CATTLE: Dexter

Country of Origin: Ireland. 

Australian status: 

International Status: Safe.

Photo: "Dexter Kerry Cow." A Dexter or Kerry at a show in NSW, no date. State Library NSW.

Note both these miniature Irish breeds were recorded in the same studbook in both Ireland and the UK, until separate studbooks were formed, hence the old term.

Australian population: under 750 cows.

History: Developed in south-west Ireland. Taken to England about 1882.

History in Australia: Brought here in 1892 but by the mid 1900's they'd disappeared. Re-introduced in the 1980's. They were originally brought here as a dairy cow.

David Syme imported the first Dexter-Kerries into Victoria in 1892 - two bulls, seven cows and one calf arriving on the ship Thermopolae. One bull was described as a Kerry, the other as Dexter-Kerry; the cows were Kerry - all were from the Denham Court and Willey Park studs in England.

In 1898 the NSW Dept of Ag. imported some dairy cattle including several Kerry cows and bulls, and one Dexter cow which was sent to Hawkesbury College farm. Some here said a Dexter was a very inbred Kerry as it was smaller, but it was probably just different lines. The Kerry is extinct in Australia now.

In 1905 the state Agriculture Dept. imported some English and Irish Dexter cattle (no Kerries) to Western Australia, ariving on the steamer Aboukir - there were already Dexters in the state brought over from the eastern states in 1901 - but it was judicious to get more bloodlines. Three bulls and three in-calf heifers, all unrelated to each other; they were sent to the Narrogin and Chapmen Experimental Farms.

At Royal Melbourne Show in 1913, twenty seven Dexters-Kerries were showed including an imported bull. In 1921 only five were exhibited.

Breeds Traits: Size: A miniature breed - please note "miniature" is not an insult as some presume but a widely used description for a breed under 120 cm. Some term them "small" cattle but this can be confused for a beast simply small for its breed. Although some cattle breeds now have a miniature version, the Dexter is a breed with no bigger version - a true breed of miniature size, just as the Nadudana is a true miniature Zebu breed without a bigger version.

The size made them easy to keep for small holders or even those with no land. A triple purpose animal, bred for milk, beef and draught; primarily a house cow originally, these days primarily beef.

Height: cows 91cm - 112 cm., bulls between 97 -117cm.

Colours are black, red and dun. Little to no white. 

Some are naturally polled, some have small curved horns.

Give a large amount of milk for their size. Good cream percentage. Well shaped udders.

Hardy breed able to forage well.

Some lines carry dwarfism (chondrodyspasia), an undesirable gene resulting in stunted cattle and at times abortion. The cattle can be tested for this simply using some tail hairs. Not known (page under construction) if Australian Dexter cattle are all tested for this as routine practice.




Oganisation: Dexter Cattle Australia Inc. An excellent and comprehensive wesbite with Australian history of the breed and much more.

Additional notes: page being developed by Janet Lane... Dexter breeder input promised including latest census, will update when sent.