IXFURMATION CUXCEKMNc; KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE. 2T, 



The color of the Dexter is very generally a solid black, 

 although pure re<ls are also recognized and are not uncommon. 

 The Irish regard either color as of equal merit. White marks 

 are permissible on the udder and on the belly up to the navel, 

 though not outside of the flanks. The brush of the tail may 

 also contain more or less white. No white markings are favored 

 on the bull, although a slight amount on the scrotum or sheath 

 will not disqualify. The horns are usually white with black 

 tips, while the hoofs and nose may be either white or dark as 

 the animal is red or black. 



The size of the Dexter places it among the smallest of 

 British breeds. In mature form the standard weights are 900 

 pounds as a maximum for the bull and Soo for the cow when 

 in breeding condition. Some very beautiful specimens of cows 

 that scarcely weigh over 500 pounds are seen at British shows. 

 One of the noted bulls of the breed — La Mancha Union Jack — 

 stood only about 38 inches high and probably weighed less than 

 500 pounds. In view of the fact that the Dexter has largely 

 been sought on account of its diminutive size the tendency among 

 breeders has been to emnhasize that feature. Where breeding 

 if conducted under conditions of plenty there is a tendency 

 towards increase in size. 



The hardy character of the Dexter is one of its outstand- 

 ing features. Tn its native home, like the Kerry, it lives largely 

 in the open, under rather rigorous conditions, and tubercular 

 and other diseases due to close housing are quite uncommon. 



The crossbred Dexter, especially with beef stock, meets 

 with much favor in the P)ritish market. The use of Aberdeen- 

 .Angus or Shorthorn bulls on Dexter cows has produced^ some 

 very beautiful small carcasses of beef. The author has seen 

 some of these crosses in Ireland which, although small, rep- 

 resented high-class beef animals, indicating very superior kill- 

 ing quality. So hisfhlv is this kind of cross-breeding regarded 

 in England that special classes for these small carcasses are pro- 

 vided at the Smithfield Club Fat Stock Show. 



The Dexter as a milk producer has considernble merit. 

 There are mnny records for tlir^-e little cows, of .'OOO to 6000 

 pounds of milk produced within a vear ?n'1 thi«: on iust ordinary 

 care In Ireland, however, official testing of Dexte'* cows ha«; 

 only just bee:un. Durine the vear^ 1016 a^d iot7 twentv-four 

 cows were under test as supervised by the Department of Agri- 

 culture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, covering periods 

 of lactation ranging from thirty-three to forty-five weeks. The 

 smallest annual yield was 4555 pounds during a period of thirty- 

 six weeks, testing an average of 4.1 per cent fat, while the largest 



