BIG Bull Breeding a little Heifer!

In this video we put our Dexter bull (Mr. President) in with our “mini” dexter heifer (Ladybug). Ladybug is an 18 month old chondro carrier dexter heifer. She is approximately 30 inches at the hip and would be classified as a mini cow when compared to other cattle breeds. We talk about chondrodysplasia, why we are breeding her to Mr. President who is a non chondro carrier, the importance of conformation, and breeding qualities to look for in your breeding stock.

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About Sweet Briar Farm
We are a small farm located in Central/Northern Michigan. We farm every inch of our 6 acres. We breed Registered Dairy Goats, Dexter Cattle, and Heritage Hogs. Clean healthy food is important to us and we like to produce the majority of our food on the farm and we grow and raise enough to sell to local customers. Producing our own food also means we forage for wild edibles such as mushrooms and tap our maple trees in the spring to make maple syrup. In 2019 we added honeybees to the farm and have had as many as 30 active hives producing honey for us.

Our goats include Nubian goats, Mini Nubians, Fainting Goats, and Nigerian Dwarf goats.

Our Heritage Hogs include: registered Berkshires, Tamworth, Kune Kune, and Hereford.

Check out more of our farm life and farm animal videos on our YouTube Channel! Hopefully you enjoy and Subscribe to our channel. Thanks for Watching!

SweetbriarfarmMI.com
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[wendymorrison]

Only breed a heifer to a bull proven to throw small calves. To lower calving problems and injuries. I learnt this as a kid working a breeding herd with my Dad.

[johnford]

They can handle the cold but need a break from the wind. Nice rampart to suppliment the shed. I saw a dakota ranch with large herd, no sheds, move the herd to a pasture that had a strategically placed row of trees, and that's all they needed to get through the bad weather.

[crystalshell]

Very informative video! Thanks for taking the time to explain about the Dexter's and the comparison of them versus larger livestock, for us non farmers unfortunately. Love watching yalls channel and learning something each time! Watching from Kentucky.

[bigronnie]

Using a large bull with such a small heifer will usually cause birthing delivery problems some times the heifer can even die because the calfs head is to large, I would like to know how this turns out, best of luck.

[ExploreAmerica]

I always play a little Dean Martin or Tony Bennett in the background in my breeding pen. Not sure it helps the cows but it puts me in the mood.

[MyqOMatic]

I love all of the information you guys put out there. It educational and entertaining. You both do an awesome job. Sounds like Kelsey caught that cold that’s going around.

[bg]

It’s very important to use a bull with a narrow head. Doesn’t look as good but avoids a lot of calving problems.

[ruthanderson]

Personally I don't think it's right to breed a large bull with a small female as the resulting calf could be too large for the momma to give birth to.

[morningglory]

Great video guys. Dexter cattle have been on my bucket list for the past couple years. Praying this is the year. Many Blesssings to you and your family. Found you guys when Todd & Rachel came for Tamworth piglets.

[Kshadowfax]

Very interesting and informative re the science behind your thinking, and the many little nuggets of farming wisdom included. She seems a feisty little creature...good luck with the breeding program. Enjoy a sub!

[simeon]

Today i learnt something new: that achondroplasia occurs in cattle too. 😊

[TreasureFiend]

WOW Another great video with lots of valuable information, thanks for sharing. And... I can't wait to see what the calf will be. I stumbled over here after clicking on a random video suggestion a few weeks ago, now im hooked for at least 9 months. lol

[shawnwhalen]

Really appreciate all the thought and effort that you two put into genetics and breeding

[Louvenoire]

This may be an unpopular comment, but I’ve seen wild elephants, bulls, etc who are MASSIVE way more bigger than this Bull, mating with more than half their size females. They look micro. They look even so small you’d think: “ is she even old enough to do this?” And that’s in nature. I’m sure she will be fine.

[leelaural]

such a size this painful for the little Ladybug, or don't you care about that....

[ruth]

With moving and changing homes, it's possible for her to skip a heat cycle. We have found the "witchier" or sassier the heifers are, they are coming into heat.. and watching them, she should be coming into heat soon. If my memory serves me, she actually should be coming into heat within the next few days. I believe she was about the 10th of the month. You may not see him breed her. Bulls are amazingly fast and efficient with breeding. Maverick usually bred them during the night. In all the years of breeding, I have only witnessed 1 breeding. We hear him "singing" and putting his head on their backs to test for "standing" one day and then the next day he isn't interested in them anymore.

[nolliesteers]

Good morning. Thanks for the info. Can't wait for her to get pregnant.

[JuliaBennett-cd]

I don't know much about cattle but wouldn't it be hard for a small heifer to give birth to a calf that from a much bigger bull?

[TimBinns]

I'm curious how the opposite would work. Could a mini bull reach a normal size heifer? hmmmm.

[joannemcniff]

You risk the heifer "passing her withers".