|
|
|
Original
Article About Dexters
"What
is the Difference Between a Kerry and a Dexter Kerry?"
an article from the Live Stock Journal, 14
October 1892
The text below is taken from Ted Neal's book,
The Life and Times of Dexters, published
by Carlton Barclay Group, Southend-on-Sea, 1992, pages 21-23. An author is
not indicated. Thanks to Ted Neal for permission to include material from
his book.
"What is the Difference Between a Kerry and a Dexter Kerry?" This is a
question I have often heard asked by Englishmen, but I was rather surprised
at its being put to me by an exhibitor at the Warwick Show of the R.A.S.E. [Royal
Agricultural Society of England]. Being a subject of general interest
now that our little Irish black diamonds are becoming so widely patronised,
I promised to answer it more fully when allowed an opportunity.
To be successful in breeding it is necessary to be fully conversant with the
points to be bred up to, in order to make judicious selections for crossing.
The Dexter is an improved breed, still open to further development, and as
some breeders seem to have a different idea as to what a Dexter should be,
it is not surprising that the exhibits in this class, even at our leading
English shows, present such a different appearance, varying in type. We
sometimes see Dexters entered in a class for Kerries and Kerries amongst the
Dexters; in short I fear the Kerries and Dexters have got rather mixed since
their expatriation.
Some of the English-bred Kerries, which appeared for the first time at the
Royal, showed a distinct, original character, perhaps to some extent due to
their improved condition of life, and the tastes of their breeders, which
suggested the idea of a third class, to be called English-Irish Kerries.
They were very beautiful, no doubt, but not typical Kerries. This arises
from the want of a fixed standard for the Dexter, and a more careful study
of the normal Kerry, a breed so well established from time immemorial.
With a view to spreading the knowledge of the true types, and uniting the
efforts of the breeders in the one approved direction when they would aid
each other, I submitted a standard for approval some two years ago, which
met the views of several of our leading authorities. I am still confident
that if a standard were agreed upon, generally adopted, and well published,
thus placing the points of both our Kerry breeds beyond further question or
dispute, it would prove a valuable guide to breeders, exhibitors, and judges
alike.
The gentleman I alluded to declared that "he had never met anyone who could
satisfactorily describe what a Dexter should be" and that "those who
professed to know something about them had very different opinions as to
their points and qualifications."
From this statement and a view of the English-bred Dexters, it would appear
as if in the breeding of Kerries, when they proved wanting in the well-known
characteristics - in short, a little black, non-descript animal is produced
- it is at once christened a Dexter, and entered for exhibition accordingly.
Though Kerries have made a great way in England since their introduction,
growing daily more popular as their merits become known, much has still to
be learned regarding their type, even by their patrons. The difference
between the Kerry and the Dexter cannot be so briefly explained,
necessitating a detailed description of both. It may be well in the first
place to consider their distinctive characters, gifts, habits,
peculiarities, and relative merits. There can be no question as to the
points of the former.
THE KERRY
A time-honoured race of mountain milkers, the last now left of those old
Irish breeds so celebrated for their milking powers. They are indigenous to
the Kerry mountains, where they can be referred to at any time, and are seen
to the most advantage in their normal condition midst the beautiful wild
scenery of their picturesque home. The Kerry is the work of ages in
producing a little cow capable of supplying the richest milk from the barren
pastures of the mountain side; and, though naturally wild and nervous,
easily tamed and domesticated. Active as the deer she so much resembles in
movements, head and expression, she can climb the craggy cliffs and travel
for miles in her daily
 search
for subsistence. The Kerry, though aptly termed the poor man's cow, from her
production of milk, butter and even beef under the most adverse
circumstances, gives a grateful return for high feeding, when she will "hold
her own" with any breed as to quantity, excelling almost all others in the
quality of her milk. [Photo of Kerry cow to left.]
As beef producers, though Kerries will not feed to a very high weight, still
they are so easily fed and even fattened on comparatively "light land" and
"finish" so early in the season when beef is scarce and dear, they are
always in demand for grazing purposes. Kerry beef being of such superior
flavour, fetches the top price of the market. Amongst the Kerries I annually
selected for fattening some twenty years ago, a great number had a white
stripe along their back, but this has been bred out under the influence of
fashion, the pure black being more favoured.
They are peculiarly suited to demesnes and parks, being so picturesque in
appearance, harmless, and profitable. They prefer a wide range, so that for
small, close fields or in confinement it is wiser perhaps to select them in
their improved form, namely
THE DEXTER [Photo of Dexter cow - Irisene - to right, below.]
The origin of this breed is unknown, but there are
many feasible conjectures accounting for their change of form, character,
and proportions. There can be no doubt that the Dexter is an "improved"
strain of Kerry, the result of many years of selection and crossing to suit
the circumstances of small holdings and better land in low-lying and
sheltered districts. For town parks and stables, where the larger breeds
cannot be kept in health or milk, they are invaluable,
 being
so contented and easily fed, giving little trouble. They soon fall into
flesh if fairly treated, and are certain rentpayers for grazing or stall
feeding. The Dexter, then, may be accepted as simply an "improved" strain of
Kerry, remodelled and moulded to circumstances. I cannot better describe her
than I once did, as the Kerry pressed down, flattened, smoothed, and widened
into a plump, dumpy little beast, with a softer and somewhat larger head,
and short straight posts of legs, which gave her a dwarf-like appearance.
With the exception of one or two points, the transformation is complete; in
fact there is nothing now left but the horns to identify her with her
original family, and there are English breeders who would even deprive her
of those. Will she be a Kerry then? Activity and hardiness of constitution
have been exchanged for symmetry and tendency to flesh, so that she is
inclined to put some of the fat of her food on her back at the expense of
the milk-can. As a guarantee, therefore of retaining those valuable milking
gifts of the Kerry, I would hold on to that horn, that most prominent
hereditary feature in the distinction of all breeds, the index of race, and
in the cocked shape so suggestive of butter. The cocked horns are the last
claim of the Dexter to the title of Kerry.
There are those who seem to think that the best idea of what a Dexter should
be is obtained by reversing a field-glass when looking at a shorthorn. No,
the Dexter should retain much more of the characteristics of the Kerry, from
her cocked, horned head to her long, thin, flag tail.
The Kerry's horns are unique, peculiar to this race, and remarkable in
colour, shape and pose on the head. They are thin from the base, tapering to
a fine point at the top, turning right upwards in a line with the face,
curving inwards, and being gracefully turned back to the point. They should
be of an ivory white, tipped with jet black, smooth, and hard. The "cocked
horns" being common to both breeds, let us proceed to examine the difference
in the other points of the Kerry and Dexter Kerry, viewing in the first
place their comparative character.
When you look at a Kerry she looks at you with an inquiring gaze, assuming a
defiant attitude, so full of character and artistic beauty, that she is
quite a picture. If you approach her too suddenly she presents her horns,
switches her tail, blows, resenting with her flexible hocks any undue
familiarity. This is nervousness, not viciousness. The form and
position of her hind-legs, and quick movements, betray at once her activity
and calling.
On the other hand the Dexter cow is quite a settled-down, serious-looking
little dairymaid, not easily disturbed or frightened. She is gentle to
handle, moves slowly with a waddling gait, and has a soft, passive
expression of countenance.
If the Dexter appears more domestic, it may also be taken that she requires
better treatment, land and shelter, and will not produce the same quantity
and quality of milk as the Kerry in exposed positions, or under the adverse
conditions of poor pasture or neglect. The Kerry is hardy and active, and
loves to roam and cater for herself, while the Dexter prefers being
"spoon-fed" and living "a life of clover". In fine, the former is a gipsy
mountaineer, the latter a lazy little lowlander.
So much for character. In appearance the Kerry is taller, longer, lighter
boned, and more graceful-looking than the Dexter. The one stands with her
fine, clean-cut hind-legs and hooked hocks well under her, and the fore
rather close together, in a pose suggestive of springing forward and showing
her capacity for climbing. The other is not so leggy, but, on the contrary,
deep-bodied and wide-chested, with a round barrel just off the ground by a
short, straight post leg at each comer.
The Kerry has a small, lean head, tapering to a black little muzzle, and
wide distended nostril; a large, prominent, keen, expressive eye; neat, thin
ear, and clean, lean face, cheek, and throat, the neck being long and fine.
The Dexter has a shorter and somewhat broader head than the Kerry, being
larger at the muzzle and in the mouth and ear, with full soft eyes. The neck
is short and thick.
The Kerry's shoulders are fine, thin and sloping; hips, rather narrow;
quarters, long and thin; body deep at heart; back, long and straight, with
prominent spine, terminating in a high tail, which should be long and thin,
with a flag at the end
The plump little Dexter has thick, full shoulders, well filled in behind;
wide hips and thick quarters; back, flat and wide across the loins; barrel,
deep, well rounded and ribbed up; wide chest; and she begins with Kerry
horns, finishes with a Kerry tail, but set on like a Shorthorn's.
The Kerry has a thin, loose, yellow skin, showing its colour round her eyes
and her nose, handling soft as a glove, and coming up freely from the ribs.
The hair is short, fine, wiry and lustrous as horse hair.
The Dexter has a soft, mellow skin, with more of the Shorthorn "touch", the
hair being profuse, silky and mossy, showing a nice "feather" in the season.
The former is black, but the latter may also be red, a little white not
being a disqualification.
To sum up, the Kerry may be described as the picturesque, hardy, mountain
goat cow; the Dexter as a quaint-looking little domestic cream ewer; and
both as the crême de la crême
of the dairy, and bonne bouche of our "English roast beef".
Back to List of “Original Articles
About Dexters”
|
