Many small sodbuster and homesteaders yearn for the pastoral sight of a beloved moo-cow idly grazing through bright - light-green pastures , but because of special nation and small - shell resources , they just ca n’t justify include cattle on the farm . These agrarians usually find themselves searching through itemization of small andminiaturebreeds , savour the uncovering that the creature that inhabit feed gobs and large - scale leaf oxen farms do n’t enjoy fast beachhead in the story of farming . Angus - sized oxen are , in fact , relatively late additions to the landscape , engender to extreme sizes — and carrying a matching appetite for land area — to maximize meat yields . But small farmers and homesteaders do n’t necessitate maximum kernel output ; they need beef for the freezer and a minuscule bit of milk in the morning bowl of cereal .
Maybe a cow — something small , nothing brainsick — actuallycanenjoy a situation on the small farm . And this of path set up the all - important question : Which cow ?
The Small-Scale Dairy Cow
If you ’re a small - ordered series farmer or homesteader enquire yourself this question , you ’ve likely already read extensively aboutDexters , the smallest natural breed of cow and an Irish workhorse that ’s boast as both practiced milcher and supplier of superior - flavored meat . As an owner of a small ruck of Dexters , I ’ll confirm these Emerald Isle beauty do very well in the freezer but must caution against over expectation of their dairy potential .
Both physically and temperamentally , Dexters are not idealistic milch cow — they typically do n’t bask milk , and the ordinary yield reverberate the usual displeasure . If it ’s a pail of creamy , farm - refreshful milk you ’re after , but you only have elbow room for a Dexter - sized cow , you should know about a curious piffling crossbreed , the Belfair .
First bred by Tracy Teed of Washington United States Department of State as the first twofold - purpose mini produce in America , the Belfair , aka Irish Jersey , is a square 50 - per centum crisscross between a pocket-size Irish Dexter and aJersey . A puzzling 2d term — Belmont Park — sometimes gets tossed into the mix ; this name refers to a 75/25 mix , with either breed contributing the genetic bulk .
The twofold idea is straightforward : Increase the Dexter ’s dairy farm ability by breeding with a august milk cow , and add some tone sinew to the Jersey ’s spindly build . ( Dairy calves are typically used to bring about veal , as the breeds do n’t beef up in an economically viable way . ) The Belfair crossbreed is special , because a Dexter , with her small frame , ca n’t deliver calf of large stock without risking ruinous combat injury ; Jersey calves are notably modest than those of an Angus or Hereford , typically weigh somewhere in the 50 - Cypriot pound reach at birth . Further goal , as stated by the developing breeder , include good temperament in both gender ( Jersey bulls tend to be fast-growing ) , small size , desirable bag conformation and a in effect feed transition charge per unit .
And it worked ! The Belfair is a gentle strain , with even bulls demonstrate little to no aggression — in fact , for cash - strapped farms unable to invest in fencing , Belfairs reportedly adapt well to tethering . The Belfair ’s bag conformation is considered the best among small dairy farm cows , and milk production greatly increase from a Dexter ’s daily yield . Where the latter top off out at about 1½ gallons per mean solar day , a Belfair can raise doubly that in gamy - protein , high-pitched - butterfat Milk River .
A Good Meat Producer, Too!
core - wise , a Belfair looks like a respectable Jersey , beefing up apace for cut-rate sale at the four - month fall guy . The cows are small-scale in size , true minis , and this diminutive size translates to a conservative appetence : A mini cow expect only 1/2 Akka per head , and with the efficient Dexter in the mix — the small stock was once known as the “ poor man ’s cow ” for its ability to put on exercising weight even on inferior pastureland — Belfairs do n’t require fields of carefully maintained legumes to thrive .
Belfair Conformation
Belfairs adjust to a Jersey ’s general appearing ( this is straight for Belmonts too , regardless of genetics distribution ) , but maybe not the dairy farm moo-cow you ’ve add up to agnize . other Jerseys came in a mixed bag of colors , with darker chromaticity once enjoying druthers . Belfairs are most commonly black , and Brown University ranging from mahogany to dun are often seen . Occasionally , a sura will be born pinto , and most have some snowy on the shadower or a star os frontale . Both sex activity of Belfair are tusk .
Belfairs are registrable with theAmerican Miniature Jersey Association and Registry , where the Foundation stock is throttle to 42 inches magniloquent or shorter at three old age of years ; cow 42 to 46 inch tall are relegate as mid - sized . Furthermore , the cows may be listed with the Belfair Miniature Cattle Registry and theInternational Miniature Cattle Breeder ’s Society and Registry , where the breed is officially number as Belmont .
