How Now House Cow

(Page 3 of 3)

July/August 2007
Patrice Lewis 
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Because the animals are in the barn at night, I have mounds of fresh manure mixed with hay that I can compost. Fresh composted manure is heaped on the garden in the fall and allowed to leach over the winter. Compost is also added in the spring, and we work the entire rich mixture into the soil to produce an excellent garden.

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The Dexters help maintain our 40 acres by keeping the grass cropped down. We rotate them among the pastures to maximize their feed and to minimize our fire danger from tall grasses. They also keep our wooded areas clipped and tidy.

Dexter cattle are ideal for the small landowner whose acreage may not be suited to the higher consumption demands of larger breeds. Gentle and intelligent, our Dexters help us complete our “circle of life.” Not only do they add variety to our diet by supplying meat and dairy products, but, indirectly, they also improve our diet by fertilizing the garden. They add joy to our lives with the sheer fun of watching calves gamboling at their mothers’ sides. They teach the facts of life to our young daughters through breeding and birthing cycles. Dexter cattle add balance, harmony and sustainability to our existence.

If you’re interested in finding Dexter cattle near you, contact the Purebred Dexter Cattle Association of North America (PDCA) by writing them at 25979 Hwy. EE, Prairie Home, MO 65068, calling (660) 841-9502, or visiting the Web site, www.PurebredDexterCattle.org.


Patrice Lewis edits the PDCA newsletter and is co-founder of Don Lewis Designs (www.DonLewisDesigns.com). The Lewises live on 40 acres in northern Idaho with their two home-schooled children, assorted livestock and a shop that overflows into the house with depressing regularity.

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