Hi! I raise Irish Dexters, which are the smallest "true" breed of cattle in the world. They're naturally small (not bred-down miniatures of a larger breed), hardy, docile, and used for milk, meat, and draught purposes.



Dexter cattle originated in the harsh regions of southern Ireland in the middle 1800's, and were prized by the poor Irish farmer who needed a multi-purpose animal that was hardy enough to thrive on the sparse vegetation of their region. As the result of selective breeding, the Irish Dexter was born.



Able to extract nutrients more efficently from their feed than their larger counterparts, and willing to consume brush and less desireable forage (much like a goat), they became invaluable to their owners.



Dexters are prolific milkers for their size, giving 2 1/2 gallons plus per day (an outstanding feat, considering the Dexter cow stands a mere 36-40 inches at her withers!)of rich milk with a butterfat of 4%...perfect for making butter and cheese. The fat globules are small, and easily digested.



Dexter meat is naturally low in cholesterol, is very flavorful, and the cuts are small enough to fit easily in a home freezer. The average yield of a Dexter is 50-65 percent of it's live weight...so a 1000 pound Dexter steer will give you 500 plus pounds of meat...the same amount as you will get back from a 2000 pound Angus steer!



Dexters have an incredibly docile temperament, and are highly intelligent. This makes them easy to train for oxen, and even today they are often used by hobby farms (especially those interested in organic produce) for plowing their vegetable gardens. The Dexters friendly nature and small size makes them easily handled by even the youngest members of the family, and are great for 4-H!



The traditional color of Dexters is black with white horns tipped in black. Over the years, however, red and also dun colorations have become recognized with the American Dexter Cattle Association, and are all equally registerable. There are now some polled animals and they too are now recognized by the association. I prefer the horns on my Dexters....they're one of the characteristics that makes the Dexter unique!



Feel free to visit our Dexter farm site using the link at the bottom of the page!

God Bless!!









Lazy S Ranch Irish Dexters

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