Although the origin of Dexter
cattle is somewhat obscure, it is
agreed that the original home of
this breed was in the southern part
of Ireland. There they were bred by
small stockholders and were kept on
the rugged mountainous regions of
that country.
One common thought is that the
breed was derived from the Kerry
breed with additions of genetics
from some other breed(s). Some say
that a "Mr. Dexter" is responsible
for the development of the breed.
This theory of the origin holds
merit in that, even today, some of
the cattle tend to resemble the long
legged Kerry type, while others take
on the appearance of the shorter,
thicker, Dexter. For more ideas
about the origin of the breed and
historical information, the reader
should consult one of the books
available from the ADCA on the
subject. Some books of interest
include: The Life and Times of
Dexters by Ted Neal, The
Dexter Cow and Cattle Keeping on a
Small Scale by Dr. William
Thrower.
Dexters Have Wide Appeal
In recent years there has
been a worldwide surge of interest in Dexter cattle. Dexters meet many
requirements.
Because of
their size and number, they appeal to the miniature/novelty and rare gene
protection enthusiasts. Dexter are also the perfect old-fashioned family
cow. Pound for pound, Dexters cost less to get to the table, economically
turning forage into rich milk and quality, lean meat.
No other bovine can
satisfy such a diverse market.
Dexters Do Well In All Climates
Dexters are a hardy
breed. They perform well in a variety of climates. You will find these
easy-care little cows being raised successfully from Alaska to Florida, and
all the States and (Canadian) Provinces in between. They are used
commercially in England and South Africa, and are also popular in Europe,
Australia, and New Zealand.
In general, these small
cattle have a friendly character and low maintenance costs, as well as
cost-effective, high-quality production of both meat and milk in manageable
quantities. These qualities have caught the attention of many part-time and
serious farmers.
Easy
Care Dexters Make Farming Fun
Dexters make wonderful
farm companions. Not only is the breed efficient, but size and temperament
make Dexters nice to have around. The whole family will have lots of fun
with these little cattle.
Dexters are listed with
the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, which classifies them as a minor
breed. Because only purebreds are accepted for registration in the American
Dexter Cattle Association, the purity of the breed is maintained and the
gene pool is kept intact. Owning a Dexter is like owning a little piece of
history.
Dexters can be trained as
oxen. This is a popular hobby along the eastern seaboard in both the United
States and Canada, and Dexter oxen are proven crowd-pleasers everywhere.
Dexters are a small and
safe animal for younger members in 4-H. They are smaller and less
intimidating for children, so looking after a Dexter can be fun for them,
and also give them the pride that comes with accomplishment.
Dexters still perform
well in their original role: the family cow. Once the Dexter cow has been
trained to milk, she can be easily handled by even the most timid.
Dexters Cost Half as Much to Keep
You can expect a Dexter
to consume about half of what you would feed an Angus or Hereford under the
same conditions. This equates to roughly half an acre of good green grass
per animal, or 12 to 15 pounds of hay and a little grain per day, in
temperate climates.
The temperament of Dexter
bulls is generally very good. However, for those who prefer to use
artificial insemination, there is a large selection of readily-available
imported and domestic semen. Dexter bulls are excellent for crossing with
first-calf heifers of the larger, big-boned breeds. You will lower calving
weights, reduce calving problems, yet still have good-size carcasses.
Dexters Are Easy Calvers
Dexters are known for
their ease of calving. The use of calf pullers is virtually unknown.
Calves weigh about 45 pounds at birth, and by seven months when they are
weaned, weigh between 350 and 500 pounds. Both sexes will continue to grow
until five or six years of age.
The “long-leg” type live
to over 20 years and continue to calve up to 16 to 18 years, on average.
The
Ideal Dexter
Dexters come in two
body types, defined as long- and short-legged, because the cannon bones
differ in length by about 1 ˝
Dexter Cattle in America
The importation of Dexter cattle
to America is thought to have
occurred long ago, but the first
recorded importations arrived
between 1905 and 1915 and numbered
over two hundred head. A complete
history of early herds, their owners
and the transfer of cattle between
owners is well documented in the
ADCA Herd Book. Although the Dexter
was an ideal homestead cow,
providing meat, milk and power and
found a good deal of popularity in
that arena, as milk and meat
production became specialized, the
Dexter numbers decreased. At one
time there were thought to be less
than 5,000 in the world, but today,
with renewed interest in small
holdings, the numbers have risen to
approximately 15,000 head worldwide.
There are some 6,000 in North
America at this time. The ADCA has
nearly 1000 members and 19000 registered cattle.
inches. The “long-leg”
is a small regular-cow proportional animal; the “short-leg” is a slightly
smaller, heavier-set version. There is a minor breeding restriction with
the “short-leg” type. Both types produce similar amounts of meat and milk.
The
guidelines adopted by the American Dexter Cattle Association show the
suggested ideal animal of either type at three years old.
Bulls: Between 38 and 44
inches at the shoulder, and not more than 1,000 pounds.
Cows: Between 36 and 42
inches at the shoulder, and not more than 750 pounds.
Dexters come in three
solid colors: black (predominant), dun, and red. Any white should be
limited to behind the navel an on the udder or scrotum.
Most Dexters are horned,
although many owners dehorn without show penalty. Recently, polled animals
have become available.
The ADCA does not have an
upgrading (cross-bred) program.
Rib
Eye Exceeds Standard USDA Correlation
Research done at
California State University, Chico, showed that the Dexter rib eye was 15%
larger than the standard USDA rib eye vs. carcass weight correlation would
expect it to be.
Dexters are a small-boned
breed which marble well without excess cover fat. They produce tender meat
with excellent flavor.
Grain-fed Dexters will
yield carcasses of 250 pounds at 12 months, and 475 to 500 pounds at 24
months, or at least 60% of live weight. These results can be obtained by
supplemental feeding of only five to seven pounds of grain per day for two
to three months. Grass-fed animals yield a carcass of about 55% of live
weight.
Dexters Yield Easily-Digested Milk
Dexter cows produce
about 1 ˝ to 2 gallons of 4% butterfat milk per day, over a full 305 days
lactation, when fed for production. Some exceptional cows will put out up
to five
gallons per day at the
height of lactation. When producing just for the calf, the cow’s milk
production will adjust down to the calf’s needs.The fat globules in Dexter
milk are very small, which makes the milk more easily digested.
TRIPLE-PURPOSE CATTLE for Milk,
Draft & Beef
Dexter cattle for Milk
There are many accounts of Dexter
milk production reported over the
years and those can be found in the
books available from the ADCA. It is
evident from the literature that
Dexter cattle produce plenty of milk
for most families. In herds which
have been selected for milk
production, yields of 3,600 liters
per lactation have been reported. To
convert that to gallons, divide by
3.79 which results in 950 gallons.
If the lactation lasted for 305 days
as it does on most dairies in the
U.S., the cows would be producing
about 3 gallons per day. The milk in
that report had 4.1% butterfat
content.
Reports from individuals who milk
a cow for family use suggest that
the production level varies with
breeding and feed, but is 1.5 to 2.5
gallons per day. In a survey done by
the ADCA Science Committee, some
owners shared milk with a calf,
while others took all of the milk
for family use, so it was difficult
to get an exact amount of milk
produced. However, in each case the
owners were pleased with the
quantity and quality of the milk
from Dexters.
Dexter cattle for Draft
An ox is merely a steer with a
good education, and Dexters do
educate well. They are smart, which
means that they can pick up a bad
habit as quickly as a good one, but
this is not generally a problem as
long as the ox teamster is always
smarter than the oxen. Consistency,
fairness, and patience are important
with training cattle. It is
advisable to begin handling and
training the calves within days of
their birth. Halter breaking, voice
commands, and learning to wear a
yoke usually begin early. Then it's
time and practice, and there is no
substitute for spending hours with
your cattle, and no greater pleasure
than spending time with your
Dexters.
Dexters are agile, trainable,
sturdy, little oxen. The larger ones
are able to pull a walking plow,
logs, and wagons. For the smaller
steers, loads certainly have to
scaled down. Dexters are intelligent
and willing to learn. Their spunk
makes them want to pull and do the
work asked of them. Putting lots of
time into training a yoke of oxen
makes any teamster want the pair to
last for years. Dexters do generally
tend to be blessed with longevity,
so this is another plus for them as
oxen.
For the serious ox puller,
Dexters can stay competitive in the
lower weight classes for their
entire lives and thus have an
advantage over younger, less
experienced yokes of cattle.
Breed Guidelines
The following guidelines for the
Dexter bull and cow are meant as a
guide to Dexter enthusiasts and
breeders and represent ADCA
consensus as to desired
characteristics. These guidelines
are not to be used to determine the
registration of animals which is
solely a matter of pedigree.The Dexter is both a
milk-producing and a beef-making
breed.
Description of the Dexter Bull
Color
Whole black, red or dun, the three colors being of equal merit. A little
white on the organs of generation is permissible.
Head
Broad forehead, tapering
gracefully toward the muzzle which
should be broad with wide, distended
nostrils. Strong lower jaw with the
jaws meeting properly. Eyes should
be bright and prominent.
Neck
Well set into the shoulders
which, when viewed in front, should
be wide.
Horns
These should be moderately thick,
springing well from the head, with
an inward and slightly upward curve.
Removal of horns is allowed without
penalization.
Body
Well-proportioned regarding
height to length. Shoulders of
medium thickness, full and well
filled in behind which, when viewed
from the front, show thickness
through the heart, the breast coming
well forward, the chest with a wide
floor resulting in ample width
between the legs. Hips wide;
quarters thick and deep and well
sprung, wide across the loins. Legs
short to moderate but not
excessively long, and well placed
under the body; forelegs straight,
wide apart and squarely placed; hind
legs nearly perpendicular from hock
to pastern when viewed from the
side, and straight and wide apart
when viewed from the rear. Feet
short, well rounded with deep heel,
level sole and toes properly spaced.
Tail well set and level with the
back.
Skin
Skin should be soft and mellow,
and handle well; hair fine,
plentiful and silky.
Weight
Bulls at three years old and over
should not exceed 1,000 lbs. live
weight.
Height
Bulls should not exceed more than
44 inches in height nor stand less
than 38 inches at the shoulder at
three years of age.
Description for the Dexter Cow
Color
Whole black, red or dun, the
three colors being of equal merit. A
small amount of white on the udder
and underline is permissible but not
forward of the umbilicus. A few
white hairs in the tassel of the
tail is permissible.
Head
Broad forehead, tapering
gracefully toward the muzzle which
should be broad with wide, distended
nostrils. Strong lower jaw with the
jaws meeting properly. Eyes should
be bright and prominent.
Neck
Well set into the shoulders, not
too thick or too short.
Horns
These should be moderately thick,
springing well from the head, with
an inward and slightly upward curve.
Removal of horns is allowed without
penalization.
Body
Well-proportioned regarding
height to length. Shoulders of
medium thickness, full and well
filled in behind which, when viewed
from the front, show thickness
through the heart, the breast coming
well forward, the chest with a wide
floor resulting in ample width
between the legs. Hips wide;
quarters thick and deep and well
sprung, wide across the loins. A
straight underline with udder firmly
attached front and rear with strong
center support. Udder and teats
should be of moderate size with the
teats of equal size squarely placed
on an udder with clearly defined
halving. Legs short to moderate but
not excessively long, and well
placed under the body; forelegs
straight, wide apart and squarely
placed; hind legs nearly
perpendicular from hocks to pastern
when viewed from the side, and
straight and wide apart when viewed
from the rear. Feet short, well
rounded with deep heel, level sole
and toes properly spaced. Tail well
set and level with the back.
Skin
Skin should be soft and mellow,
and handle well; hair fine,
plentiful and silky.
Weight
Cows at three years old and over
should not exceed 750 lbs. live
weight.
Height
Mature cows should not exceed 42
inches in height nor stand less than
36 inches in height at the shoulder.
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