The History of Dexter Cattle

Dexter cattle originated in the southern part of Ireland during the early 1800’s. They came from another breed known as the Kerry. The Kerry was an Irish dairy breed. Through selective breeding for smaller size and better beef qualities the Dexter breed evolved. Their name is thought to have come from a “Mr. Dexter” who promoted the breed in the middle 1800’s.The Dexter was a popular choice with large and small landowners in Ireland and England. The fact that it was a multi-purpose animal (beef, dairy and draft) made it an ideal choice for especially the “family farm”. The first recorded knowledge of Dexters in this country came sometime after several hundred were imported to the US around 1910. From that time until very recently the breed remained a well kept secret.

The Advantages of Dexter Cattle

Todays landowners, farmers, ranchers and “hobby farmers” have literally dozens of breeds of cattle to choose from but few offers the diversity that the Dexter breed brings to the table. The ideal bull will weigh less than 1000 lbs. and the ideal cow will weigh less than 750 lbs. at 3 years of age. This is half of the size of some of the more well known breeds. This trait makes the breed very appealing to the person with a small farmstead.  With only an acre or two a small herd of Dexters can be enjoyed. The small stature also makes it a good choice when it is to be enjoyed as a pet. Another appealing trait of the Dexter is its color. They can be black, dun or red. Most will be horned although polled animals are available and be short or long legged. With the unique advantages of the Dexter Breed in respect to size, beauty, functionality and friendliness it is an excellent choice for anyone wanting to raise cattle for fun or profit.