The Role of Dexters in

Mainstream Agriculture

Dexter cattle are often found on smallholdings marginal to mainstream agriculture, or as part of tourist ventures such as farm parks and rare breed parks. In the past, Dexter dairy herds have existed, though they have become increasingly rare. Nowadays, Dexters play a different role in the mainstream dairy industry. Dexter bulls offer a number of advantages when mated with dairy heifers. The lighter birth weights of the resulting offspring make for much fewer calving problems. A Canadian cattle farmer, visiting a UK Dexter breeder's website, wrote in April 2002, "I have owned Dexters since 1993 and am a great fan of the breed. We have commercial cattle as well and always breed our first-calf heifers to the Dexter bulls and have never had a difficult birthing yet. Thank God for Dexters!!"

And Dexter-cross calves will often prove more hardy and wean at a greater weight. Roger Williams Park Zoo reports: "Dexter males are now being tried as sires for the first calf heifers of other breeds. After a year of trials..., heifers from the cross averaged 411 pounds at weaning and bulls about 432 pounds. Marketability was good."  

Finally, present-day agriculture and the countryside is increasingly characterised by diversification, development of specialist markets, greater demand for natural dairy and beef products, rural tourism, raised cultural and historical awareness, expansion of the range of income streams from a farm, and an ever greater number of rural smallholdings. In the near future, it may be that Dexters, along with other previously rare, unusual and marginal breeds, will become a central part of the mainstream.  

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