Dexter

Dexter cattle are a small Irish breed that originated in the southwest of Ireland, closely associated with Kerry cattle and smallholder dairying. They are compact, low-set cattle with black the most common color, although red and dun are also recognized in many registries; animals may be horned or naturally polled. Dexters were developed as dual-purpose cattle, giving a useful amount of rich milk from a small cow and producing beef animals that finish at lighter weights than standard breeds. Their size has made them popular with small farms, homesteads, and conservation-minded breeders.

Management should not treat Dexters as pets simply because they are small. Bulls require secure facilities, cows need calving supervision appropriate to their line, and easy-keeping animals can become overfat on lush pasture. Two inherited conditions are especially important in the breed: chondrodysplasia, linked with some short-legged Dexters and fatal when inherited from both parents, and pulmonary hypoplasia with anasarca. Responsible breeders use DNA testing and clear records to plan matings. For buyers, temperament, structural soundness, milking ability, and whether the herd selects for short or non-short type are more useful questions than height alone.