Looking for Dexters?
This is the American Dexter Cattle Association site. The Members/Breeders Listing is near the top of the page. (This list is alphabetical by Regions).
The “Pedigree” choice will give you the opportunity to view each animal individually. (Center top of page)
Contact owners & visit as many farms as you can so you can get a good view of Dexters and get to know the owners. Make sure you have a feel for the individuals as well as the stock you’re considering. The person you buy from should become your mentor and "new best friend" in your Dexter venture.
Check the Members Websites for information and photographs. Individuals have posted a variety of useful information and some great pictures on their sites........ours isn't exactly pretty but is educational I hope!
What type of Dexters are you looking for?
What do you want them to do for you?
Beef? Milking? Pet? Draft (oxen)? Combination?
Color? (They come in Black, Red and Dun.)
Horned, Dehorned or Polled?
Chondrodysplasia Carrier, Chondrodysplasia Non-Carrier? PHA status?
Educate yourself on these two genetic disorders (Chondrodysplasia and PHA) in the Breed so you can make informed choices in your breeding program.
What age group are you wanting to start with?
Weanlings?
Bred Heifers?
Cow/calf pair?
Cow in milk and trained to milk? ….Very hard to find!
Bull?
Steers?
Breeding choices: Natural service Bull or Artificial Insemination?
Disposition? (I’d never consider an aggressive animal!)
Halter trained?
How many?
We recommend at least 2 animals. Cattle are herd animals and need “company” of their own kind. If you only want one female and you start with a heifer, consider a steer as a companion…cheaper to buy and you can butcher it for yourself or sell the carcass when your female has her calf and produces her own “company”.
#1 thing to know before you buy!!!!
Do papers come with your purchase....Is the sire genotyped?
If the papers haven't been processed yet be SURE the sire of your purchased animal has a genotype completed at TAMU or UCD Lab. No male can be registered with the ADCA w/o the sire & the bull calf's genotype completed 1st.
NOT EVERY DEXTER A SELLER STATES "CAN BE REGISTERED" QUALIFIES FOR REGISTRATION TODAY!
Every Dexter born since 2010 needs the sires genotype with TAMU or UCD before registration. Please read the Standard Operating Procedures for Registration BEFORE you buy!
Link to this information:
http://www.dextercattle.org/adca/adca_sop.html#rtm
