Meet the Gentle Dexters: Why Temperament Matters
🎥 Less than 10 minutes after giving birth, one of my cows shows just how wonderful her temperament is as my husband checks out her new calf — calm, trusting, and completely unbothered. This is completely normal in my herd.
🐮 Gentle From the Very Beginning
If you've watched videos online at all, you've seen mama cows fiercely protect their young from people. That does not have to be the norm. This video says more about Dexter temperament than any pedigree ever could. Gentle mothers raise gentle calves, and that’s what makes this breed so special.
🐮 Calm Cattle, Peaceful Mornings
Ask anyone who’s milked a cow before sunrise — temperament matters more than anything. A gentle cow makes every part of farm life smoother, safer, and more joyful.
At Mountain Heritage Farm, I breed and train for calm, human-friendly Dexters that are steady under pressure and eager for attention. It’s not luck — it’s generations of careful selection for trustworthy cattle.
💕 Why Temperament Is a Priority
Dexters are naturally known as one of the gentlest small cattle breeds, but true calmness is something that’s reinforced by experience.
I handle calves from birth — gentle haltering, brushing, and hand-feeding builds trust early. By the time a heifer enters the stanchion, she already knows that calm cooperation earns comfort, praise, and her favorite reward: a little “crushing” at the end of milking.
That foundation makes the difference between a tense milking session and a peaceful one.
🌾 A Dexter You Can Trust
A calm temperament isn’t just about convenience — it’s about safety and relationship.
Families new to cattle often feel uncertain at first, and a steady, affectionate cow makes that learning curve easier. My Dexters are selected to be the kind of animals you can trust your children around — kind eyes, soft hearts, and manners that reflect daily kindness.
🌸 Gentle by Nature, Refined by Care
Tilly, my best milking Dexter, sets the standard: steady, patient, and endlessly gentle. Her daughter, Hazel, carries the same disposition — not by accident, but by intentional pairing and daily connection.
Every heifer that earns a place in our herd has proven she can stand calmly, walk politely, and respond softly to human handling.
🔗 Learn More
If you’re dreaming of a family milk cow that greets you with curiosity instead of fear, start with temperament. Explore my herd and see the calm, affectionate Dexters that make my mornings peaceful.
