How Now House Cow 0
New Home for our House Cows 0
Over the past year our house cows have had several homes and we have milked our girls in several different places–all out in the elements. With the recent addition of a single milking machine and two more Milking cows we knew it was time for some shelter. The timing could not have been better for making this happen. Our Cow Consultant, Peter Learn from Nogo Farms, was flown in from Canada for this mission and a few other things around the farm. Pictured below are a series of construction photographs and captions to display our new multipurpose area. If you want plans for this shed functional farm budget shed please contact us. Thanks LP and your offsider TTT.
Primex June 17-19th 2010 Casino 0
Four Girl Dexter Stud has been contacted by the Dexter Cattle Association to see if we would be interested in showing some of our cattle at this year’s Primex. Primex is held annually at Casino, in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales and is considered as one of Australia’s leading country centres. The town straddles the Richmond River which encompasses a range of attractions that make the wider Northern Rivers and North Coast Region such a unique part of Australia.
We are sorting out the details to ensure we can meet and exceed the expectations of our fellow Dexter Breeders. As soon as we have more information on the show we will be sure to let you know.
Dexter Feature at the 2010 Tenterfield Show 0
Four Girl Dexter Stud hit the road and made the big climb up to the Tenterfield table lands for their annual show. We were loaded up with plenty of gear for the 3 day show and brought along our Show Girls (Azalia and Whisketa) with hopes of bringing home a ribbon of any colour as a memento. We were not disappointed.
Hats off to the Tenterfield Show Society for giving the Dexter Cattle a go and featuring them along side some sensational cattle breeds. The Heifer classic on Friday night was a huge success and got us ready for the feature show on Saturday. Aubrey and Morley worked hard getting ready for this show doing plenty of work with their cows and acquiring the necessary equipment to present their cows professionally. All the hard work paid off when Azalea was awarded a white ribbon in the Dexter Heifer under 18 months category.
A big thanks as always to our friends Judith, Terry and Albert from Margrita Dexters who continue to support and encourage us. We also want to thank Peter Learn from Nogo Farms in Restoule Ontario who has come over from Canada again this year to lend us a hand on the farm and to share his cattle skills. We also enjoyed catching up with our friend Steve from Pack Saddle Leather who as always showed his hospitality and shared his stories of being on the road going from show to show in Australia.
Our Disappearing Heritage 0
Here is an excerpt from a great article in The Permacultivator – Journal of Cool Climate Permaculture written by Jill Cockram who alerts us to the problems of shrinking biodiversity and how to help.
Larger Livestock Minority Breeds
Rare and minority breeds of farm livestock and the value in preserving them where possible on small and large-scale Permaculture sites.
Apart from the work done by the odd breeding enthusiast, the diversity of livestock breeds found on farms these days is limited to a few well-known breeds, of both pure and hybrid origin. Some of the previously common farm animals like the Clydesdale and other quarter horses went out of vogue altogether with the introduction of fossil-fuel driven tractors. These draught animals are still useful on small acreages where you might be alley-cropping small areas rather than farming large monocultures of grains and where it is not necessary to bring in feedstock as there is sufficient grazing area. Not only are they feeding themselves but they
Dexter Cow with Calf wanted 2
With our first milking girl Condamine coming to her anniversary of milking and now in calf we will be relying on our Milking Cross to keep us in Dairy for the next few months. After that though we will be without a Dexter to milk and provide us (and our friends) with milk, cream, butter, ice cream, yogurt and cheese. Alison has taken my buying shackles off to see if we can find another cow with calf to fill the gap. Please contact us if you have a Dexter Heifer with calf for sale. We are open to pure bred or crosses as long as their is Dexter in them and they meet with the approval of our mother Stud–Margrita Dexters (Terry and Judith Hill).
Buffalo Fly Tags-21 January 2010 0
We started the process of tagging the cows yesterday. Got through our first pack of 10 pairs of tags and seem to have misplaced our second box. Off to get some more today so we can finish the job. Amazing what a difference a pair of purple floppy ear rings makes–bye bye you dirty Buffalo flies. Will be sure to take the takes off as prescribed.
Cows in Calf-Jan 14, 2010 0
We had our local vet Neil Farquay from Mullum Vetcome and dehorn and castrate last week. One thing we have learned is that its far better to burn a cows horns off young then to have them surgically removed.
Merry Christmas 0
Merry Christmas from the Four Girl Dexter Stud
2nd Place at Bangalow Show 0
We had hoped to enter the show ring in Bangalow but just did not have the energy after the Mullumbimby Show. This however did not stop Alison from entering some Dexter by products. With all the yummy milk we are pulling by hand from our girls each morning Alison has been experimenting with making butter, cheese and most recently yogurt. Seems like Alison is a natural and took two second place ribbons at the Bangalow Show. Pictured below is the Dexter Yogurt in all its glory.
2nd Place Banaglow Show 2009











