Registered Dexter
Registered Dexter
Belle Fourche Miss Carly is a larger-framed red Dexter cow, gentle and cooperative in the stanchion. A steady producer, she peaked at 34 pounds in her second lactation. While her extremely short teats make her a machine-milking-only cow, she consistently raises healthy calves and passes on production strength to her daughters. Carly’s combination of yield, durability, and calm temperament make her an important brood cow in our program.
MHF Verified Dual-Purpose
“Dual-purpose” should be more than vague claim. At Mountain Heritage Farm, this designation is reserved for Dexter cattle that demonstrate both practical milk value and useful beef-type structure.
Verified by Mountain Heritage Farm records: lactation performance, udder function, temperament, body condition, structure, and calf quality.
Carly – Dexter Milker
📏 Size & Measurements
- Withers height: ~43–44″
- Hip height: 44.75″
- Estimated weight: ~900 lb (large for a Dexter)
- Frame type: Tall, substantial, dairy-influenced Dexter cow
🐂 Conformation
- Frame: Large, roomy, balanced cow with strong bone
- Topline: Level from shoulder to hip
- Rear: Wide through the pins, good calving ease
- Feet & legs: Sound and correct
🥛 Production
- Peak daily yield: ~34 lb (second lactation)
- Stage at evaluation: ~6 months in milk
- Milk quality: A1/A1 genetics, suitable for diverse dairy uses
🫕 Udder & Milking Qualities
- Depth: Secure, carried well above the hocks
- Attachments: Functional, adequate for commercial use
- Teats: Extremely short — machine milking only, very difficult to hand milk
- Texture: Pliable udder with steady letdown once started
🌿 Overall Impression
Carly is a strong-bodied, larger-framed Dexter cow with excellent production capacity, peaking at 34 pounds on her second lactation. While she stands calmly and is cooperative in the stanchion, her extremely short teats make hand milking impractical — she is strictly a machine cow. Her daughters are expected to inherit her production strength while refining udder and teat qualities for easier milking. Carly is a cornerstone milker in our program, valued for her yield and durability.
A Note About the 2026 Lactations
These graphs reflect actual milk weights — the good, the bad, and the downright disappointing.
Beginning in late August 2026, our area entered an extended period of extreme heat and drought. We received no measurable rainfall from August 26 through September 27, with temperatures frequently reaching 95°F or higher. Pasture growth essentially stopped, and forage quality and intake declined despite supplemental hay and our normal milking ration.
The effect on milk production was dramatic. Several cows experienced much steeper declines than we would normally expect at their stage of lactation, even while maintaining good body condition.
Rather than remove or smooth those numbers, we have left them exactly as recorded. Milk production is influenced by far more than genetics alone — weather, forage quality, heat stress, stage of lactation, management, and environment all matter. These graphs are intended to show what our cows actually produced under real farm conditions.
When production drops below a practical level, individual cows may also be transitioned to once-daily milking. From that point forward, their graph reflects that management change as well.
Good years tell us something about a cow.
Hard years do, too.
Historical Lactation Data
Carly's Second Lactation
Dexter calves of Belle Fourche Miss Carly
Carly's Parentage Gallery
Photos of this animal’s sire and dam, provided by their breeder.
Miss Carly Through the Years
