Get Dexter Cattle Gestation Chart

When a steer weighs 800 pounds, we get about 260-300 pounds of meat back (after being processed). The milk is high in butterfat and protein, similar to Jersey milk. Disposition is another advantage, Chambers said: They're a very friendly breed.

Gestation length does vary by breed and by sex of the calf. Gestation length ranges from 279 to 287 days. For most breeds, 283 days would be common. Cows carrying bull calves tend to have a slightly longer gestation compared to cows carrying heifer calves.

Raising cattle especially Dexter for either milk or meat can both be profitable. They are known as prolific milkers and produce a significantly higher milk yield than other breeds.

A Dexter cow can be much more expensive to purchase than a conventional breed. It's that whole supply & demand thing. You can easily expect to pay about $1500-$2000 for a Dexter cow. (Though I have seen them as low as $800).

A Dexter cow can be much more expensive to purchase than a conventional breed. It's that whole supply & demand thing. You can easily expect to pay about $1500-$2000 for a Dexter cow. (Though I have seen them as low as $800).

This along with the fat and bone removed during the cutting account for an additional 18% loss. In summary, a steer weighing 1,000 pounds on the hoof will average around 430 pounds of retail cuts (steaks, roasts, ground beef, stew beef, etc.).

Dexter beef is excellent quality, with good marbling. The marbling makes the flesh tender and flavoursome . A typical carcass weighs about 145-220kg, and despite their small size, they can often achieve a killing-out percentage of well above 56%. This is due to a good ratio of meat to waste products like fat and bone.

What does the breed look like? The Dexter breed is the smallest British breed of cattle. It is a dual-purpose breed, with the average weight of a cow being some 300 350 Kg's and standing 92cm 107cm at the shoulder.