Introducing the Dexter - the Smallholder's Cow

Breed History

Although the precise origins of the Dexter remain obscure, it is thought that the breed, in common with the Kerry, was descended from the predominantly black cattle of the early Celts. The Dexter became associated with the South West Region of Ireland in the late 18th Century.  There has always been a close relationship between the Dexter and the Kerry; it is well documented by agricultural writers and historians that the Dexter and the Kerry were reared together in single herds.  They were introduced into England in 1882 when Mr Martin Sutton of Kidmore Grange in Oxfordshire purchased ten animals from Mr James Robertson of La Mancha, near Malahide in County Dublin.  Ten years later, a Breed Society was established in Great Britain following a meeting of breeders in Smithfield.  

Breed Characteristics

Dexters come in three colours – black, red and dun. The Dexter is traditionally a horned breed but it is frequently disbudded for ease of management. This procedure involves burning out the immature horn after the area has been numbed by anaesthetic. The Dexter also comes in a polled variety; they are simply born without horns.

There are two types of Dexter short (photo black cow top right) and non-short (photo red cow bottom right), both types are of equal merit.  Chrondrodystrophy is a genetic fault found in the short-legged variety and although the animal appears fit and healthy on the outside, there is a chance that it will produce a deformed calf when it has been mated to another carrier of this lethal gene. Not every calf she has will be affected, but one in four will.  This problem does not occur when a short type is bred with a non-short type or where a non-short type is bred with another non-short type. Thankfully, the incidences of deformed calves are not very common now, as experienced breeders are  able to determine which animals are affected and choose the correct bull to avoid it. Chrondrodystrophy is not exclusive to the Dexter, it is also found in the Jersey, the Hereford and the Friesian.

With regard to size and weight at maturity which is about 5 years, females should be between 38 to 44 inches at the rump and weigh in between 300 and 400 kgs. Heifers can be 'bulled' at 14 to 18 months of age and can breed until they are fourteen years of age or more; in fact, twenty years of age is not unheard of. The bulls are, as you would expect, are a little larger than the females, the height ranges from 42 inches to 48 inches at the rump, and they weigh approximately 450 to 550 kgs. 

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Disclaimer: No responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage as a result of following advise on this web site.  © Copyright Jacqui Parkes 2009