About Us

The Seven Sparks name describes our seven member family and the English translation of our surname. We purchased our first bred Dexter females in the spring of 2018 and have enjoyed them immensely. We chose this breed for their size and minimal management requirements. They are curious and friendly with the right size and temperament for a young family.

Breeding

We have been selecting cattle from some of the most successful herds from Western Canada that are almost all now retired. These include Shanidar, Black Lake, Lachlan, Hidden Rock, Ritchey Meadows, Tandria, and K-Bar. It has been our goal to preserve the best quality of these bloodlines that have thrived in the Canadian Prairie climate for decades.

After exhausting most of the existing gene pool in Western Canada, we have begun to turn our attention to bloodlines from afar. This begins with the purchase of Lachlan Leopold, who is the offspring of a bull imported from the USA with Glenn Land, Cascade, and Belle Fourche bloodlines in his pedigree. These are exciting times for our herd as we continue to do our part in keeping the overall Canadian Dexter herd both relevant and progressive.

Our genetic program has given us the confidence to experiment with line breeding. In 2026 we are using the final product from our herd matriarch as a herd sire for one year. The risk is stagnated genetics and the re-introduction of horns, but the preservation and propagation of our defining genetic source will be achieved. This is only a temporary preoccupation while we await our next acquisition in 2027 or 2028 that will shake up the Canadian Dexter herd.

AS OF MAY 2026, ALL SEVEN SPARKS OFFSPRING ARE PHA FREE BY OBLIGATE

Animal Health

Dexter cattle are famous for their hardiness and easy calving. Although we keep a close watch, our cows have rarely required assistance. This is a testament to both the breed and our animal health practices.

Some may describe us as a closed herd which would almost be true if not for the single bull we bring in every two years. We do not raise any other animal species, nor do any other cattle come within a half mile of our acreage. Our linebreeding exercise has essentially closed our herd genetically since November 2023.

We would also be considered organic but we would never withhold treatment in the extremely rare event when an animal is ill. We believe in individual health and do not mass treat our herd. This is only possible with the preventative practices described above.

Diet

We subscribe to the Dexter's ability to be raised with marginal resources. We do not feed grain, just native grass pasture in the summer and native grass hay in the winter. Choice minerals and salt are the only additional supplements that we offer. But they do enjoy the leaves of the Manitoba maple right off the trees.

Care

We don't chase, we lead, and they follow. You'll never see a roundup on our property. We don't own a prod nor a whip. With a little patience, Dexters will do what you want them to do. They are both intelligent and compliant.