Dexter cattle
polled | |
The Dexter is an Irish
History
The Dexter originated in the eighteenth century in
It was brought to England in 1882. The breed virtually disappeared in Ireland, but was still maintained as a pure breed in a number of small herds in England and the United States.[citation needed]
In 2023 it was reported to DAD-IS by sixteen countries in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Oceania; the largest populations were in Denmark and the United Kingdom.[3] Its conservation status worldwide is listed as 'not at risk',[3] while for Ireland it is listed as 'at risk/critical'.[2]
Characteristics
The cattle are small; heights at the withers for bulls are usually in the range 102–112 cm, for cows about 5 cm less;[5]: 169 the average weight of a cow is approximately 325 kg.[2]. The coat is usually solid black, but may also be red or dun.[5]: 169 [2] The cattle were formerly always horned; in the twenty-first century some polled examples are seen, but the mechanism of introduction of this characteristic has not been identified.[5]: 169
Some Dexter cattle carry a gene for chondrodysplasia (a semilethal gene), which is a form of
The aborted foetus is commonly called a bulldog, a stillborn calf that has a bulging head, compressed nose, protruding lower jaw, and swollen tongue, as well as extremely short limbs.[10] The occurrence of bulldog foetuses is higher in calves born with a black coat than a red coat, because black coat colour is more common.[11] Short-legged Dexter cattle are considered to be heterozygous, while bulldog foetuses are homozygous for chondrodysplasia genes.[12]
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 foetus. Unlike chondrodysplasia, which has many physical signs, PHA shows no outward signs and is only detectable through DNA testing. As with Chondrodysplasia, PHA-affected Dexters should not be bred together.[13]
Dexter cattle have short legs compared to other breeds; increased shortness is displayed from the knee to the fetlock.[10]
Dexter cattle are very hardy, efficient grazers and are able to thrive on poor land.[11]
Use
The Dexter is dual-purpose breed, reared for both milk and beef. Milk yields average about 2250 kg per lactation, although some farms may reach an average of 3000 kg. In flavour and texture the meat is often less good than that of other breeds, especially if it is from a very short-legged animal.[5]: 169
References
- ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Breed data sheet: Dexter / Ireland (Cattle). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2022.
- ^ a b c Transboundary breed: Cattle: Dexter. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2022.
- ^ Watchlist overview: Watchlist 2023–2024. Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Accessed June 2023.
- ^ ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ "American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Priority Watch List". Retrieved 14 September 2008.
- ^ David Low (1842). The Breeds of the Domestic Animals of the British Islands, volume I. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans.
- ISBN 9789054390176.
- ^ Davidson, Carol. "American Dexter Cattle Association". dextercattle.org. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ JSTOR 81039.
- ^ PMID 19983950.
- S2CID 20074662.
- ^ "PHA (Pulmonary Hypoplasia with Anasarca) Fact Sheet". dextercattle.org. American Dexter Cattle Association. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2018.