286 A .STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



The Dexter is another Irish breed, of uncertain ancestry 

 but- closelj' related to the Kerry. These cattle may be black 

 or red in color, and are the smallest breed found in America. 

 Many of the mature bulls and cows stand only 36 to 40 

 inches high. The cows often produce excellent yields of 

 milk, testing above 4 per cent fat. Cases are on record 

 where cows of this breed weighed around 500 pounds and 

 produced in a year over 8,000 pounds of milk. These dimin- 

 utive cattle may never be popular for general dairying in- 

 America, but they will grow in favor for family use. 



The Devon is red in color, and originated in Devon, 

 southwest England. It is a breed that is found to be either 

 beefy or dual-purpose in form. It is a very old breed, and 

 was brought to America by the early settlers of this country. 

 Devons are not popular, and but few herds exist. It has 

 lost ground in this country while other breeds have gained. 



Recently, however, the few members of the American 

 Devon Cattle Club have attempted to establish official test- 

 ing of Devons, and to demonstrate that they have cows of 

 real merit in milk and butter-fat production in this dual- 

 purpose breed. This awakening interest is largely among 

 eastern breeders, in a section where dairy production is of much 

 greater interest to cattlemen than is the growing of beef. 



The Red Polled, as its name shows, is red, and without 

 horns. The breed originated in Suffolk and Norfolk coun- 

 ties in eastern England. Red mulley cattle have been known 

 in America since the ea.rly settlement of the country, but the 

 first importation of the breed recorded was in 1873. These 

 cattle are regarded good for both beef and milk production. 

 The cows make a veiy good grade of milk, but, as a rule, are 

 not heavy producers, although some excellent milk records 

 have been made. The cow Jean DuLuth Beauty produced 

 20,280 pounds of milk in a year, containing 891 J^ pounds of 

 fat. Red Polled cattle are most common in the Middle 

 Western states, especially Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. 



