We no longer have cattle for sale.
How about an investment that will almost double in value every year on average for 12+ years? Now add milk for the family as a side benefit as well as a free mowing service. How about richer more productive soils and free fertilizer. Sounds like a good deal doesn’t it? That is what 
you can have with cattle.
Now I have exaggerated as all this does not come free. There is the initial investment and continual maintenance and care. That initial investment can almost be repaid with the first calf, and will become profitable
with each additional calf thereafter. The feed is minimal as this creature eats one of the most abundant plant forms on earth. This plant is battled weekly in our cities and suburbs to prevent it from overtaking the “civilized” world. They are fighting it with the wrong 
weapon, they should be using cattle.
Cattle are one measure of real wealth, even the bible mentions cattle when talking of wealthy people. Unlike gold and silver cattle are an investment that literally grows, and unlike gold or silver it is an investment that can be quite tasty. A herd of cattle in your field is every bit as valuable as a stocked pantry, maybe more so.
Dexter Cattle
I had researched different breeds of cattle for years. In my area as is common throughout the United States the mighty Angus is the most common breed of cattle. Angus were the only cattle I had first hand experience with and I have nothing against them, but I wanted something different and more manageable for
the small operation I was. My research led me to the Irish Dexter cattle.
Dexters come both horned and naturally polled (hornless). They come in three main colors Black, Dunn and Red. They are considered a multi-use breed and have been used as beef cattle, dairy cattle and oxen. They also come in different sizes and are either long or short legged. They are about half the size of an Angus and eat proportionately less feed. They are good grazers and a good match for the grass based grazing setup I had planned.
The Dexter advantage as I see it is multi fold. The smaller size makes them easier 
to handle. They sell for more money pound for pound than a regular breed. They can be a good light production dairy breed. They are in demand and are easy to sell. Their smaller size also makes them easier on the land. Acre for acre you can make more beef and money with a smaller breed of cattle like Dexters than the average commercial breed.
A drawback to having a dairy is the need to milk everyday. Since a Dexter isn’t a high production dairy breed this problem can be solved with share milking. When you need to be gone for a day or two just let the calf handle the milking. This lets you enjoy more freedom.
I bought my first Dexter cattle in 2012. My timing couldn’t have been better as Missouri was suffering from a bad drought and cattle were on sale for those who had the hay.
Meet The Lewis Family Farm Herd
My Cattle philosophy
Ideally every cow will have a calf every year. That calf isn’t free, you had the expense of keeping the cow all year and the bull as well. That is why it is very important to cull non-productive cows. A good cow will give you a superior calf every year, a lesser cow will give you a calf every now and then and possibly pass that inferior trait to its offspring.
I expect my cattle to hold condition on good pastures and hay. The only additional item they get regularly is clean water and mineral. If they cannot hold their condition it is cheaper and better for your herd to cull these inferior cattle.
Items I will cull for include failure to calve, not holding condition, bad temperament and some smaller negative traits. My aim is to build a nice profitable herd that is easy to maintain, and to do so on an all natural setting with no grain.
Our Dexter herd is being built around a modern polled Dexter that is raised on pasture. The ideal homestead cow, who doesn’t cause unneeded upkeep or expense. All our cattle are trained to come when called, are raised in a rotational grazing environment and are from a working farm. All the calves we will be offering will be polled, trained on electric fence and are all natural.
Thanks for this summary of your operation. I am curious about your cattle waterer. What float valve did you use? Do you have any photos up-close of it? Would a regular ‘toilet tank’ float valve work?
Your design is easy and clean, I hope to duplicate it (with minor modifications for my needs).
Thank you! God Bless!
Dan
Dan I sent you an a reply by email. Thanks,
Loved reading about your farm and cattle. I am searching the www in search of finding someone to sell my dexter cattle to I have (9) that I need to sell. Two have been milked. If you know of anyone interested please email me. Thanks.
Kay I sent you a reply by email.
Thanks for the great blog. I acquired an AC Harvester 60 and am trying to figure out how to run the thing. I would love to see yours in action.
Here is my video of harvesting wheat with my AC 72 and 8N:
http://youtu.be/dJOTDf3HLYw?list=UUx516iRypL0fH9giVSXAVMw
I harvested Cereal Rye, Fescue, Spelt, and still have buckwheat coming this year. I will be posting a video of these as well, and I just got a better camera as well with HD video. Good luck with your 60.
-Joseph
This is a really fun site. I’m in the same boat as you as set up and needs/wants go. I live in northern Wisconsin and have 50 acres and a bunch of little kids and I figured with that combination it’s a shame not to have animals. I’ve settled on dexters and I’m excited to get some this spring. How are you planning to make money from them? Will you raise any all the way up and sell the meat or just sell calves to other farmers? My hope is to make a little money but I could justify doing it if I could at least break even.
With a sickle mower do you have to let hay dry longer than if you had a haybine? I have a Ferguson F40 tractor (about half way between your 8n and your diesel) and was thinking of getting a small round baler (hesston 530 etc.) to save some time and labor over square bales but I would consider doing small squares. Do you have a kicker or do you go back and pick the bales up? Sorry for so many questions but you seem to be doing what I want to do but your’re a couple of years ahead of me.
~Pete
Well my herd will reach capacity in 2020 with everything going well. My family, extended family and friends will handle several steers a year. I am hoping to have valued bull calves to sell as future herd sires, and will also start selling heifers when my herd is to capacity. I will also test the market for grass fed beef in my area, and will probably start selling some beef in 2015-16. I have three bull calves this year with two more heifers left to calve. I expect the cattle to make a big percentage of my income in the future as well as supplying my family with all our beef.
Yes hay will dry slower when cut with a sickle mower vs using a haybine. A sickle mower doesn’t crush or condition the grass, it just cuts it and drops it. I just let the bales drop behind the baler and pick them up that night with a trailer and ATV. I avoid the heat that way, and it is usually dark by the time I finish my work anyway.
No problem with the questions, good luck with your farm
-Joseph
Hello, I would also like to know what type of float value you used for the water tank..
I buy them off Ebay. Just search for 1/4″ float valve. I use the style with a 1/4″ quick connect. My first water barrel is still going after several years.
Thanks for sharing all of your information. My husband and I are looking to setup a small homestead and are considering having a small number of beef cattle. Maybe 3 cows. Since we are so new and naive I have to admit I don’t know what to look for or what questions to ask when we purchase our first cows. What would your advice be to avoid being taken advantage of and sold the matronly stock since we don’t know any better. LOL
Thanks!
Sorry for the late reply, I am actually doing an article on acquiring cattle real soon. If you need info sooner contact me through the contact button and I will send you my number. Thanks,
Your blog is cool! I was wondering about barrel waterer. Could you get me more info? Thanks!
Thank you, have you watched the video:
https://youtu.be/pQMeYx_eBPM
It is a pretty straight forward design, and very handy. I just drilled a hole through the barrel to accept a 1/4″ float valve. I then used a piece of pipe cut in half to protect that valve. I would be happy to answer any questions you have.
Looking to start raising min cattle. Looking for sales and any information I can get. I own a small farm. But was raised on a farm. Thank you
We have 2 yearling Dexter heifers for sale, a red and a black. My husband doesn’t want to upset the neighbors with their mooing and one of the heifers is very vocal. They are eligible for registration but we don’t have anear tattoo pliers. We are in central Wisconsin. If you hear of anyone looking for heifers, please let me know. Local “cow jockey s” only want to pay the market per pound price! Kristi — email: kdjohnsondvm@gmail.com
I will leave your post up for others to see, I don’t know anybody from Wisconsin, so I wouldn’t be much help. Instead of using ear tattoos you might consider USDA ear tags. The number off these tags can be used to register your Dexters and it is easier and cheaper than a tattoo. Plus you have an easy to see ear tag for ID. This is the system I use on my farm.
Looking for cow/calf (Heifer and possibly baby bull) pairs to start a small family farm herd. Do you have any available?
Thx
Christy Mitchell
Mitchellfamily4ever@gmail.com
Sorry I don’t have any but maybe someone else will.