Originally, Dexters were typically horned, but a naturally polled strain was developed in the 1990s.ĭexter cattle have short legs compared to other breeds increased shortness is displayed from the knee to the fetlock.ĭexter cattle are very hardy, efficient grazers and are able to thrive on poor land. As with Chondrodysplasia, PHA-affected Dexters should not be bred together. Unlike chondrodysplasia, which has many physical signs, PHA shows no outward signs and is only detectable through DNA testing. A DNA test is available to test for the chondrodysplasia gene, using tail hairs from the animal.ĭexters can also be affected with pulmonary hypoplasia with anasarca (PHA), which is an incomplete formation of the lungs with accumulation of a serum fluid in various parts of the tissue of the fetus. Breeding two chondrodysplasia-affected Dexters together results in a 25% chance that the fetus can abort prematurely.
Chondrodysplasia-affected Dexters are typically 6–8 in shorter in height than unaffected ones. Some Dexter cattle carry a gene for chondrodysplasia (a semilethal gene), which is a form of dwarfism that results in shorter legs than unaffected cattle. This trait, along with the smaller size of the calf, has produced a small but growing market in the United States for Dexter bulls to breed to first-calf heifers among the larger beef breeds to eliminate problems at calving. Some produce enough milk to feed two or three calves, and often willingly nurse calves from other cows.
The cows are exceptionally good mothers, hiding their calves almost from birth if they have cover for them to hide. Dexters can reasonably be expected to produce 1.5 to 2.5 gal (7.6 to 9.5 l) per day. The beef produced by Dexters is well marbled and tends to be dark.ĭexters produce a rich milk, relatively high in butterfat (4%) and the quality of the milk overall is similar to that of Jersey cattle. The expected average dress out is 50 to 70%. Their versatility is one of their greatest assets, and probably has something to do with the number of countries where Dexter cattle are found, including North America, South Africa, Australia, and much of Europe.īeef animals in the US are expected to mature in 18–24 months and result in small cuts of high-quality, lean meat, graded US Choice, with little waste. Management practices vary by breeder and country. The breed is suitable for beef or milk production, although individual herd owners often concentrate on growing either one or the other.ĭexters are classified as a small, friendly, dual-purpose breed, used for milk and beef, but they are often listed as a triple-purpose breed, since they are also used as oxen.
While many Dexters are naturally hornless (polled), many have horns that are rather small and thick and grow outward with a forward curve on the male and upward on the female. Dexters should have no white markings except for some minor white markings on the belly/udder behind the navel and some white hairs in the tail switch. Dexters have three coat colors - black, red, and dun (brown).
Considering their small size, their bodies are wide and deep with well-rounded hindquarters. The Dexter is a small breed with mature cows weighing between 600 and 700 lb and mature bulls weighing about 1,000 lb (450 kg). The breed virtually disappeared in Ireland, but was still maintained as a pure breed in a number of small herds in England and the US. The Dexter breed originated in southwestern Ireland, from where it was brought to England in 1882. A rare breed until recently, but are now considered a recovering breed by The Livestock Conservancy. The smallest of the European cattle breeds, they are about half the size of a traditional Hereford and about one third the size of a Friesian milking cow. Dexter cattle are a breed of cattle originating in Ireland.
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