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Original
Article About Dexters
"The
Dexter in History: Part Four
The Kerry at Home"
by Beverley McCulloch and Michael Trotter
A revised version of an article first published in
the Dexter Dispatch, Bulletin of the NZ Dexter Cattle Society, no.
33, August 2001, pages 22ff
The following extract is from the “Illustrated Stock Doctor and Live
Stock Encylopedia” published some time in the early 1880s. Although clearly
American in origin, our edition was published in Australia. This American
article refers to the 'Kerry' cow only, but includes reference to what are
obviously Dexter-type animals.
“These cattle usually are small, and are confined to the hilly and moor
grounds. Some are of considerably size, elsewhere, and are improved in form
as well as weight. The horns, usually of middle length, turn up, as do the
horns of those on the mountains; they are shorter in the leg, shorter in the
body; their loins and haunches are heavy and wide; although the hair is
thick, the bide is mellow, and they thrive with rapidity.
This is as they were known many years ago. They have since been bred with
care. The London Stock Journal of a late date says of them now:
“These characteristic points of the breed are unmistakably well marked. The
size is small. The legs in most cases are very short in proportion to the
size of the body. The head is somewhat small; though the muzzle is long and
clean. The lips are thin; the expression of the countenance is pleasing, and
the eye is particularly clear and fairly prominent. A symptom which is most
indicative of purity of breed is the “turn up” of the horn, which is
of medium length. Occasionally, however, the horn will, after turning up,
turn backwards. The nicety of the horn and the manner in which it is set on
adds immensely to the style. The neck is not massive at the junction with
the head, but it thickens gradually, and affords reasonable covering to the
shoulders. The latter are flat and thin. The dorsal vertebrae rise more than
in other cattle, which sometimes gives the back an irregular appearance. The
ribs spring well, especially the last of those approaching the hip; this
makes the body very compact. The Joins are of medium width, and the hip Dot
prominent. The distance between the hip and the setting on of the tail is
not considerable; the latter bangs neatly, and is well concealed by the
adjoining bones. The chest is full and deep, and the hind-quarters long, but
rather light. The favorite color is black, though black and white, brown,
and red, are by no means uncommon. The coat is invariably fine and thick,
and the hide elastic and mellow, showing great capacity for the production
of flesh and fat.
“Sixteen quarts of milk per day may be regarded as the maximum quantity the
best specimens of the breed will give, and twelve quarts may be regarded as
a good average for the entire season. This is, of course, on good keep. The
milk is rich in cream, and the butter delicate in flavor, superior in color,
and, as in the case with the Jersey cows, one or two Kerries will give the
milk of ten to fifteen other cows in the production of butter. As an
indication of the richness of milk of the Kerry cow, eight to nine quarts
are said to produce a pound of butter.”
“In relation to their adaptability to fatten, it is said to be a remarkable
peculiarity of the breed, but they take a long time to mature, At three to
four years of age they will not dress more than three to four hundred rounds
of beef to the fore quarters. They are not however beef cattle, nor are they
adapted, in this country, to dairying, except by mixing, to improve the
messes. In fattening, however, when of mature age, they thrive most rapidly,
and the beef in point of being well marbled, in flavor; and tenderness, is
not excelled by that of any other breed.
“With proper care and breeding, there would seem to be capabilities in this
breed well worth perpetuating and improving, especially now that dairying as
a distinctive branch of agriculture is assuming such proportions in the
United States, and particularly in the West.
“In relation to constitution, hardiness, etc., the authority last quoted
says : “It is already observed, the hardy constitution of the Kerry most
enhances its value; for dairy purposes especially a remunerative yield is
obtained on what would be to other animals ‘starvation fare.’ In the depth
of the winter season I have not only known the animals to live jumping from
rock to rock, and from cliff to cliff, picking a coarse scanty bite from
among the mountains, but with very small additional keep at the farmsteading,
whither they come to be milked morning and evening, to actually thrive under
the circumstances. Few people think of housing the Kerry, either night or
day, at any period of the year. When not giving any milk they remain for
months away concealed in the ravines of mountain passes, seeking the best
shelter they can from the excessive rain and snow storms with which their
abodes are periodically visited. The hair is thick but fine and long - a
provision of nature typical of cold latitudes.
“What, however, is far more singular in the constitution of the breed, is
the readiness with which it adapts itself to circumstances of a wholly
reverse character. In acclimating breeds of cattle, sheep, or pigs, the
transition must be gradual; but with the Kerry we have it suddenly and
indiscriminately transferred from its home in the mountains to the richest
grazing valleys which our island can boast of without experiencing the
slightest change in regard to health. Not alone this, but we have seen the
beasts ushered at once into the dairy sheds, and there confined for years,
in the closest bondage, without any apparent effect on the constitution.
They further enjoyed the full benefit of the change as well as if the new
abode was their native habitation. It was for a time believed that the frame
of the breed was impregnable to pleuro-pneumonia, or other contagious
diseases. Recent experiments which have been conducted have failed to
establish this view.”
On to Part Five
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