Bought a dexter cow in a package deal. Any info, They must be smaller breed type.

Dexters are a heritage dual purpose breed. Traditional dexters that are horned are rare and we have an effort to preserve the gene pool and old bloodlines. Warning: dexter people fight more than any others I've been involved in. The polled vs. horned thing stems from a bull introduced in 80's whose purity is in dispute. Raise what you like, but be warned some dexter breeders are kinda rabid. Your dexter cow, if from good stock, should be an extremely easy keeper, excellent mother, good milker, and make fabulous meat with little or no grain. Very smart, and usually affectionate if treated sensibly.

Thanks, this one has horns and no papers. Don'tcare to eat paper anyway. Curious to see how her half longhorn Calf turns
out. Rest of my herd is longhorn. By dual purpose I guess they milk these.

I artificially inseminate my neighbors little herd of Dexter cattle.
As a lifetime cow man I have to say that I have yet to see what is special about them.
Not any more fleshing ability than my angus/simmental cows. Just tiny.

They're common in my area. I don't really "get" them, but that may be because of my business niche. Costs me about the same to run a small cow through the processor as it does a large one. I'd rather butcher a mid to large size cow early if I had need of smaller carcass. I'd still retain the versatility of being able to go larger if needed. I love my longhorn, but I'm looking at buying some momma cows out of Texas to get some more size. The ones I see here tend to be a smaller framed cattle.

One other thing with the Dexter that never would have occured to me if I hadn't read about it - the danger of a large frame bull breeding that tiny cow. Be it a neighbor's loose Angus or one of your own.

I like my longhorn's and the crosses, I can run 25% more cows on the same section. longhorns have up to 10 year productive life span, they can rough it better than most other breeds. there all good cows in the place

Consider selling that Dexter, Dan, if you don't want a smaller cow. Many smallholders and homsteaders might be quite interested in having and breeding her.

Her calf is a month old so I may see if she is gentle enough to milk.

Her milk will be very good if you can get it. Be calm with her--she should train easily but you cannot be heavy-handed with a dexter.