Meet P.E.I.’s First Organic Dexter Cattle Producers
As far as Mike LaFortune is concerned, Dexter cattle are the perfect animals to work with.
“They have the nickname ‘beefy little milkers’ and to me that describes them perfectly,” said Mike, who operates the Dexter Cattle Company in North Milton with his wife Evelyn.
Originating in Ireland, the breed has been roaming the hillsides of Ireland for centuries. They are now classified as a heritage dual purpose breed, which means they also produce milk in addition to their prime use as beef cattle. Although they are typically only 92 to 107 centimetres tall, they weigh an average of 70 pounds and the bulls typically weigh in the range of 1,000 pounds. As well, he said they are extremely calm animals to work with and “you can go right up to them in the field and pat them.” While the bull will be protective of the herd, he said they will not attack like bulls of most cattle breeds. Mike just gives one piece of advice to anybody coming to the farm (they have had to restrict visitors due to COVID-19) — don’t pat the bull’s head — apparently that’s the only thing that will make them angry.
Mike had worked with the breed on a ranch in Colorado for over 20 years prior to deciding to make the move to PEI in 2014. Mike explained Dexter cattle have a taste that is hard to beat, noting the small size means fat is absorbed for future energy storage, giving the beef a unique taste. They are 100 per cent grass fed and Mike explained they are not usually ready for market until 24 months, giving them two seasons to feed on grass. He explained the cattle eat only organic grass, organic legumes such as alfalfa or clover, organic hay during the winter and cool clean water at all times. The pastures and fields on the LaFortune farm are located at the headwaters of Crooked Creek, a major tributary to the Wheatley River. They have been involved with the Alternative Land Use Systems program of the provincial government to ensure their operation is environmentally friendly, installing more than 6,000 feet of livestock fencing and alternate watering systems making sure the cattle don’t wander directly into the stream to drink, ensuring cleaner water for everyone downstream. “They are an extremely hardy breed and rarely get sick and if they do they recover quickly,” he said. “The biggest problem we have had is during a bad winter, we have to clear a path for them to go in and out of the barn because they can get stuck in the snow since they are so low to the ground.”
The LaFortunes have a herd of approximately 100 animals on just over 200 acres. Each cow is capable of giving two gallons of milk a day. The pair use the milk for their own consumption and they have a portable milking machine. Evelyn added “We raise our beef organically and avoid the use of antibiotics by minimizing animal stress, providing shelter, proper nutrition, lots of room to roam and graze with access to clean water and fresh air. Our animals are never confined to a barn.”
