| ABOUT DEXTERS | | | | DEXTERS ARE: | | | 
| NATURALLY SMALL
Dexters are about two thirds the size of other British breeds. They are naturally small cattle – not miniaturized from another breed, like most other small breeds in Australia. Ideal heights of cows are 97cm – 107cm and bulls 102cm – 112cm. Measurements are taken over the spine at the point of the hip. This smaller size gives Dexters an advantage in ease of handling and makes them kinder to vulnerable ecosystems. |  |
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| DUAL PURPOSE Their dual purpose nature means Dexters provide both meat and milk. Even when not milked for human consumption, their milk supply promotes excellent growth rates in their calves. |  |
|  | SHORT OR LONG LEGGED
Many breeders have both short and long leg Dexters, and these types are of equal merit. In Britain the short legged Dexter was considered the more traditional animal for the show ring, but in Australia that has not been the case. Short legged animals have a heritable genetic condition and must always be mated to long legged animals (sometimes called proportionate). The gene for Chondrodysplasia (shortened legs) has been identified and can be tested for. |  |
|  | PUREBRED OR GRADE
Registered Dexters in Australia are DNA tested and parentage verified. Prior to DNA testing blood typing was used to verify parentage. Purebred Dexters are those which are not known to contain any non-Dexter genetics, as well as those which have been graded up in accordance with DCAI regulations and entered into the Herdbook as purebred. Registered grade animals are those which are being bred up from another breed. They may be Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3 depending on their percentage of Dexter genetics. Grading up can only occur through the female line, using a purebred Dexter bull. The Herdbook is closed to registration of Grade 1 (ie. first cross) calves born after 31st March, 2006. | |  |
| | DEXTERS DISPLAY : | | |  | THREE DEXTER COLOURS – BLACK, RED & DUN
Black is the most common Dexter colour; it is also dominant over dun and red. All colours are of equal merit. Dexters must be of a solid colour, with a little white permitted on the underline in females and on the organs of generation in males. |  |
|  | STRONG MATERNAL CHARACTERISTICS
Dexters are generally easy calving, with purebred calves approximately 18 – 22 kg at birth. They are good mothers with an excellent milk supply – as befits dual purpose cattle. Many Dexter cows accept, foster and raise an extra calf or two, with plenty of milk to do so without stress to themselves or their own calf. This can be a profitable side-line for their owners. |  |
|  | HORNED OR POLLED GENETICS
Dexters are traditionally a horned breed. The horns are white, gracefully tapering upwards to black tips. Some breeders prefer to maintain the horns but, for safety and economic reasons, most breeders elect to dehorn the calves at an early age. There are also many polled (ie genetically programmed never to grow horns) Dexters in Australia. These are the result of grading up from polled foundation stock, and also the influence of descendants of a polled, purebred bull, widely-used following the reintroduction of Dexters into Australia in the 1980s. Sometimes, otherwise polled animals may have ‘scurs’ – which are horn-like structures, but very small and not attached to the bone of the skull. In Australia these are not considered polled. Horned, dehorned and polled Dexters are able to be registered, bred from and exhibited in the show ring. |  |
|  | EASE OF HANDLING
Because of their smaller size and good temperaments, many people find handling Dexters easier than other cattle. This instills confidence and makes them ideal for those with young children, or for older people and those new to cattle. |  |
Photos: Dexter Bulletin Library, Rawlings, Hannaford
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