22 AMERICAN KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE HERD BOOK. 



The Dexter breed of cattle is an offshoot from the Kerry 

 and, while classed with the Kerry in the first edition of this 

 book, is properly a separate and distinct breed. The offspring 

 from a Kerry and Dexter cross is regarded by each Kerry and 

 Dexter herdbook association as a true crossbred and ineligible 

 for registration. 



THE DEXTER. 



The native home of the Dexter is in the southern part of 

 Ireland and in the same region as that of the Kerry. 



The origini of the Dexter is quite obscure. The common 

 assumption has been that this breed is a cross between the Kerry 

 and some other breed, perhaps the Devon. The opinion ex- 

 pressed by Professor James Wilson is that this is a short-legged 

 ofifshoot from the Kerry, due to crossing with the Devon. It 

 has also been repeatedly claimed that a '*Mr. Dexter.'' who at 

 one time was agent of Lord Hawarden, is responsible for this 

 Irish breed, which for some time was known as the Dexter- 

 Kerry, but which now is classed by organizations promoting 

 these cattle in Great Britain and America as a distinct and 

 separate breed from the Kerry. 



The introduction of the Dexter to America probably oc- 

 curred long ago, when no discrimination was made between 

 Kerry and Dexter in importations. Perhaps two liundred Dex- 

 ters were imported to the United States between 1910 and 191 5, 

 a large percentage of which were brought over by Elmendorf 

 Farm of Kentucky, Howard Gould of New York, and James 

 J, Hill of Minnesota, none of whom are now maintaining herds 

 of these cattle. 



The characteristics of the Dexter. In Great Britain the 

 Dexter is regarded as a diminutive dual-purpose breed, although 

 in the United States the beef side is given scant consideration. 

 The essential characteristics are found in the head, short legs, 

 small size, and color. The head is old-fashioned in a degree, 

 tending towards plainness and crowned with more or less black- 

 tipped, upright horns. The head of the bull is burlv and short 

 and the horns often extend* directly out to each si'ie and then 

 make a wide curve forward and upward, with considerable 

 spare between the tii^s. The neck is moderately short and mus- 

 cular, the zvithcrs show a dual-purpose thickness, the hack is- 

 unusuallv strongly supported, the depth of body and digestive 

 caoacitv is comparativelv great, the /a/7 head is often prominent, 

 the hind quarters suggest the dual-purpose type (more especially 

 with the bull), the legs are very short, and the udder on mature 

 cows frequently indicates great capacity for animals of such 

 small size. 



