24 AMERICAN KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE HERD BOOK. 



yield was 8124 pounds during forty-five weeks, testing 3.7 per 

 cent fat. The Castlegould herd of Howard Gould in New York 

 State produced a number of excellent records, one cow — Slane 

 Clara — having a record of 9046 pounds, testing 4.26 per cent fat. 

 Dexter milk averages about 4 per cent fat. 



The prices paid for Dexter cattle are comparatively small. 

 As the breed is quite limited in number the demand is also lim- 

 ited. These cattle may be bought in Ireland for approximately 

 $150 a head, with a fair selection at this price, although show 

 animals naturally command a higher figure. While x\mericans 

 have imported several hundred Dexters, as a rule the prices paid 

 have been modest. In a pamphlet on these cattle published by 

 the Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society of Ireland in 191 8 it is 

 stated that the prices vary from $125 to $350, according to age 

 and quality. 



The distribution of the Dexter extends over Ireland, with 

 a few select herds in England. The 1918 volume of the English 

 Kerry and Dexter herdbook records thirty-one herds in England. 

 Dexter cattle have been exported to South Africa, Australia, 

 and other British colonies. A number of herds are kept in 

 Canada. In 19 19 there were Dexter herds in Vermont. New 

 York, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Min- 

 nesota. 



The official promotion of Dexter cattle is supervised by 

 several associations. Tlic Farmers' Gazette of "Dublin, Ireland, 

 instituted a herdbook, the first volume of which appeared in 

 1887. Later the Royal Dublin Society took over this work and 

 since 1890 has published the records. The English Kerry and 

 Dexter Cattle Society was founded in 1892 and up to 19 19 has 

 issued nineteen herdbooks, which show a total of 639 bulls and 

 2544 cows registered. In 1917 there was organized at Killarney, 

 Ireland, the Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society of Ireland "to 

 maintain the purity and promote the breeding of Kerry and 

 Dexter cattle in Ireland." The xA^merican Kerry and Dexter 

 Cattle Club, organized in July, 191 1, serves the purpose of regis- 

 tration and transfer and aims to promote the welfare of the 

 breed. Up to IQ20 the club has registered fifty-five males and 

 two hundred and forty-six females. 



