I am considering buying a Dexter for our family cow. My question after checking out a small herd is this...how do you wipe down their furry udder prior to milking? I thought all cows had those naked udders. It doesn't look too sanitary. Help please. I just can't seem to find this out and the last thing I want to do is spend $750 on a calf and find out a year and a half later that I don't know how to deal with a fuzzy udder! :o)

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), November 03, 2001

Answers

I have never milked a Dexter, but with goats with furry udders, we just shave the udder.

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), November 03, 2001.

Due you really want to spend that much on a calf that can still get sick and die .It's a chance you take with any animal .You could probally get a Jersey x for 200.00 - 300.00 .Just a thought .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), November 03, 2001.

Furry udders? I have 6 dexter cows and they have udders just like any other cow, mostly clean skin on the bag area, although they are not what you would call dairy size udders. Can you elaborate. I'm going to cross my girls with my jersey bull next year in hopes that the dairy traits will improve.

bw

-- bruce (rural@inebraska.com), November 03, 2001.

I started laughing when I read your post--not that it is a stupid question, but I swear I just went through this in a egroup I am in. Then I read the shaving of the udder, more laughing. Shaving a goat and shaving a cow are 2 different things for sure. I have both a Dexter and a Shorthorn, they both get hairy udders when it starts getting cold, a trait I believe is good. Just wash the hairy udder same as you would a naked one, and try not to pull hairs when milking, the cow doesn't like it. If some start getting in the way real bad I use a thin layer of Bag Balm to sort of paste it up to the udder. Life is not sanitary by the way, it is down right gross if you think about it. One of the least sanitary places I have ever been in is a hospital. Give me good clean manure right out the cows butt than a "clean" hospital any day. ;) Tana

-- Tana Cothran (tana@getgoin.net), November 03, 2001.

I thought you were talking about Dexters as stupid. ;>) There are NO stupid questions on this forum. (no comments from you stan!!!! ;>))

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), November 03, 2001.

Alison, just clip the udder and it's fine. Some cows grow more hair than others on their udders, depends on genetics to an extent, also if they are milking or not this time of year when the hair is really growing in. A Holstein milking well right now won't hair up too much; one that is dry can have have an inch and a half.

I clip all of my cows at least once in the fall to keep them cleaner through the winter.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), November 03, 2001.

Yeah Patty I could get a less expensive calf. I am weighing options but there is just somethin' about those shaggy little Dexters. They are smaller and give less milk than a bigger cow too and then again they won't eat as much as a bigger cow and they are said to forage and browse better than as Jersey. I am thinking about a smaller beef type heifer maybe instead. But those Dexters just seemed like the cow for me except for the furry udder which I found odd. Thanks for the input all!

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), November 05, 2001.

Hi Alison,,there aren't any stupid" questions on our CS forum,,that is what we are all about,,finding answers and helping with answers,,wishing you success with a new Dexter if you get one,,,Patsy

-- Patsy, MT (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), November 05, 2001.

Is it illegal to shave a whole cow? (British Law)

-- J marlow (jheyhey@excite.com), January 14, 2002.