The History of Dexter Cattle

Dexter cattle have a rich history that can be traced back thousands of years. This tough little breed thrived in the harsh conditions of Irish mountaintops, became the prize show cattle of British gentry, and made their way west with American settlers. Their fortunes declined in the latter half of the twentieth century as cattle breeding favored beef and dairy specialization, and they made a spectacular comeback with the resurgence of small farming and modern homesteading.
This video is the product of much research into Dexter history, but my knowledge of this history is still a work in progress. I welcome your comments, feedback, and corrections.
Pete Larson
Just a Few Acres Farm
website: justafewacres.com/
Bibliography of Sources:
American Dexter Cattle Association: dextercattle.org/
Purebred Dexter Cattle Association blog: pdca-one.blogsp...
Legacy Dexter Cattle Registry: www.legacydexte...
The Cattle Site: www.thecattles...
Belle Fourche Farm: www.dexters4u.com/
Mother Earth News: www.mothereart...
The Livestock Conservancy: livestockconse...
Rafter W Ranch: rafterwranch.n...

[@johnmorrissey1675]

To my knowledge the Dexter cattle were bread for the small cottage holder each cottage had about 1 to 2 acres of land and this was sufficient to keep a cow and calf, with milk for the house, . Very interesting point made about Dexter's on ships for fresh milk we forget how hard it must have been to keep milk fresh for sea crossing especially for the first class passengers, 👏👏☘️🇮🇪👋👍😊

[@CoreyJordan-tq1hy]

Nothing could have benefited Dexter cattle more than Pete and his family displaying what beautiful docile cattle they are. He has been a great spokesman and has greatly raised awareness about this breed 👍👍

[@deckyBWFC91]

I live here in Ireland, and just about to start a farm with Dexter cattle. 1845.... That's a tough year in Irish history

[@ronanobrien836]

Fact!

[@Coyoteridgefarm17]

An ox is a steer with an education - love it! Great video!

[@shadowknightgladstay4856]

An ox is also older than a steer

[@brianclark5724]

Grew up on a farm, in FFA, was a livestock judge but never heard of Dexter cattle until I found your channel

[@thomasecosse]

Enlightening and educational, an interesting cattle breed in the UK and possibly beyond is the Belted, which resembles a smaller version of an Angus with a white belt around. Thanks to Pete and all the farmers that feed the world!

[@ronanobrien836]

Amazing video ❤ - Irishman in Spain 🇮🇪🇪🇦

[@FarmerP]

Interesting video. As a British Dexter keeper since 1994 when the cattle were regarded as a rare breed, it’s nice to pick up some points of view from across the pond. 🐂 🙂

[@thisorthat7626]

Farmer P, nice! After decades of raising Dexters, is there anything you would recommend for people just starting out with them? You have tons of knowledge. Thank you!

[@cassienewman9184]

Had a good laugh at "an ox is just a steer with an education." Very cool video. I saw some of these cattle at the state fair a few years ago and thought they must be a modern invention, like a cow chihuahua. Well, I was wrong about both the cattle and the chihuahua, they're both very old landraces! Thanks for the informative and interesting video. I'd love to have some land someday to manage a little herd of Dexters someday.

[@thisorthat7626]

cassie newman, cow chihuahua, I am in fits that is so funny. It is wonderful that heritage breeds are making a comeback. Blessings.

[@skirtedgalleons]

Now I'm in love with Dexter cattle.

[@jimbarta5482]

I love your videos. Watching them brings back my youth of working on farms for others. We lived in a small town, not a farm, but my dad had a lot of good connections into the area farming community. Now in live in a big city but yearn for the country life.

[@JP-bv7bf]

Love the great history lesson, i am sure more people may be looking at this breed for their home farms. 🇨🇦

[@teemayo2010]

Thank you so much for such a informative video of the Dexter breed! I can't wait to get my first beautiful Dexters... ~ The Mayos

[@sweettfarm6875]

Great information. We’re going to look at a cow calf pair on Monday. They will be our first Dexters! Thanks for the video!

[@billrey8221]

Excellent Pete! Really interesting.

[@katwilliams2950]

It's so amazing that now you have 100k+ subscribers. Go Pete!!!!

[@rawa5457]

Very nice pets. Thank you so much for so much information about the Dexter breed. It is a pity that there are hardly any of them in Poland. Great video, Sir!

[@johnlopiccolo8380]

Great “Dexter” history lesson. Thank you.

[@bradleykliber3659]

Just started researching dexter cattle. Great resource.

[@pizzawarlord9232]

Love how you explain things and keep it all interesting be it farming or history

[@MrVailtown]

Wonderful, you invested serious time in this video. Thanks Pete.✨👍😇

[@dustyroads2774]

Love the cows and love the Red Machines you always include in your videos. Thank-you! My old "H" would be happy there!

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Hi Dusty Roads, I love those red machines too! I learned to drive tractor on my grandpa's H.

[@mikeellis8339]

Thanks Pete. If I had a family farm this is the breed that my wife and I want.

[@cindyjohnson5242]

Thank you for your history lesson! I have Dexter/Jersey crosses. They are very hearty and very easy keepers. Have to watch out for them getting too fat! Although they are not quote as docile as Jerseys, they seem to be more stubborn when training.

[@nailbendert4569]

I just bought 2 Dexter steers this weekend. I'll see how it goes. 10 months old and 370 lbs

[@benmatthews3732]

This was very interesting, and very well done. Thank you for spending so much time to produce quality videos! Have you ever used a steer for pulling power?

[@shawnmaginness9872]

What an excellent video! Thank you so much for this fascinating info. I'm watching this again, for sure! 👍👍

[@dmr6640]

Appreciate the run down of the dexter and where they originated.

[@nomadsadventures]

Looking forward to getting started on my small place.

[@FloridaJack]

Very interesting .......

[@tomcurran1538]

Great info. I have to check these out for western NC.

[@paulb.1538]

Best video on the Dexter cattle

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Thanks Paul!

[@sandracastanon3960]

I appreciate you man. Love your channel.

[@mikemattcam]

Educational. GREAT JOB!

[@KeyserTheRedBeard]

extremely good video Just a Few Acres Farm. I smashed the thumbs up on your video. Keep up the superb work.

[@FuerstenbergE]

Thank you for the educational video

[@Drew-gj1es]

Great video, as always. Did you consider other breeds when starting out? Had your family raised Dexters in the past?

[@terencecjsmith6521]

Awesome episode.

[@hattiemercer5764]

Thanks that was a lot of great information

[@briannewberry2999]

Great video. Keep up the good work!

[@CriaAndKiddFW]

Greetings!

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Hi Cria and Kidd, thank you! We don't work with the Livestock Conservancy. I guess I view our role in helping the breed as steering people away from all the tinkering that's happening to dilute the original genetics; white Dexters, polled Dexters, and the like, which aren't really Dexters. And pushing for genetically verified registration.

[@Tinyhomedeals]

Very interesting thanks it makes so much sense now.

[@p0ky]

I know you mentioned the polled variety Pete. I've seen the videos on how to dehorn your calves, but I can't help but think or wonder if it's not easier for both the farmer and the cattle if farmers breed the polled vs. the horned? What are the downsides to taking this route as a small farmer? Would it not make sense to just breed polled Dexters? I'm not being critical, I just don't honestly know. Thanks Pete, love your channel. **Never mind Pete! I read a comment below from you that answered my question. I guess the polled variety are not true Dexter's, which is why a farmer would breed heritage breed to keep the bloodline pure. Cheers!

[@petersapienza697]

Thank you for your channel

[@40intrek]

Interesting stuff so I subscribed. Good luck with your channel

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Thanks much for subscribing!

[@keirokeiro1976]

Interesting

[@thomasreto2997]

Thanks for the videos and great information 😃🌈🤙

[@coyroberts8356]

Thanks 😊

[@larrymoore6640]

Thanks for giving us some of the history of the Dexter breed. How would a person in the central part of our country find a good breeder of Dexters???

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Hi Larry, check out the map on the ADCA website to find breeders in your area: dextercattle.org/adca-membership/ You can also call your ADCA regional director and they can point you to good breeders in your area.

[@colinwilliams6749]

Recommend you use the Legacy Registry (it is not an Association, it's a genetic database). The identification is transparent--letters in the registry numbers indicate HH (horned), MH (modern horned), TH (traditional horned), LH (legacy horned). The breeders who register here (may belong to one or both of the Associations) tend to be the serious, dedicated people you want to get an animal from.

[@ruth9396]

@@mwilliamshs Irish Dexters do not sell well at a livestock sale, so you won't find any there.

[@ruth9396]

@@mwilliamshs Did you get $3000 for a cow/calf pair at the sale?

[@alexinness]

Very Good

[@douglasjewell9324]

I've watched alot of your videos about Dexter cattle, but haven't heard you talk much about the milking side of your Dexter, do you just raise them for the meat or do you use them for dairy also?

[@raymondkay4896]

Pete: 1:12 "Named After County Kerry" Me: u p t h e k i n g d o m

[@johnzink3309]

thx

[@AlgiereRanch]

Hey Pete, what do you know about White Dexters?

[@jeffreydweeks]

You are awesome.

[@jamielawson1534]

Where is the best place to purchase the Dexter in Kentucky?

[@zaneymay]

Very good video! I didn't know about the different groups. The only one I knew about is the purebred. Are you a member of any of the Dexter grouos?

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Thanks ZanyMay! We're a member of the ADCA, and a few of our cattle are also registered with the Legacy Group.

[@NIKITARULE]

Hello, do you know something about Buša cattle? It's a small caw from Balkan similar to the Dexter...

[@joelary3369]

Will they do well in new mexico high desert?

[@brandonszpurko1257]

How many Dexter could you raise on 1 acre of pasture?

[@cliffmines7606]

I’m considering Dexters for our small farm ( 10 acres) this spring. Do you get a better price for Beef at the market if they are registered? Wondering what the benefits are to buying purebred. Around Oklahoma, best I can tell, you’ll pay two to three times more for a registered Dexter.

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Hi Cliff, in my experience taste, not registration, is what consumers care about. Ours are registered with the ADCA because we want to help preserve the breed, and because it increases the cattle's value should we decide to sell live animals in the future. Not sure why registration would increase the cost of the animal that much; it costs around $50 to get each registered.

[@charlesrich2669]

We have been raising Dexter's for about 10 years however I've been around and raising cattle of various breeds all my life. Your best bet with Dexter's is to plan on direct marketing. They are to small for the commercial buyers whom prefer a 1200 lb steer .

[@williamwaits]

How does the Dexter taste compared to a Hereford or Angus

[@raincoast9010]

I liked the white one with the black ears and nose.

[@a737mech]

Horn or dehorn ?

[@ruthmeow4262]

Okay, I have to say while not a traditional color, that white Dexter is cute.

[@russsherwood5978]

GREAT VIDEO,, them are jist what ai,m lookin fer,, how are they in managein? are they cows thet ya haveta babby sit all the tyme?thank ya fer the video

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Just the opposite Russ, they are really easy to take care of. Thanks for watching!

[@felipehernandez6722]

Hi. I am a Holstein breeder in the central part of México. Do you have knowledge of any Dexter breeders down here?

[@jimspohn3888]

Are their Dexter cattle in Minnesota

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Check out the ADCA website for breeders in your area.

[@jamessilba2271]

I have 3 Dexter rescues dad mom and calf now 2 years old / I’d let them go for the right no kill environment / thanx

[@dexterloza773]

I finally got my first Dexter and he is white. He is a cross between a Highland which still kind of makes me wonder how he came out white

[@The_Claw91]

Highlands can be white. They have a variety of colors.

[@juliebalch6454]

Who knew☺

[@javierrangel6869]

Can you tell me if is a company seling dexter semen for a.i. oversea.

[@magicdaveable]

It's "my" breed of cattle.

[@timwhorton7832]

Interesting

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Thanks Tim