Comments on: Our Week In Review http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/ The thoughts and journal of a Christian farm family. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:48:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Suzy Green http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1750 Suzy Green Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:16:10 +0000 http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-1750 Hi, I just came across your site talking about the Dexter cows and the bulldog calves. Information about this can be found in this scientific paper http://www.ava.com.au/avj/9803/98030199.pdf There is now a test to isolate the gene that produces the bulldog calves which are dwarves. The 'short legged' dexter is primarily the carrier so 'long legged' dexters are usually fine. I have long legged dexters. Unfortunately many people have bred with beef foundation cows to get their dexters and destroy a lot of the good milk production in the full blood dexters (mine come from jersey foundation cows). They are a lovely cow (I've had jersey, holstein, murray grey, hereford cross) and for a small farm who wants both excellent quality milk and meat they are ideal. Their milk should contain almost the same butterfat content as a jersey and the meat is very much like wagyu. Hope this dispels any concerns about the dexters. Regards Suzy Hi,

I just came across your site talking about the Dexter cows and the bulldog calves.

Information about this can be found in this scientific paper http://www.ava.com.au/avj/9803/98030199.pdf

There is now a test to isolate the gene that produces the bulldog calves which are dwarves.

The ’short legged’ dexter is primarily the carrier so ‘long legged’ dexters are usually fine. I have long legged dexters.

Unfortunately many people have bred with beef foundation cows to get their dexters and destroy a lot of the good milk production in the full blood dexters (mine come from jersey foundation cows).

They are a lovely cow (I’ve had jersey, holstein, murray grey, hereford cross) and for a small farm who wants both excellent quality milk and meat they are ideal.

Their milk should contain almost the same butterfat content as a jersey and the meat is very much like wagyu.

Hope this dispels any concerns about the dexters.

Regards

Suzy

]]> By: Northern Farmer http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/comment-page-1/#comment-553 Northern Farmer Tue, 17 Jan 2006 02:38:00 +0000 http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-553 I'll keep you informed when we get to it. A reader "Clint", down Tennessee way has some experience with it, I gotta get serious on this. Talk about going to what my moonshining forfathers did, they used a breed of corn called Minnesota 13 for their really good shine, well, we'll be planting quite a few acres of that corn this year. What goes around comes around, eh. I’ll keep you informed when we get to it. A reader “Clint”, down Tennessee way has some experience with it, I gotta get serious on this. Talk about going to what my moonshining forfathers did, they used a breed of corn called Minnesota 13 for their really good shine, well, we’ll be planting quite a few acres of that corn this year. What goes around comes around, eh.

]]> By: KS Milkmaid http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/comment-page-1/#comment-552 KS Milkmaid Tue, 17 Jan 2006 02:13:00 +0000 http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-552 I wanted to add some information on Dexter cows. Seems they have quite a reputation for genetic defects. A friend of ours is trying to work with them and has had one dead calf after another. Cows dying too. It is the bulldog something ruther. Another gal contacted me via email to report a dead dexter calf. I am noticing a trend with these cows. Just thought I would mention some of the local experience around here. I realize all farming can have bad years, but for such a small operation over the past three years our friend has had more dead calves and cows than anyone should have to go through. It just could be his luck. I am a little biased toward Jersey's, I understand there are minitures of the breed too. They are so hearty and gentle, but they are prone to keytosis and milk fever. A good preventive program should help. Tom: When you get your shine thing agoin' Brian wants to hear more about it. It really sparked his interest on the PT CD. I wanted to add some information on Dexter cows. Seems they have quite a reputation for genetic defects. A friend of ours is trying to work with them and has had one dead calf after another. Cows dying too. It is the bulldog something ruther. Another gal contacted me via email to report a dead dexter calf. I am noticing a trend with these cows. Just thought I would mention some of the local experience around here. I realize all farming can have bad years, but for such a small operation over the past three years our friend has had more dead calves and cows than anyone should have to go through. It just could be his luck.

I am a little biased toward Jersey’s, I understand there are minitures of the breed too. They are so hearty and gentle, but they are prone to keytosis and milk fever. A good preventive program should help.

Tom: When you get your shine thing agoin’ Brian wants to hear more about it. It really sparked his interest on the PT CD.

]]> By: Northern Farmer http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/comment-page-1/#comment-551 Northern Farmer Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:25:00 +0000 http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-551 JFC, I figure I need about a century to catch up to Salatins, but at least we've started! I can grow corn and trees but ain't all to interested in soybeans. My neighbor always says that with all the wood we burn between us that we should figure out a steam powered generator and capture the used heat for ourselves. There's a lot of different ways... And I know three thousand is a chunk, I still have tears in my eyes parting from it.But this Thursday the first family cow gets butchered and then ground up a few days later so that's the first $300 bite out of the bill. HH, If you ever run across them Argentine cuts let me know, I truly am interested in that. Food is my hobby, or should I say eating is my hobby. So much enjoyment.... JFC,
I figure I need about a century to catch up to Salatins, but at least we’ve started! I can grow corn and trees but ain’t all to interested in soybeans. My neighbor always says that with all the wood we burn between us that we should figure out a steam powered generator and capture the used heat for ourselves. There’s a lot of different ways…
And I know three thousand is a chunk, I still have tears in my eyes parting from it.But this Thursday the first family cow gets butchered and then ground up a few days later so that’s the first $300 bite out of the bill.

HH,
If you ever run across them Argentine cuts let me know, I truly am interested in that. Food is my hobby, or should I say eating is my hobby. So much enjoyment….

]]> By: HomesteadHerbs http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/comment-page-1/#comment-550 HomesteadHerbs Mon, 16 Jan 2006 21:39:00 +0000 http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-550 Tom, I think alot of the differences between the Argentine and US beef is how the meat gets cut. I used to have a diagram of how the Argentine's did it which I'll have to find in my files. Once you start processing, I'll take all you can give me of the sweetbread (the glands). They are fantastic on the grill with a little lemon on them! I can't find any here as most processing throw it away- such a sacrilege!! Tom,
I think alot of the differences between the Argentine and US beef is how the meat gets cut. I used to have a diagram of how the Argentine’s did it which I’ll have to find in my files. Once you start processing, I’ll take all you can give me of the sweetbread (the glands). They are fantastic on the grill with a little lemon on them! I can’t find any here as most processing throw it away- such a sacrilege!!

]]> By: JFC http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/comment-page-1/#comment-549 JFC Mon, 16 Jan 2006 21:29:00 +0000 http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-549 Jim V <I>My son was telling me that Salatins just got a Hereford bull - with horns. I guess you are in good company.</I> Or, maybe, the Salatins are in good company. Tom, re: needing power to run your operation, I know you've been looking into power generation. Your wood stove system can provide heat for steam engine, or you can use corn alcohol to run gasoline type engines, or you can use soybean oil to run diesel type engines. My research is pretty sketchy, but the people I've talked to seem to think any of those options are good, depending if you can grow trees, corn, or beans. $3000 is a chunk o' change, but with equipment as good as you said this is, that is a pittance to be able to extricate yourself from dependence on the system for processing. Good luck, or, to put it more properly: God Bless! Jim V
My son was telling me that Salatins just got a Hereford bull - with horns. I guess you are in good company.

Or, maybe, the Salatins are in good company.

Tom,
re: needing power to run your operation, I know you’ve been looking into power generation. Your wood stove system can provide heat for steam engine, or you can use corn alcohol to run gasoline type engines, or you can use soybean oil to run diesel type engines.

My research is pretty sketchy, but the people I’ve talked to seem to think any of those options are good, depending if you can grow trees, corn, or beans.

$3000 is a chunk o’ change, but with equipment as good as you said this is, that is a pittance to be able to extricate yourself from dependence on the system for processing.

Good luck, or, to put it more properly: God Bless!

]]> By: Northern Farmer http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/comment-page-1/#comment-548 Northern Farmer Mon, 16 Jan 2006 20:06:00 +0000 http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-548 Jim, Thanks for jumping in about the Dexters, that's a good thing about these blogs, a person learns something. Steve, Thanks for sharing what your up to over your way. My plug for the Horned Herefords has to be looked at differently in everybodies situation. Here, on larger acreage we run larger cattle that can take living on their own, with us just supplying their winter feed. This size of cow could be a problem on small acreage where smaller stock would probably make much more sense. And I'm talking beef, we don't milk these cows at all, so that has to be taken into consideration. Also on small acreage you'd probably not want to be supporting a bull year round, they do eat a lot. A thought just came to me, a while back I thought I seen an advertisement for miniature herefords, hmmm. I'll have to keep an eye open. I know they have miniature angus, I forget their name. Food for thought. Tom Jim,
Thanks for jumping in about the Dexters, that’s a good thing about these blogs, a person learns something.

Steve,
Thanks for sharing what your up to over your way. My plug for the Horned Herefords has to be looked at differently in everybodies situation. Here, on larger acreage we run larger cattle that can take living on their own, with us just supplying their winter feed. This size of cow could be a problem on small acreage where smaller stock would probably make much more sense. And I’m talking beef, we don’t milk these cows at all, so that has to be taken into consideration. Also on small acreage you’d probably not want to be supporting a bull year round, they do eat a lot. A thought just came to me, a while back I thought I seen an advertisement for miniature herefords, hmmm. I’ll have to keep an eye open. I know they have miniature angus, I forget their name. Food for thought.

Tom

]]> By: Steve http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/comment-page-1/#comment-547 Steve Mon, 16 Jan 2006 16:24:00 +0000 http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-547 You guys are all way ahead of the game on us. Three years ago, our family moved to a 14-acre property, and we're only now beginning to convert it for farm use. You all will probably chuckle, but I'm a bit excited at the fact that I just bought my first tractor over the weekend. Paid cash. My land is mostly wooded and I figure that the expense will pay for itself in a short time by enabling me to get in the back and haul out wood to heat my home with. WIth the price of oil, it shouldn't take long. It'll also enable me to clear the land in order to do more farming. We've been raising small animals; chickens, rabbits - and we also raise dogs and cats for pets (see our website - www.kephacats.com - and no I'm not plugging. I doubt anyone here would be interested in our critters. We sell mainly to city folk who have pets instead of kids, but we also try to cater to local families who would like a pet but can't afford the outrageous prices that they go for around here...) I am eager to begin raising something a bit larger, but have yet to pull the trigger. I have no experience with cattle, although I have been reading up on the subject a bit. I've read Salatin's books, Dirk Van Loon, "The Family Cow", among others on pigs, sheep, etc. Your plug for Herefords is interesting. I don't know nearly enough at this point to make an informed decision though. I have read up on Dexters, and I think that they would be ideal for my situation, but they are very expensive (at least around here in Connecticut), so I doubt I will be going that route unless I can find some that are reasonable. Anyway, I don't mean to blather on about myself, but I want to let you know where I'm at so that I can perhaps get a bit of advice from the “pro’s” from time to time as we convert our land and our lifestyle. I sure wish I didn’t squander years working at a career. I’m trying to make up for lost time… You guys are all way ahead of the game on us. Three years ago, our family moved to a 14-acre property, and we’re only now beginning to convert it for farm use. You all will probably chuckle, but I’m a bit excited at the fact that I just bought my first tractor over the weekend. Paid cash. My land is mostly wooded and I figure that the expense will pay for itself in a short time by enabling me to get in the back and haul out wood to heat my home with. WIth the price of oil, it shouldn’t take long. It’ll also enable me to clear the land in order to do more farming.

We’ve been raising small animals; chickens, rabbits - and we also raise dogs and cats for pets (see our website - http://www.kephacats.com - and no I’m not plugging. I doubt anyone here would be interested in our critters. We sell mainly to city folk who have pets instead of kids, but we also try to cater to local families who would like a pet but can’t afford the outrageous prices that they go for around here…) I am eager to begin raising something a bit larger, but have yet to pull the trigger. I have no experience with cattle, although I have been reading up on the subject a bit. I’ve read Salatin’s books, Dirk Van Loon, “The Family Cow”, among others on pigs, sheep, etc.

Your plug for Herefords is interesting. I don’t know nearly enough at this point to make an informed decision though. I have read up on Dexters, and I think that they would be ideal for my situation, but they are very expensive (at least around here in Connecticut), so I doubt I will be going that route unless I can find some that are reasonable.

Anyway, I don’t mean to blather on about myself, but I want to let you know where I’m at so that I can perhaps get a bit of advice from the “pro’s” from time to time as we convert our land and our lifestyle. I sure wish I didn’t squander years working at a career. I’m trying to make up for lost time…

]]> By: lhletizv http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/comment-page-1/#comment-546 lhletizv Mon, 16 Jan 2006 15:22:00 +0000 http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-546 I have had a dexter cow. She gave very little milk - less than a quart a milking. They have not typically been bred for milk production, although I was told that there are some breeders selecting for milk production. Some of them can be very small. The cow we had fattened through the winter (a Minnesota winter) on alfalfa hay only. So they should fatten easily on grass alone. We opted to get Jersey cows instead because the level of milk production was more acceptable. Jim I have had a dexter cow. She gave very little milk - less than a quart a milking. They have not typically been bred for milk production, although I was told that there are some breeders selecting for milk production. Some of them can be very small. The cow we had fattened through the winter (a Minnesota winter) on alfalfa hay only. So they should fatten easily on grass alone. We opted to get Jersey cows instead because the level of milk production was more acceptable.

Jim

]]> By: Northern Farmer http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/2006/01/14/our-week-in-review/comment-page-1/#comment-545 Northern Farmer Mon, 16 Jan 2006 13:47:00 +0000 http://www.scepaniakfarms.com/blog/?p=130#comment-545 Scott, I've never seen a Dexter for real but have read enough about them that I'd say they are a very good choice for your situation. The only concern I have, and it's a small one, is what are the start up costs? I've come across over pricing too many times for "homestead" type critters. Other than that this would probobly be the route that I'd take in your situation. In our own situation I think it wise to stay with some regular cattle because it's always nice with this many critters to by able to sell on the main stream market. About the "moonshine", that project is behind schedual bigtime here, it got bumped to the backround with so many other things going on at the present time, besides I don't have to much corn laying around here this year. We'll be planting a grain type OP corn this coming spring and see how that does. I do want that still up and running before spring to try a batch out, we've got some of the copper now. So once I look that way I'll keep everyone posted.I'll give details then.For anyone just dropping in, we're talking about alternative fuels here. Scott,
I’ve never seen a Dexter for real but have read enough about them that I’d say they are a very good choice for your situation. The only concern I have, and it’s a small one, is what are the start up costs? I’ve come across over pricing too many times for “homestead” type critters. Other than that this would probobly be the route that I’d take in your situation. In our own situation I think it wise to stay with some regular cattle because it’s always nice with this many critters to by able to sell on the main stream market.

About the “moonshine”, that project is behind schedual bigtime here, it got bumped to the backround with so many other things going on at the present time, besides I don’t have to much corn laying around here this year. We’ll be planting a grain type OP corn this coming spring and see how that does. I do want that still up and running before spring to try a batch out, we’ve got some of the copper now. So once I look that way I’ll keep everyone posted.I’ll give details then.For anyone just dropping in, we’re talking about alternative fuels here.

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