finding a dairy cow

This question from folks just starting on their family farm project:

I met you at HOA and I am so excited because we are finally getting our fence up this month. We have been looking for Dexter cows, since we only have about 3 acres where the cows can be. I would love it if you could recommend someone, or if you are selling any cow/calf pairs? We live in WV, so we are about 4 hours away, I think. 

Thank you so much for all your teaching and sharing, hope you are having a blessed winter so far. 

Thanks for reaching out!  Congratulations on your fence -- it can be a milestone.  

The wave of homesteaders with cows that began to rise about three years ago means that in a couple of years it ought to be easier to find a family cow, but right now it can be a longish search.  We won't have cows to sell until August, when our bred three- and four-year olds are ready.  

You can go to the Dexter Breeders Association, but if you're not wed to the idea of a registered animal you could just ask around, too.  Really, we're advocates for the cow that's available, not any special breed of cow.  I've got a half-Hereford in the herd, and she's as good a cow as any of them.  After all, you want a grass-efficient, pasture-wise animal with a decent udder, who will let you milk her.  If that's a Brahma, go for it.  One advantage of those beef crosses is they're more likely to be A2 homozygous, which matters to some folks.

All that said, if you look on Craigslist there are often dairy cows for sale.  Our field guide Family Cow Basics has a list of points we look for in a cow; you can find that field guide at Lulu.com (search for our names, Shawn and Beth Dougherty) or just go to our website -- it's posted there, too.  

Best of luck!