice Farms is to keep production as natural as possible, and that includes fertilizer. We tested the soil when we first arrived at the farm, and several pastures were in great need of amendments. When we priced out organic fertilizer, we realized we could run cattle on our land for about the same cost and get more bio-available fertilizer in the process. We researched the various breeds and finally decided on Dexters. We like that Dexters are a smaller breed that can be used for milk, meat, and field work, and they thrive in our cold climate. All of our Dexters have horns.
Our Dexters are fed pasture, garden scraps, and dry hay in addition to fresh water, kelp, and loose minerals at all times. We rotate the cattle through smaller paddocks every few days to increase grazing pressure within each paddock, evenly distribute manure, and reduce parasite loads. The cattle do not return to previously grazed paddocks for at least 30 days and sometimes not until the next year. During the winter, they have access to both snow-covered pasture and dry shelter.
We have not yet vaccinated our cattle, but if/when we do, we will post which vaccinations we give.
Our Dexters are fed pasture, garden scraps, and dry hay in addition to fresh water, kelp, and loose minerals at all times. We rotate the cattle through smaller paddocks every few days to increase grazing pressure within each paddock, evenly distribute manure, and reduce parasite loads. The cattle do not return to previously grazed paddocks for at least 30 days and sometimes not until the next year. During the winter, they have access to both snow-covered pasture and dry shelter.
We have not yet vaccinated our cattle, but if/when we do, we will post which vaccinations we give.
Cinder--FOR SALE--$1100 (w/2023 black heifer calf at side)
DOB: 3/28/2012
Cinder is 3/4 Dexter, 1/4 Lowline Angus and had her first calf in spring 2014. She is an avid eater and loves to get her daily scratches from humans. She is not halter trained nor does she like to be milked by humans.
Sire: unknown
Dam: Momma
Beta Casein: A1/A2
BRED: 5/21/2017 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 2/27/2018
CALVED: 2/28/2018 with a black bull calf
BRED: 3/31/2018 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 1/7/2019
CALVED: 1/11/2019 with black heifer calf (32 lbs)
BRED: 2/8/2019 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 11/17/2019
CALVED: 11/14/2019 with black bull calf (38 lbs)
BRED: 12/18/2019 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 9/26/2020
CALVED: 10/10/2020 with black bull calf (41 lbs)
DOB: 3/28/2012
Cinder is 3/4 Dexter, 1/4 Lowline Angus and had her first calf in spring 2014. She is an avid eater and loves to get her daily scratches from humans. She is not halter trained nor does she like to be milked by humans.
Sire: unknown
Dam: Momma
Beta Casein: A1/A2
BRED: 5/21/2017 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 2/27/2018
CALVED: 2/28/2018 with a black bull calf
BRED: 3/31/2018 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 1/7/2019
CALVED: 1/11/2019 with black heifer calf (32 lbs)
BRED: 2/8/2019 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 11/17/2019
CALVED: 11/14/2019 with black bull calf (38 lbs)
BRED: 12/18/2019 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 9/26/2020
CALVED: 10/10/2020 with black bull calf (41 lbs)
Momma (not for sale)
DOB: 2008
Momma is half Dexter, half Lowline Angus and is the most docile of our cattle. She stands for milking and can be led with her halter. Momma does a great job of letting us know when any of the other cattle have escaped, regardless of the time of day or night.
Chondrodysplasia: non-carrier
PHA: non-carrier
Beta Casein: A1/A2
Horned/Scurred
BRED: 6/2/2017 to Bradan of Paradise.
Due: 3/11/2018
CALVED: 3/17/2018 with a black heifer calf
BRED: 5/5/2018 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 2/11/2019
CALVED: 2/13/2019 with a black heifer calf
BRED: 3/28/2019 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 1/4/2020
CALVED: 1/14/2020 with a black bull calf (chondro-carrier)
BRED: 6/20/2020
Due: 3/29/2021
CALVED: 6/20/2021 with black bull calf
DOB: 2008
Momma is half Dexter, half Lowline Angus and is the most docile of our cattle. She stands for milking and can be led with her halter. Momma does a great job of letting us know when any of the other cattle have escaped, regardless of the time of day or night.
Chondrodysplasia: non-carrier
PHA: non-carrier
Beta Casein: A1/A2
Horned/Scurred
BRED: 6/2/2017 to Bradan of Paradise.
Due: 3/11/2018
CALVED: 3/17/2018 with a black heifer calf
BRED: 5/5/2018 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 2/11/2019
CALVED: 2/13/2019 with a black heifer calf
BRED: 3/28/2019 to Bradan of Paradise
Due: 1/4/2020
CALVED: 1/14/2020 with a black bull calf (chondro-carrier)
BRED: 6/20/2020
Due: 3/29/2021
CALVED: 6/20/2021 with black bull calf
Adeline (not for sale)
DOB: 2/27/2015 Sire: Lucky M Mr. Briskets (Legacy ID: L02090MH-12HH ADCA ID: 036695) Dam: Momma Chondrodysplasia: non-carrier (obligate) PHA: non-carrier (obligate) Beta Casein: A1/A2 This sweet girl came out of a breeding of Momma and Mr. Briskets. We are already working on halter training and possibly oxen training in the near future. She is 3/4 Dexter, 1/4 Lowline Angus. She is black in color and has horns. She is very human-friendly and approachable and should make a fantastic homestead milker. She first calved Sept 14, 2018 with a bull calf, and she stands well to be milked out in the field. She is not yet halter trained. Her January 2019 heifer calf is super friendly and is being halter trained. The calf appears to be a non-carrier of chondro. BRED: 3/31/2018 to Bradan of Paradise Due: 1/7/2019 CALVED: 1/12/2019 with black heifer calf (48 lbs) BRED: 8/16/2019 Due: 5/25/2020 CALVED: 5/18/2020 with black heifer calf (39 lbs) BRED: Due: CALVED: 6/5/2021 with black heifer calf |
Edelweiss--FOR SALE--$1800 (+ $500 w/heifer calf at side)
DOB: 1/12/2019 Sire: Bradan of Paradise Dam: Adeline 7/8 Dexter, 1/8 Lowline Angus Chondrodysplasia: not tested, but appears to be non-carrier PHA: non-carrier (obligate) Beta Casein: not yet tested Edelweiss is a friendly young cow who can be milked by hand. Bred: ??? CALVED: 7/24/2020 with black bull calf Bred: 11/17/2020 to unregistered Dexter/Lowline bull Due: 8/26/2021 |
Little Momma (not for sale)
DOB: 2/13/2019 Sire: Bradan of Paradise Dam: Big Momma 3/4 Dexter, 1/4 Lowline Angus Chondrodysplasia: not tested, but appears to be a carrier PHA: non-carrier (obligate) Beta Casein: not yet tested This little gal is super friendly with humans! She can be touched all over and loves to be brushed. She'd make a fantastic homestead milker. Possibly bred to unregistered Dexter/Lowline bull (no breeding date recorded). |
Reference Animals
Lucky M Mr. Briskets
DOB: 5/14/2012
Legacy ID: L02090MH-12HH
ADCA ID: 036695
Chondrodysplasia: non-carrier
PHA: non-carrier
Beta Casein: A2/A2
Hailing from Woodmagic lines, Mr. Briskets is a purebred Dexter bull who is classified as "modern horned". He respects electric fencing, loves the ladies, and will push his way to the front of the line for chin scratches. Fortunately, he seems to have passed on his calm personality to his offspring.
DOB: 5/14/2012
Legacy ID: L02090MH-12HH
ADCA ID: 036695
Chondrodysplasia: non-carrier
PHA: non-carrier
Beta Casein: A2/A2
Hailing from Woodmagic lines, Mr. Briskets is a purebred Dexter bull who is classified as "modern horned". He respects electric fencing, loves the ladies, and will push his way to the front of the line for chin scratches. Fortunately, he seems to have passed on his calm personality to his offspring.
Bradan of Paradise
1/11/2015 - 6/30/2020 Legacy ID: L02071TH-15HH ADCA ID: 036857 Chondrodysplasia: Carrier PHA: Non-carrier Beta Casein: A2/A2 Color: B/B (only carries black) Bradan hails from the well-known Traditional Dexter Paradise herd in Virginia. He has a sweet, laid-back personality and has been halter trained. He has heavily line-bred genetics with Brenn of Paradise and is a chondro carrier, so we will manage our breedings accordingly. We hope he will be the start of our Traditional herd here at Summer Solstice Farms once we obtain a couple Traditional cows or heifers. |