Mini Cattle Breed

Mini Cattle Breed LIVESTOCK Beef 13-1-28 Pint-sized Dexter, a "mini" breed that originated in Ireland, are great for small families who like to produce their own milk and beef, says Gary Prichard, Eugene, Ore., who exhibits the breed at fairs and livestock shows. Dexters look like scaled-down Angus. They're usually black, although they can also be red or greyish-brown. Mature cows stand 36 to 42-in. high at the shoulder and weigh not more than 750 lbs. Bulls range from 38 to 44 in. at the shoulder at three years of age and weigh not more than 1,000 lbs. Prichard, who has been raising Dexters for 10 years, normally has 35 to 40 head. He knows of only one other herd as large as his. "I highly recommend them for small families that like to raise their own beef. You get a reasonable-sized carcass with a good proportion of meat-to-bone and you don't have a lot of meat lying around getting freezer bum. The meat is darker red than most commercial beef and is tender and tasty," he told FARM SHOW. Carcasses dress out at 50 to 60% of live weight. When cows are fresh they produce about three gallons of milk a day - milk that's rich in butterfat. The Dexter breed was developed more than a century ago in Ireland. Its origin is obscure but it's assumed that it resulted from a cross between the Kerry and some other breed, most likely the Devon. There are an estimated 1,500 Dexter cattle in the U.S., and 2,500 to 3,000 worldwide. Prichard says he gets $600 to $700 for his heifer calves and $800 to $1,200 for adults. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gary Prichard, 85627 Dilley Lane, Eugene, Ore. 97405 (ph 503 747-7665).

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