Here at Bryn Mawr the focus is on raising livestock with biblically sustainable standards.
In addition to the above criteria our selection criteria will be focusing on preserving animals that:
In addition to the above criteria our selection criteria will be focusing on preserving animals that:
- Maintain condition with the least amount of intervention needed.
- Have naturally easy to manage temperaments.
- Have good general conformation necessary to maintain proper health.
- Genetically pass on the ability to give a generous amount of milk, adequate to supply the demand for a calf and the households needs, but yet without over taxing the cow with an excessively high output leading to high supplementation of feed rations and the diminished overall hardiness of the cow.
- Keep a healthy weight and excel on a grass-based feeding system with the exception of an occasional treat for milk cows
- Live up to the claims of a hardy breed. Healthy animals are a joy to own, but sickly livestock are a burden to keep.
- Maintain traits that historically make Dexters a unique breed.
These two pictures come from an article written by Rev. Walter Joyce in 1923. They represent some of the historical traits that are so special about Dexter cattle. Everyone loves looking outside and seeing beautiful cattle roaming their pastures. A wonderful aspect of owning Dexters is that you don't have to choose beauty at the expense of utility. They are a practical and fancy breed when bred for all their historical traits. We realize that it is our responsibility to maintain the hardy, rugged attributes of Dexters that make them so versatile at being both a meat and milk producing breed. We definitely pet our Dexters but do our best not to spoil them. At Bryn Mawr (Big hill) they live a life that fosters preserving the hardy attributes that made them so renown. They graze hills, woodland and grassy pastures living in the elements that Dexters should and can thrive in.
We are real people, with real standards. We milk our cows and eat our beef. Quality matters to us and honesty in any exchange is an absolute must. I want others to be as happy with Dexters as we are.