Dexters as the

Ideal House/Nurse Cow

Dexters make great house cows and are often used to raise their own calf and at least one other each year. In most cases, a Dexter cow can produce enough milk for a calf and for a human family. In South Africa, Dexters cows have been used to raise up to eight calves during one lactation! Dexters love being with people, and can easily be trained to the halter and tether from a young age.

Dexters have a long history of being a valuable family cow. Their origins trace back to their role in the peasant households of 18th century South-west Ireland. There, they subsisted on the roughest of grazing in an unkind climate and terrain, but still provided milk (and beef) for the family while raising their own calves.

In contemporary times, in the UK, the average milk yield of a Dexter house cow is estimated to be 8 to 10 litres daily, or 2450 to 3050 litres per 305 day lactation. In the US, 1.5 to 2.5 gallons per day is average, depending on feed, climate and individual characteristics.

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