Our Dexter Herd!

These girls are not for sale.

​

The Dexter is one of the smallest breed of cattle. Mature cows weigh between 600 and 700 lb and mature bulls weigh about 1,000 lb. Considering their small size, their bodies are broad and deep with well-rounded hindquarters. Dexters come in three coat colors - black, red, and dun and White Dexters are white with black, red or dun points (ears, nose, fetlocks). Dexters are classified as a small dual-purpose breed, used for milk and beef. Their versatility is one of their greatest assets.The cows are exceptionally good mothers. Some produce enough milk to feed two or three calves, and often willingly nurse calves from other cows. They are known for easy calving. Dexter cattle are very hardy, efficient grazers and are able to thrive on poor land. They are very even-tempered and are very friendly. 

​

Some Dexter cattle carry a gene for chondrodysplasia (a semi-lethal gene), which is a form of dwarfism that results in shorter legs than unaffected cattle. Chondrodysplasia-affected Dexters are typically 6–8 in shorter in height than unaffected ones. Breeding two chondrodysplasia-affected Dexters together results in a 25% chance that the fetus can abort prematurely. A DNA test is available to test for the chondrodysplasia gene, using tail hairs from the animal.

​

Dexters can also be affected with pulmonary hypoplasia with anasarca (PHA), which is an incomplete formation of the lungs with accumulation of a serum fluid in various parts of the tissue of the fetus. Unlike chondrodysplasia, which has many physical signs, PHA shows no outward signs and is only detectable through DNA testing.