Foundation Animals

In total, we bought 18 cows for the herd. We made the mistake of thinking every seller also culled within their herd and also assumed that certain pedigrees meant excellent breeding stock. Far from it. We culled for temperament, fused teats, udders that dragged on the ground, scissor toes, the inability to maintain condition, infertility, etc., etc. The majority of these cows went into the freezer, including any offspring they'd had here. Talk about an expensive learning curve. A few had qualities that made them sellable, even less stayed.

This page is for those excellent animals.

Bulls are "traveling salesmen" for us The daughters stay in the herd and after a couple of years, it's time for the bull to move on.

Sometimes a cow has consistenly outproduced herself and the owner finds themselves having "outgrown" her. Then she can leave and do good in another herd.

AI is a wonderful tool to bring in new genetics in a safe fashion. Often it's hard to get even basic information on a chosen bull's family and offspring, something that interests me more than the statistics.

Breeding is a journey. It never ends, that's what is so fascinating.

BULLS

SMD Tuck Ferl

SMD Poppy Ceann Mor

Being able to purchase Tuck was akin to winning the lotto. I'd been smitten with him since Jeff Chambers posted the first pictures online. Tuck is magnificent. When he stepped off the trailer, I gasped in shock: I had no idea that a Dexter could be that wide! And long! And so very Dexter!

He loved it when visitors brought kids along and enjoyed being petted by those small hands. The sweetheart bull.

SMD Poppy Ceann Mor

Poppy was our second SMD bull, out of Tuck's full sister, SMD Anna Ferl. He cemented the pursuit of excellence and type. He was the Napoleon, the brilliant short dude who preferred the company of his own kind. He performed true to his pedigree here.

Jesse's Lucien

SMD Poppy Ceann Mor

Jesse's Lucien

Lucien was our first homegrown bull. Half SMD and half Chautauqua, with type and quality to spare.

True to his breeding he had a lovely calm temperament that he reliably passed on.

Cows

Jerac Violet

Chautauqua China

The diva, the queen, the cat. Violet never suffered fools and would let you know when you'd dissapointed her. Again. With her friend China she ruled the herd. A large-framed cow, she gave her daughters gorgeous, solid udders, but also her high hip and long face.

Chautauqua China

China was twelve when she got here, but you wouldn't have suspected it. She was the calm center of the herd and the touchstone for its quality. If a cow couldn't compare, she'd not stay long.

Squire Valley Bonnie

Bonnie had the best udder I'd ever seen on a traditional Dexter. While she and I had our differences, she left us with her son Damien, a very chill and agreeable dude.

Bennan of Paradise

Squire Valley Bonnie

Benni had the great misfortune of bad udder attachments and diabolically short teats . Being a short, little chondro-carrier only exacerbated the problem. But, oh, her character. This is the cow that went to nursing homes. She simply loved people. I swear, she understood English.