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After receiving some emails from Dexter breeders who often consulted material on my website that couldn't be found elsewhere, I have decided to make it available on-line again. It was going to take a long time to transfer articles to this Blog so this would have posed problems for some people.
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So www.dex-info.net is now available again, with all its shortcomings.
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I would welcome the submission of any other information or research related to the Dexter cattle breed that could be added to Dex-Info, so that it becomes available to everyone. This Blog will not be continued.
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Original Article 23, Pt II: "Dexters in Canada"
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Saltaire Platinum, English polled bull
"History of the Dexter Breed in Canada" Part II
by Carol Davidson
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In 1988, Jane Paynter’s agent offered Saturn of Knotting semen to the Board of the newly formed CDCA, but the offer was turned down. Carol Davidson, another early breeder, learned of it and imported a limited quantity which she offered directly to Canadian members. Saturn’s influence can be seen in the offspring of Riverhill Saturn’s Galaxy, a mating planned by Carol and Cathy Nelson who owned the dam, Cranworth Sally, a very small non-dwarf cow giving over four gallons of milk/day.
by Carol Davidson
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In 1988, Jane Paynter’s agent offered Saturn of Knotting semen to the Board of the newly formed CDCA, but the offer was turned down. Carol Davidson, another early breeder, learned of it and imported a limited quantity which she offered directly to Canadian members. Saturn’s influence can be seen in the offspring of Riverhill Saturn’s Galaxy, a mating planned by Carol and Cathy Nelson who owned the dam, Cranworth Sally, a very small non-dwarf cow giving over four gallons of milk/day.
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Saturn of Knotting
:Saturn of Knotting Riverhill Saturn's Galaxy
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Also in the 1980s, Pat Freeman purchased stock from the Crowes, and imported cows from the Old Orchard herd in the U.S. Her Braco herd is well known, and semen collected from Braco Shoeshine is available in Canada and overseas.
:
While doing Herd Book research in 1988, Carol Davidson found a forgotten line of Dexters in the U.S. that related directly back to major early English herds that had died out in England. She arranged to purchase two heifers from this closed herd, and a few years later, to acquire the bulk of the remainder of the herd from Mr. Kellogg. This brought the Bedford line of old English Grinsteads and Atlantics to Canada, and her revised Hiyu herd became based on this new U.S. (old English) line.
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In 1989, Winona Crapp imported an English bull, Cobthorn Constable, from Andrew Sheppy. Both Winona and Andrew were interested in rare breeds. Constable was primarily of Woodmagic descent, with some Parndon and other old English lines in the background. Winona used the bull for several years and successfully sold offspring across Canada, but unfortunately beefed him just before BSE became an issue and he would have had to be slaughtered.
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By 1992, Eric and Marilyn Meyer had established their World of Miniatures farm west of Calgary, and started buying up Canadian Dexters and importing Dexters wholesale from the U.S. They had a contract with the P-Bar Dexter ranch, and bought a large herd from Mrs. Gnaedinger in Illinois. Eric was a ‘rare and exotic’ dealer, who held annual auctions, and greatly facilitated the spread of Dexters, especially in Western provinces.
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Gary Sparrow became interested in Dexters, and imported from the Oregon herd of Gary Pritchard (Pisgah), who specialized in breeding very small animals. The ‘Sparrow’s Nest’ logo of tiny Dexters in a twig bird’s nest became well known throughout the Prairies.
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In 1993, Carol Davidson, jointly with an American breeder, imported semen from an English polled bull, Saltaire Platinum. As soon as it was known the semen was in Canada, the CDCA moved to limit registrations to horned Dexters. This decision was reversed in 2004 and polled Dexters are now accepted in the Canadian registry; they are proving very popular. On a subsequent trip to England and Ireland in 1994, Carol arranged to purchase and collect semen from another old line. Cornahir Outlaw was a red Irish bull, descended from the English Shadwell genetics, and brought much-needed new red genes to North America.
:
Also in the 1980s, Pat Freeman purchased stock from the Crowes, and imported cows from the Old Orchard herd in the U.S. Her Braco herd is well known, and semen collected from Braco Shoeshine is available in Canada and overseas.
:
While doing Herd Book research in 1988, Carol Davidson found a forgotten line of Dexters in the U.S. that related directly back to major early English herds that had died out in England. She arranged to purchase two heifers from this closed herd, and a few years later, to acquire the bulk of the remainder of the herd from Mr. Kellogg. This brought the Bedford line of old English Grinsteads and Atlantics to Canada, and her revised Hiyu herd became based on this new U.S. (old English) line.
:
In 1989, Winona Crapp imported an English bull, Cobthorn Constable, from Andrew Sheppy. Both Winona and Andrew were interested in rare breeds. Constable was primarily of Woodmagic descent, with some Parndon and other old English lines in the background. Winona used the bull for several years and successfully sold offspring across Canada, but unfortunately beefed him just before BSE became an issue and he would have had to be slaughtered.
:
By 1992, Eric and Marilyn Meyer had established their World of Miniatures farm west of Calgary, and started buying up Canadian Dexters and importing Dexters wholesale from the U.S. They had a contract with the P-Bar Dexter ranch, and bought a large herd from Mrs. Gnaedinger in Illinois. Eric was a ‘rare and exotic’ dealer, who held annual auctions, and greatly facilitated the spread of Dexters, especially in Western provinces.
:
Gary Sparrow became interested in Dexters, and imported from the Oregon herd of Gary Pritchard (Pisgah), who specialized in breeding very small animals. The ‘Sparrow’s Nest’ logo of tiny Dexters in a twig bird’s nest became well known throughout the Prairies.
:
In 1993, Carol Davidson, jointly with an American breeder, imported semen from an English polled bull, Saltaire Platinum. As soon as it was known the semen was in Canada, the CDCA moved to limit registrations to horned Dexters. This decision was reversed in 2004 and polled Dexters are now accepted in the Canadian registry; they are proving very popular. On a subsequent trip to England and Ireland in 1994, Carol arranged to purchase and collect semen from another old line. Cornahir Outlaw was a red Irish bull, descended from the English Shadwell genetics, and brought much-needed new red genes to North America.
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Saltaire Platinum, English polled bull:
Carol next set her sights on the very successful British bull, Apple Joe, and arranged to import semen from him early in 1998. Apple Joe was the Grand Champion bull at the Dexter Congress Show later that year, and a limited quantity of his semen arrived in Canada in the Spring of 1999. It has been sold on to Donna Rudd who, because the bull was put down not long after collection and there is now no further export-qualified semen available, has an exclusive on his genetics in North America.
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Two Hiyu bulls, Salty Rambler IV (a horned son of Saltaire Platinum) and Renown Magician, were added to the AI semen list in 2001. Both bulls were evaluated using the Australian 'Supergene' system, and scored Excellent, providing new genetics of proven quality to North American breeders.
Carol next set her sights on the very successful British bull, Apple Joe, and arranged to import semen from him early in 1998. Apple Joe was the Grand Champion bull at the Dexter Congress Show later that year, and a limited quantity of his semen arrived in Canada in the Spring of 1999. It has been sold on to Donna Rudd who, because the bull was put down not long after collection and there is now no further export-qualified semen available, has an exclusive on his genetics in North America.
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Two Hiyu bulls, Salty Rambler IV (a horned son of Saltaire Platinum) and Renown Magician, were added to the AI semen list in 2001. Both bulls were evaluated using the Australian 'Supergene' system, and scored Excellent, providing new genetics of proven quality to North American breeders.
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Original Article 23, Pt I: "Dexters in Canada"
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"History of the Dexter Breed in Canada" Part I
by Carol Davidson, 2006
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Carol Davidson is a Canadian Dexter breeder with a keen interest in the history of the breed. She presented a paper to the Second World Congress on Dexter Cattle, held in Australia in 2002, on research on the dun gene in Dexters. Carol is also an active contributor to Dexter discussion boards on the Internet. A version of the following article could have been found on the Internet as part of the CDCA site for a time up until February 2005. It disappeared when this site was restructured in late 2005. Another earlier version of this article can be found in the first issue of the "International Dexter" (September 2002). Thanks to Carol for supplying the article and for permission to include it on this website. It is posted in two parts.
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In December of 1899, the Farmer’s Advocate carried an article on Dexter-Kerry cattle recently imported by Senator George Alexander Drummond, of Montreal.
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“Senator Drummond, whose ambition is only satisfied by possession of the best of whatever class of stock he fancies, selected and imported at a very high price, for the head of his herd of Dexters, the phenomenal young bull, Bantam, bred by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, winner of first prize and the championship of the breed at the Royal Agricultural Society Show at Manchester. With this bull, now three years old, came four handsome young cows in calf, namely, Kathleen, Gloria, Toffy, and Trilby, which have since produced two sets of calves, which gives the nucleus of a high-class herd.”
by Carol Davidson, 2006
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Carol Davidson is a Canadian Dexter breeder with a keen interest in the history of the breed. She presented a paper to the Second World Congress on Dexter Cattle, held in Australia in 2002, on research on the dun gene in Dexters. Carol is also an active contributor to Dexter discussion boards on the Internet. A version of the following article could have been found on the Internet as part of the CDCA site for a time up until February 2005. It disappeared when this site was restructured in late 2005. Another earlier version of this article can be found in the first issue of the "International Dexter" (September 2002). Thanks to Carol for supplying the article and for permission to include it on this website. It is posted in two parts.
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In December of 1899, the Farmer’s Advocate carried an article on Dexter-Kerry cattle recently imported by Senator George Alexander Drummond, of Montreal.
:
“Senator Drummond, whose ambition is only satisfied by possession of the best of whatever class of stock he fancies, selected and imported at a very high price, for the head of his herd of Dexters, the phenomenal young bull, Bantam, bred by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, winner of first prize and the championship of the breed at the Royal Agricultural Society Show at Manchester. With this bull, now three years old, came four handsome young cows in calf, namely, Kathleen, Gloria, Toffy, and Trilby, which have since produced two sets of calves, which gives the nucleus of a high-class herd.”
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Dexter bull Bantam, bred by Prince of Wales and imported to Canada by Senator Drummond. :
Drummond was an important figure in turn-of-the-Century Canada. A Senator and Vice (1887) and then President (1905) of Canada’s first chartered bank, the Bank of Montreal, he died in 1910 at 81 years of age. The fate of his Dexters is unknown.
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In Volume XVII (1916) of The English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society Herd Book, eleven La Mancha animals were noted as having been exported to the Vancouver Exhibition Association, British Columbia, in 1908. They were two bulls, Flummerfelt and Malahide, and nine cows, Balsam, Fraulein, Girl, Go Go, Luck, May, Pet, Wee Mite and Wee Thing.
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In Canada, the animals and offspring were registered with the American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Association, listed to three owners. John Lawson, the founder of West Vancouver, kept his Dexters at Hollyburn Farm, after which the nearby mountain, ski resort and regional park are named. H. Rolson was General Manager of the Vancouver Exhibition Association (the forerunner of the second largest agricultural showcase in Canada), and a prominent racehorse breeder. The third owner was W. J. Taylor, a King's Council and solicitor for the City of Victoria on Vancouver Island. Mr. Taylor had a 600-acre farm north of Victoria, his own racetrack, and was a leading breeder of racehorses in western North America. The fate of all the La Mancha Dexters is unknown.
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(Things go in circles: there is still a racetrack at the site, now known as Sandown Park, and a recent owner of Sandown Park also kept a few Dexters. In his case, the cows were resold, and the bull ended up as part of a rodeo routine touring western Canada.)
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In the late 1940s, two English Fyfield cows were imported to British Columbia, and ended up on a remote farm on the west coast of Vancouver Island, along with specially imported Highland cattle and a rare breed of Scottish sheep (breed name lost). The owner died, and the widow was forced into bankruptcy. The livestock was disbursed, with one Dexter going to auction, but the other was ‘saved’ by the livestock hauler who kept her as a pet until her death at close to 20 years.
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Between 1958 and 1966, W.O. Carcaud of Montreal, vice-president of a pharmaceutical company, double registered his imported American Dexters in the U.S. and Canada. These Dexters were from the Peerless herd, descended directly from the original American imports from Ireland around 1910. They were reportedly sold back into the U.S., but their registrations were never transferred, and there is no record of them from then on.
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All these early Dexters would have been dwarfs, and likely went the way of many novelty livestock when the owner’s interest waned: outcrossed or slaughtered.
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In 1978, Doris and Marshall Crowe, with three friends, imported four heifers from Beryl Rutherford’s Woodmagic herd in England and a bull from the U.S. These they kept on their 400-acre Rideau River farm retreat outside Ottawa. They named their new herd Cranworth, after the name of the (then defunct) nearby crossroads, Cranworth Corners. The following year, six heifers from the American Klein-Hydrif herd were added, and the Crowes and a young university student herdsman, Eric Lawlor, imported six more Woodmagic heifers and a bull.
Drummond was an important figure in turn-of-the-Century Canada. A Senator and Vice (1887) and then President (1905) of Canada’s first chartered bank, the Bank of Montreal, he died in 1910 at 81 years of age. The fate of his Dexters is unknown.
:
In Volume XVII (1916) of The English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society Herd Book, eleven La Mancha animals were noted as having been exported to the Vancouver Exhibition Association, British Columbia, in 1908. They were two bulls, Flummerfelt and Malahide, and nine cows, Balsam, Fraulein, Girl, Go Go, Luck, May, Pet, Wee Mite and Wee Thing.
:
In Canada, the animals and offspring were registered with the American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Association, listed to three owners. John Lawson, the founder of West Vancouver, kept his Dexters at Hollyburn Farm, after which the nearby mountain, ski resort and regional park are named. H. Rolson was General Manager of the Vancouver Exhibition Association (the forerunner of the second largest agricultural showcase in Canada), and a prominent racehorse breeder. The third owner was W. J. Taylor, a King's Council and solicitor for the City of Victoria on Vancouver Island. Mr. Taylor had a 600-acre farm north of Victoria, his own racetrack, and was a leading breeder of racehorses in western North America. The fate of all the La Mancha Dexters is unknown.
:
(Things go in circles: there is still a racetrack at the site, now known as Sandown Park, and a recent owner of Sandown Park also kept a few Dexters. In his case, the cows were resold, and the bull ended up as part of a rodeo routine touring western Canada.)
:
In the late 1940s, two English Fyfield cows were imported to British Columbia, and ended up on a remote farm on the west coast of Vancouver Island, along with specially imported Highland cattle and a rare breed of Scottish sheep (breed name lost). The owner died, and the widow was forced into bankruptcy. The livestock was disbursed, with one Dexter going to auction, but the other was ‘saved’ by the livestock hauler who kept her as a pet until her death at close to 20 years.
:
Between 1958 and 1966, W.O. Carcaud of Montreal, vice-president of a pharmaceutical company, double registered his imported American Dexters in the U.S. and Canada. These Dexters were from the Peerless herd, descended directly from the original American imports from Ireland around 1910. They were reportedly sold back into the U.S., but their registrations were never transferred, and there is no record of them from then on.
:
All these early Dexters would have been dwarfs, and likely went the way of many novelty livestock when the owner’s interest waned: outcrossed or slaughtered.
:
In 1978, Doris and Marshall Crowe, with three friends, imported four heifers from Beryl Rutherford’s Woodmagic herd in England and a bull from the U.S. These they kept on their 400-acre Rideau River farm retreat outside Ottawa. They named their new herd Cranworth, after the name of the (then defunct) nearby crossroads, Cranworth Corners. The following year, six heifers from the American Klein-Hydrif herd were added, and the Crowes and a young university student herdsman, Eric Lawlor, imported six more Woodmagic heifers and a bull.
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Woodmagic Plover, imported from England in 1978
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According to George Klein, “Doris purchased our heifer calves to start her herd. We had at the same time a good-looking bull calf. She did not take him as she was going to England for a bull. Six weeks later she called and said nothing in England looked as good as our bull calf and she would take him. Tooooo late! He had been steered.” The Crowes, and their friends, the Higgins (grandson of the Irish O’Higgins who created a ‘kingdom’ for himself in Argentina in the 1800s), became the major forces behind the Dexter revival in Canada.
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By 1983, the Crowes had sold or traded a number of animals with Jim Johnson, an established breeder in the U.S. and the (then) current President of the American Dexter association. This move added O’Briar Hill genetics into their herd, as well as spreading Woodmagic breeding south of the border.
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Eric Lawlor collected semen from his bull, Aldebaran Priapus, making Priapus the first Canadian Dexter AI bull. Shortly thereafter, Priapus’ sire, Trillium Cluny, was collected and a son, Trillium Chabotte, was also collected (by a Belgian Blue breeder who learned of a need for Dexter semen in Australia, and capitalized on the knowledge).
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In 1984, two cows and a bull from the English Knotting herd were imported by Kathy Lovejoy, of Vancouver Island. Jane Paynter’s Knotting herd was known for its high milk yields. Kathy kept her Dexters only for a few years before disbursing the cows to June Goose (Glencara herd) in Vancouver. Sadly, both cows were destroyed at the height of the English BSE scare, as part of the Canadian government’s BSE protection program.
According to George Klein, “Doris purchased our heifer calves to start her herd. We had at the same time a good-looking bull calf. She did not take him as she was going to England for a bull. Six weeks later she called and said nothing in England looked as good as our bull calf and she would take him. Tooooo late! He had been steered.” The Crowes, and their friends, the Higgins (grandson of the Irish O’Higgins who created a ‘kingdom’ for himself in Argentina in the 1800s), became the major forces behind the Dexter revival in Canada.
:
By 1983, the Crowes had sold or traded a number of animals with Jim Johnson, an established breeder in the U.S. and the (then) current President of the American Dexter association. This move added O’Briar Hill genetics into their herd, as well as spreading Woodmagic breeding south of the border.
:
Eric Lawlor collected semen from his bull, Aldebaran Priapus, making Priapus the first Canadian Dexter AI bull. Shortly thereafter, Priapus’ sire, Trillium Cluny, was collected and a son, Trillium Chabotte, was also collected (by a Belgian Blue breeder who learned of a need for Dexter semen in Australia, and capitalized on the knowledge).
:
In 1984, two cows and a bull from the English Knotting herd were imported by Kathy Lovejoy, of Vancouver Island. Jane Paynter’s Knotting herd was known for its high milk yields. Kathy kept her Dexters only for a few years before disbursing the cows to June Goose (Glencara herd) in Vancouver. Sadly, both cows were destroyed at the height of the English BSE scare, as part of the Canadian government’s BSE protection program.
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Little Ladydale of Knotting, a 1984 import.
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The bull, Lucifer of Knotting, was sold separately to Paul Taylor and Judy Moseley. In 1989, they had 1,500 straws of semen collected, and offered it on both sides of the border. Lucifer was the first red Dexter in Canada, and has been very influential in establishing that coat colour in Dexters in North America, as well as vastly improving udders in his offspring.
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Continued in Part II
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Summary 5: "Royal Farmers"
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"Royal Farmers"
by Ralph Whitlock
A book published by Michael Joseph Ltd, London, 1980 (256 pages, ISBN 0718117522)
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Ralph Whitlock was a writer and broadcaster, an authority on British Farming, who died in 1995. In his book, "Royal Farmers", he provides a history of the farming activities of leading members of British royalty. Whitlock's research included an examination of the Royal Archives at Windsor, personal visits to the various royal estates, and assistance from the current royal family.
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In the 1890 Irish Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Queen Victoria is listed as owner of the Dexter bulls, Knight of Kerry (Herdbook Number 9) and Rioter (No.19), as well as of the Dexter cows, Dinah (No. 73), Milkmaid (No. 140) and Topsy (No. 197), all being located at The Prince Consort's Shaw Farm, Windsor. The following is material from Whitlock's "Royal Farmers" related to Shaw Farm and the Prince Consort, and a brief mention of Queen Victoria's farming at this period.
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From Chapter 3: The Prince Consort
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Albert, who became husband of Queen Victoria in 1840, was known as the Prince Consort. He was a "keen and enlightened farmer" (page 65) and active in farming organisations. In 1841, he was elected an honorary member of the Highland and Agricultural Society, the oldest of Britain's national agricultural societies, and in 1844 he became a subscriber to the Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland, exhibiting at its first annual show (page 67). In 1861, he was elected President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (Queen Victoria had bestowed the "Royal" title on the Society in 1840). He exhibited cattle regularly, and promoted livestock improvement as well as the mechanisation of agriculture, testing innovations on the royal farms (pages 65 and 68). In 1849, Albert took over the tenancy of Shaw and Home Farms at Windsor, immediately initiating improvements there (page 68).
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Shaw Farm comprised of about 300 acres, with Home Farm consisting of 540 acres, both located adjacent to Windsor Castle (pages 74-75). Albert operated them as interlocking units, running cattle (especially Dairy Shorthorns and Alderneys), sheep, pigs and horses. He built a magnificent dairy which included standings for 60 cows facing each other in a double row, with ingenious provisions for watering and feeding them (pages 76-78).
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After Albert died in 1861, Queen Victoria continued his policies with few changes. "In particular the herds of pedigree cattle achieved new standards of excellence under able management" (page 82).
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***** ***** *****
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In the 1890 Irish Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, the then Prince of Wales is recorded as owner of the Dexter bull Moonlighter (No. 16) and of the Dexter cows, Arum (No. 22), Savoy (No. 186) and Thyme (No. 194), all located at Sandringham. The following is material from Whitlock's "Royal Farmers" concerning Sandringham, the Prince, and the Prince's herd.
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From Chapter 5: Sandringham
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Sandringham was bought by Queen Victoria in 1862 as a country estate and retreat for her eldest son, Albert-Edward, Prince of Wales, who was then 20 years of age (page 133). In March 1863, Albert-Edward was married and set up his new family home at Sandringham. A new set of farm buildings were constructed, and the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, developed a passion for stock-breeding (page 135). "He continued the practice begun by his father at the other royal farms, of establishing flocks and herds of the best stock attainable and exhibiting animals in the competition classes of leading agricultural shows" (page 135).
:
Albert-Edward developed a Shorthorn herd, the most popular breed in England, a Scottish Highland herd, and a Dexter-Kerry herd, "the typical cattle of Ireland" (page 135). "The Dexter-Kerry herd was founded in 1887, at the express command of the Prince of Wales, with imports from Ireland and for many years exhibited award-winning entries at breed and fatstock shows. Dexter and a few Jersey cows supplied milk and cream to the royal household at Sandringham" (page 135). The Dexter-Kerry herd were replaced by Lincoln Red Shorthorns in 1915, "probably because of the wartime demand for large dual-purpose cattle" (page 139). [Below is a photo, from another source, of one of the Prince of Wales' Dexter steers.]
:
"Royal Farmers"
by Ralph Whitlock
A book published by Michael Joseph Ltd, London, 1980 (256 pages, ISBN 0718117522)
:
Ralph Whitlock was a writer and broadcaster, an authority on British Farming, who died in 1995. In his book, "Royal Farmers", he provides a history of the farming activities of leading members of British royalty. Whitlock's research included an examination of the Royal Archives at Windsor, personal visits to the various royal estates, and assistance from the current royal family.
:
In the 1890 Irish Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Queen Victoria is listed as owner of the Dexter bulls, Knight of Kerry (Herdbook Number 9) and Rioter (No.19), as well as of the Dexter cows, Dinah (No. 73), Milkmaid (No. 140) and Topsy (No. 197), all being located at The Prince Consort's Shaw Farm, Windsor. The following is material from Whitlock's "Royal Farmers" related to Shaw Farm and the Prince Consort, and a brief mention of Queen Victoria's farming at this period.
:
From Chapter 3: The Prince Consort
:
Albert, who became husband of Queen Victoria in 1840, was known as the Prince Consort. He was a "keen and enlightened farmer" (page 65) and active in farming organisations. In 1841, he was elected an honorary member of the Highland and Agricultural Society, the oldest of Britain's national agricultural societies, and in 1844 he became a subscriber to the Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland, exhibiting at its first annual show (page 67). In 1861, he was elected President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (Queen Victoria had bestowed the "Royal" title on the Society in 1840). He exhibited cattle regularly, and promoted livestock improvement as well as the mechanisation of agriculture, testing innovations on the royal farms (pages 65 and 68). In 1849, Albert took over the tenancy of Shaw and Home Farms at Windsor, immediately initiating improvements there (page 68).
:
Shaw Farm comprised of about 300 acres, with Home Farm consisting of 540 acres, both located adjacent to Windsor Castle (pages 74-75). Albert operated them as interlocking units, running cattle (especially Dairy Shorthorns and Alderneys), sheep, pigs and horses. He built a magnificent dairy which included standings for 60 cows facing each other in a double row, with ingenious provisions for watering and feeding them (pages 76-78).
:
After Albert died in 1861, Queen Victoria continued his policies with few changes. "In particular the herds of pedigree cattle achieved new standards of excellence under able management" (page 82).
:
***** ***** *****
:
In the 1890 Irish Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, the then Prince of Wales is recorded as owner of the Dexter bull Moonlighter (No. 16) and of the Dexter cows, Arum (No. 22), Savoy (No. 186) and Thyme (No. 194), all located at Sandringham. The following is material from Whitlock's "Royal Farmers" concerning Sandringham, the Prince, and the Prince's herd.
:
From Chapter 5: Sandringham
:
Sandringham was bought by Queen Victoria in 1862 as a country estate and retreat for her eldest son, Albert-Edward, Prince of Wales, who was then 20 years of age (page 133). In March 1863, Albert-Edward was married and set up his new family home at Sandringham. A new set of farm buildings were constructed, and the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, developed a passion for stock-breeding (page 135). "He continued the practice begun by his father at the other royal farms, of establishing flocks and herds of the best stock attainable and exhibiting animals in the competition classes of leading agricultural shows" (page 135).
:
Albert-Edward developed a Shorthorn herd, the most popular breed in England, a Scottish Highland herd, and a Dexter-Kerry herd, "the typical cattle of Ireland" (page 135). "The Dexter-Kerry herd was founded in 1887, at the express command of the Prince of Wales, with imports from Ireland and for many years exhibited award-winning entries at breed and fatstock shows. Dexter and a few Jersey cows supplied milk and cream to the royal household at Sandringham" (page 135). The Dexter-Kerry herd were replaced by Lincoln Red Shorthorns in 1915, "probably because of the wartime demand for large dual-purpose cattle" (page 139). [Below is a photo, from another source, of one of the Prince of Wales' Dexter steers.]
:
Dexter steer bred and exhibited by the Prince of Wales (in late 19th century??) (From Ted Neal's "The Life and Times of Dexters", page 14).
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As Prince of Wales, Edward-Albert was active in the Royal Agricultural Society, being elected President in 1868-69, 1878-79, 1885-86, 1889-90, and 1900-01 [He was President of the UK Dexter Cattle Society in 1901-02.] He often attended RAS Council meetings and took part in discussions (page 136). Even after ascending the throne, King Edward always took a close interest in the livestock at the Sandringham farm, keeping himself fully informed about the herds.
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Summary 2: "Introgression & Purity Assessment in Dexters" by Sheppy
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ARTICLE SUMMARY 2
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"Introgression and Purity Assessment in Dexter Cattle"
by Andrew Sheppy
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Paper presented to the Second World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in Australia in 2002 (9 pages long)
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Andrew Sheppy is a lecturer, researcher and author on rare farm livestock breeds, especially poultry but also cattle and sheep. He is the founder of the Cobthorn Trust and of the British Rare Poultry Society. He has a longstanding involvement with the UK Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and has served as its Vice-President. He has a keen interest in Dexters, operating the Cobthorn stud. For the Cobthorn Trust website, see www.datazenith.com/cobthorn.
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~~ Start of Article Summary ~~
:
Introduction
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In the UK the Dexter has traditionally been described as a small horned breed usually black or red. Since 1970, greatly increased variation has been noted including colour variants such as dun, brindle, black & white, and red & white, as well as many shades of red. Early UK herdbooks showed only very dark red Dexters. In addition, polled Dexters have appeared, unknown in the herdbooks before 1970. "While there is a possibility that all the new variants arose from mutation, it would seem more likely that much of the variation owes its origin to outcrossing, particularly as all the variants can be seen in other breeds, in fact breeds which have been implicated in introgression already identified" (p.1). Sheppy points out that genetic and biochemical studies have shown divergence between the Dexter and the Kerry which are regarded historically as nearest relatives. Alderson's paper to the First World Dexter Congress concluded that the present Dexter population is not closely related to the Kerry, owing a closer relationship to a mixed group of breeds.
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Recorded Introgression
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The foundation stock of the Dexter breed is taken to be those animals registered in Ireland through the Royal Dublin Society from 1890 to 1918 and those registered initially in England through the Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society there. Prior to 1945, there is no official record of crossbreeding in the UK herdbooks. In 1945 , the UK Dexter Cattle Society (DCS) introduced an Appendix Register to the herdbook, allowing the entry of crossbred animals in an upgrading scheme. Appendix A cows were of crossbred or unknown origin. Appendix B cows were the offspring of a fully registered pedigree Dexter bull and an Appendix A cow. Appendix C cows were the offspring of such a bull and Appendix B cows. The daughters of Appendix C cows were pedigree. Bulls were allowed to be registered in the herdbook if both parents had full pedigree. A wide range of breeds came into the herdbook through the Appendix, especially Aberdeen Angus and Jersey, but including most British breeds and some non-British.
:
In the 1960s, in order to try to breed out the bulldog calf defect, an Experimental Register was established by the DCS and Aberdeen Angus and Jersey breeds were deliberately introduced. The first Experimental bull was Atlantic Anchor out of an Aberdeen Angus/Jersey cross cow by a pedigree Dexter bull, His son, Atlantic Finbar, born in 1966, was made available by AI. Sheppy contends that another important AI sire, Templeton Michaelmouse Squeak, was also descended from an upgraded cow line with a Jersey foundation.
:
Unrecorded Introgression
:
According to Sheppy, "that there has been unrecorded crossbreeding in the ancestry of some animals recorded in the DCS herdbook is undisputed" (p.3). This is clear from progeny showing atypical characteristics and from admission s from herd owners. In the case of the Parndon bloodline, blood from the Guernsey breed has been passed on. Colour variation is an important indicator of introgression, as are horn characteristics (including polledness).
:
New Research
:
Modern DNA research techniques enable an analysis of the mixture of breeds in any population. "A research programme has been established to investigate the likely derivation of the various bloodlines in the current UK population of Dexter cattle" (p.4). Sheppy proposes that a benchmark DNA profile be developed from Dexters believed to be free of introgression, and then be compared with other Dexters.
:
Current Status of Bloodlines
:
Sheppy argues that his analysis of pedigrees from the UK herdbook has demonstrated "the dangerously low population of animals thought possibly free of any introgression. The position is significantly worsened by the fact that one line (Woodmagic) is hugely dominant in that group" (p.5). [Later, Sheppy argues that "no documentary evidence of introgression has been found in respect of this line, but it remains distinctly atypical of the traditional type" - p.6 - at least partly because of the dun colour in it.] If the assumption that the Woodmagic line is not pure is made, then only 137 cows and 9 bulls in the 1982 DCS herdbook are thought to be clear of introgression. Furthermore, the number of registrations of Dexters in the UK since then believed to be pure and not containing Woodmagic ancestry has fallen dramatically. In 1982, there were 137 cows and nine bulls registered with these characteristics. By 1987, this had fallen to seven cows and two bulls; by 1992, it was seven cows and no bulls, and between 1995 and 1999 (inclusive) no cows and no bulls were registered with believed pure registrations not containing Woodmagic ancestry. As a consequence, when animals were being identified for the DNA benchmark, "there were only 30 living, but mostly elderly females and no males, which were thought possibly pure Dexter and which did not have Woodmagic ancestry" (p.5), although stored semen from 10 purebred bulls was also available.
:
Sheppy then reviews the status of the eight dominant bloodlines he identified in an earlier paper (summary also on this website "Bloodlines, Breed Structure, and the Influence of Artificial Insemination in Dexter Cattle"):
Line 1, based on Atlantic Finbar, is an experimental line based on the introduction of Aberdeen Angus and Jersey ancestry.
Line 2, Canwell Buster, base of the Summerdale line, is considered pure (free from introgression).
Line 3, Shadwell Robert, is viewed by Sheppy as of dubious purity and he comments that "further investigation of this bull's provenance has now revealed that his maternal granddam was not in fact a pure Dexter" (p.6). This accounts for the inconsistencies in the red animals of this line.
Line 4, Sylvan Ebony, base of the Weatheroak line, is considered pure.
Line 5, Templeton Michaelmas Squeak of the Doesmead line is known to descend from an Appendix A cow with a Jersey foundation.
Line 6, Woodmagic, is considered by Sheppy to be of dubious purity as "it remains distinctly atypical of the traditional type" though "no documentary evidence of introgression has been found" (p.6).
Line 7, based on Marsh Warrior, is regarded as pure although it is almost extinct as a separate line.
Line 8, the Parndon line based on Melbry Duster, poses problems. "For the purposes of the current research programme, it has been decided to give the benefit of the doubt to offspring of Parndon Buster Finch who was registered as a son of Parndon Charley Pudding, but could in fact have been pure" (p.7) (see "Bloodlines, Breed Structure, and the Influence of Artificial Insemination in Dexter Cattle" for a discussion of Parndon Charley Pudding).
:
Sheppy notes that there are lines in the USA which are purebred according to the registered records and directly originate from purebred foundation stock imported from either the UK or Ireland early in the twentieth century. "This stock could well represent an important reservoir of pure Dexter genetics" (p.7). The same may be true of other national stocks, with South Africa being the next most likely candidate as a host of purebred animals.
:
Maintenance of Purebred Lines
:
"Much has been done to enhance and promote the commercial and production qualities of the breed, but a corresponding ensuring of the breed's purity has not taken place" (p.7). Breeding programmes urgently need to be established to make sure that the remaining purebred lines survive. The DCS in the UK has encouraged such programmes in order to produce new bulls that could be used for Artificial Insemination and to produce purebred heifers to replace the elderly purebred cows remaining.
:
The effects of introgression can be reduced through pure breeding. "In general terms, the working basis of pedigree assessment is five generations of ancestry...Beyond the fifth generation it is extremely unlikely that all ancestors have even contributed to the genetic constitution of any individual animal" (p.8). Each generation away from any introgression halves the likelihood of the introgressed genes being passed on.
:
ARTICLE SUMMARY 2
:
"Introgression and Purity Assessment in Dexter Cattle"
by Andrew Sheppy
:
Paper presented to the Second World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in Australia in 2002 (9 pages long)
:
Andrew Sheppy is a lecturer, researcher and author on rare farm livestock breeds, especially poultry but also cattle and sheep. He is the founder of the Cobthorn Trust and of the British Rare Poultry Society. He has a longstanding involvement with the UK Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and has served as its Vice-President. He has a keen interest in Dexters, operating the Cobthorn stud. For the Cobthorn Trust website, see www.datazenith.com/cobthorn.
:
~~ Start of Article Summary ~~
:
Introduction
:
In the UK the Dexter has traditionally been described as a small horned breed usually black or red. Since 1970, greatly increased variation has been noted including colour variants such as dun, brindle, black & white, and red & white, as well as many shades of red. Early UK herdbooks showed only very dark red Dexters. In addition, polled Dexters have appeared, unknown in the herdbooks before 1970. "While there is a possibility that all the new variants arose from mutation, it would seem more likely that much of the variation owes its origin to outcrossing, particularly as all the variants can be seen in other breeds, in fact breeds which have been implicated in introgression already identified" (p.1). Sheppy points out that genetic and biochemical studies have shown divergence between the Dexter and the Kerry which are regarded historically as nearest relatives. Alderson's paper to the First World Dexter Congress concluded that the present Dexter population is not closely related to the Kerry, owing a closer relationship to a mixed group of breeds.
:
Recorded Introgression
:
The foundation stock of the Dexter breed is taken to be those animals registered in Ireland through the Royal Dublin Society from 1890 to 1918 and those registered initially in England through the Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society there. Prior to 1945, there is no official record of crossbreeding in the UK herdbooks. In 1945 , the UK Dexter Cattle Society (DCS) introduced an Appendix Register to the herdbook, allowing the entry of crossbred animals in an upgrading scheme. Appendix A cows were of crossbred or unknown origin. Appendix B cows were the offspring of a fully registered pedigree Dexter bull and an Appendix A cow. Appendix C cows were the offspring of such a bull and Appendix B cows. The daughters of Appendix C cows were pedigree. Bulls were allowed to be registered in the herdbook if both parents had full pedigree. A wide range of breeds came into the herdbook through the Appendix, especially Aberdeen Angus and Jersey, but including most British breeds and some non-British.
:
In the 1960s, in order to try to breed out the bulldog calf defect, an Experimental Register was established by the DCS and Aberdeen Angus and Jersey breeds were deliberately introduced. The first Experimental bull was Atlantic Anchor out of an Aberdeen Angus/Jersey cross cow by a pedigree Dexter bull, His son, Atlantic Finbar, born in 1966, was made available by AI. Sheppy contends that another important AI sire, Templeton Michaelmouse Squeak, was also descended from an upgraded cow line with a Jersey foundation.
:
Unrecorded Introgression
:
According to Sheppy, "that there has been unrecorded crossbreeding in the ancestry of some animals recorded in the DCS herdbook is undisputed" (p.3). This is clear from progeny showing atypical characteristics and from admission s from herd owners. In the case of the Parndon bloodline, blood from the Guernsey breed has been passed on. Colour variation is an important indicator of introgression, as are horn characteristics (including polledness).
:
New Research
:
Modern DNA research techniques enable an analysis of the mixture of breeds in any population. "A research programme has been established to investigate the likely derivation of the various bloodlines in the current UK population of Dexter cattle" (p.4). Sheppy proposes that a benchmark DNA profile be developed from Dexters believed to be free of introgression, and then be compared with other Dexters.
:
Current Status of Bloodlines
:
Sheppy argues that his analysis of pedigrees from the UK herdbook has demonstrated "the dangerously low population of animals thought possibly free of any introgression. The position is significantly worsened by the fact that one line (Woodmagic) is hugely dominant in that group" (p.5). [Later, Sheppy argues that "no documentary evidence of introgression has been found in respect of this line, but it remains distinctly atypical of the traditional type" - p.6 - at least partly because of the dun colour in it.] If the assumption that the Woodmagic line is not pure is made, then only 137 cows and 9 bulls in the 1982 DCS herdbook are thought to be clear of introgression. Furthermore, the number of registrations of Dexters in the UK since then believed to be pure and not containing Woodmagic ancestry has fallen dramatically. In 1982, there were 137 cows and nine bulls registered with these characteristics. By 1987, this had fallen to seven cows and two bulls; by 1992, it was seven cows and no bulls, and between 1995 and 1999 (inclusive) no cows and no bulls were registered with believed pure registrations not containing Woodmagic ancestry. As a consequence, when animals were being identified for the DNA benchmark, "there were only 30 living, but mostly elderly females and no males, which were thought possibly pure Dexter and which did not have Woodmagic ancestry" (p.5), although stored semen from 10 purebred bulls was also available.
:
Sheppy then reviews the status of the eight dominant bloodlines he identified in an earlier paper (summary also on this website "Bloodlines, Breed Structure, and the Influence of Artificial Insemination in Dexter Cattle"):
Line 1, based on Atlantic Finbar, is an experimental line based on the introduction of Aberdeen Angus and Jersey ancestry.
Line 2, Canwell Buster, base of the Summerdale line, is considered pure (free from introgression).
Line 3, Shadwell Robert, is viewed by Sheppy as of dubious purity and he comments that "further investigation of this bull's provenance has now revealed that his maternal granddam was not in fact a pure Dexter" (p.6). This accounts for the inconsistencies in the red animals of this line.
Line 4, Sylvan Ebony, base of the Weatheroak line, is considered pure.
Line 5, Templeton Michaelmas Squeak of the Doesmead line is known to descend from an Appendix A cow with a Jersey foundation.
Line 6, Woodmagic, is considered by Sheppy to be of dubious purity as "it remains distinctly atypical of the traditional type" though "no documentary evidence of introgression has been found" (p.6).
Line 7, based on Marsh Warrior, is regarded as pure although it is almost extinct as a separate line.
Line 8, the Parndon line based on Melbry Duster, poses problems. "For the purposes of the current research programme, it has been decided to give the benefit of the doubt to offspring of Parndon Buster Finch who was registered as a son of Parndon Charley Pudding, but could in fact have been pure" (p.7) (see "Bloodlines, Breed Structure, and the Influence of Artificial Insemination in Dexter Cattle" for a discussion of Parndon Charley Pudding).
:
Sheppy notes that there are lines in the USA which are purebred according to the registered records and directly originate from purebred foundation stock imported from either the UK or Ireland early in the twentieth century. "This stock could well represent an important reservoir of pure Dexter genetics" (p.7). The same may be true of other national stocks, with South Africa being the next most likely candidate as a host of purebred animals.
:
Maintenance of Purebred Lines
:
"Much has been done to enhance and promote the commercial and production qualities of the breed, but a corresponding ensuring of the breed's purity has not taken place" (p.7). Breeding programmes urgently need to be established to make sure that the remaining purebred lines survive. The DCS in the UK has encouraged such programmes in order to produce new bulls that could be used for Artificial Insemination and to produce purebred heifers to replace the elderly purebred cows remaining.
:
The effects of introgression can be reduced through pure breeding. "In general terms, the working basis of pedigree assessment is five generations of ancestry...Beyond the fifth generation it is extremely unlikely that all ancestors have even contributed to the genetic constitution of any individual animal" (p.8). Each generation away from any introgression halves the likelihood of the introgressed genes being passed on.
:
Original Article 4: Preface to 1890 Herdbook
:
"Preface to the Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Volume One, 1890"
Royal Dublin Society
:
In January 1887, the "Farmer's Gazette" published the first register of Dexter (and Kerry) cattle in Ireland. This ran for about three years and was then published by the Royal Dublin Society as the Kerry and Dexter Herdbook, with Volume 1 appearing in 1890. The Irish Kerry and Dexter Society was not formed until 1917. Duncan MacIntyre, a Vet and Dexter breeder on the Isle of Bute in Scotland, typed out this Preface and on 13 November 2004 posted it on the Discussion Board of www.dextercattleforsale.co.uk. Thanks to Duncan for his work on the keyboard, allowing us access to this significant historical writing.
:
The full listing of Dexter Bulls and Dexter Cows in this Herd Book are also provided on this website. [Not yet on this Blog]
:
~~ Start of Herdbook Preface ~~
:
The interesting attention devoted to the Kerry and Dexter Breeds of Cattle induced the Royal Dublin Society, early in the year 1887, to establish a Herd-Book for these breeds.
:
Previous attempts in this direction had been made. In 1879 the County Kerry Agricultural Society passed a resolution approving of the publication of a Herd-book under their own auspices; but difficulties arose which prevented the project from being carried out.
:
The "Farmer's Gazette" undertook the publication of a Register, and in January, 1887, published the first issue of their "Register of Pure Kerry Cattle and Dexters". This register extended to three volumes, including 46 Kerry Bulls and 100 Kerry Cows. It did not include any Dexter Bulls and only 10 Dexter Cows. The Royal Dublin Society acquired from the publishers of the "Farmer's Gazette" their rights in connexion with this register; and the Cattle, with the numbers originally assigned to them, are now included in the Society's Herd-book.
:
Kerry Cattle were shown for the first time at Cattle Shows of the Royal Dublin Society at the Spring Show held in 1844. A distinct class for Dexters was first introduced in 1876. It is generally believed that Kerry Cattle are the descendants of a well-defined native breed of great antiquity; but it is difficult to trace the history of the breed further back than the middle of the last century. Since that time the character of the breed in the remoter parts of Kerry seems to have undergone little, if any, change.
:
Mr Wilde (afterwards Sir William Wilde) stated, as his opinion, in 1858, that about 25 years previously there were four native breeds of oxen in Ireland:-
:
(1) The Old Irish Cow of small stature, long in the back, with moderate-sized, wide-spreading, slightly elevated and projecting horns; in colour they were principally black and red.
:
(2) The Irish Long-horns, resembling the Lancashire and Craven; in some cases the horns were wide-spreading and only slightly curved, but frequently the horns were so completely curved inwards as to cross in front of or behind the mouth: these were large animals of a brindled-red colour.
:
(3) the Maol or Moyle, a polled or hornless variety, similar to the Angus; a medium-sized docile animal, dun, black, or white in colour, rarely mottled; much used for draught and ploughing.
:
(4) The Kerry, somewhat of a middle horn.
:
Of this animal [the Kerry] he states:-"
:
"In its native state it is usually much smaller than the old Irish Cow; in colour it is either red, brindled, or black; it is exceedingly hardy; its milk is abundant and rich, and it possesses the additional advantage of rapidly fattening upon very moderate fare when brought from its native mountains into the plains and fertile country. This race has small heads and rather short horns turning upwards. They are very docile; although Fynes Moryson writing in the times of Elizabeth, and Thomas Dineley in those of Charles II, describe them as exceedingly ungentle, and 'as wicked and rebellious as the people'. Several possess many of the finest points belonging to the modern shorthorns, and are in some respects superior as a stock, owing to their fattening as well as their milking qualities. Their beef is also most excellent. As was recently stated by His Excellency Lord Eglinton, 'they are the thoroughbreds of cattle'. Their chief localities are at present the mountains of Kerry and Cork; but it is more than probable that in former times the race existed in all the regions of Ireland. It was said that during hard winters the people of Kerry thatched their cattle by means of mats tied on their backs."
:
Wilde has described a number of ancient crania of cattle found in various parts of Ireland; but the modern Kerry Cow cannot be identified with any of these ancient remains. There are recently in the Dublin Science and Art Museum 53 crania of different varieties of oxen, from the bogs, lake deposits, and crannogs of Ireland; but there is not one which presents a close resemblance to the skull of a modern Kerry. It may be observed that none of these remains comes from the County Kerry: they are chiefly from Meath.
:
The following references will be of interest to the owners of Kerry and Dexter Cattle:-
:
Arthur Young, referring to Lord Doneraile's experiences of cattle on his estate in the County Cork, says:- "He tried many breeds of cattle, and finds that the long-horned English Cow is the best for fattening. The Holderness for giving much thin, poor milk, but are too heavy for winter feeding. The Kerry Cow is much the best for milking in quantity of good milk."
:
Writing in 1807, about the mountainous regions of west Kerry, Isaac Wilde says:- "This country was formerly remarkable for a vary small and beautiful breed of black cattle; but the people have been seized with the spirit of improvement, and the true Kerry Cow, as it is called, is now rarely to be found, excepting amongst the mountains in the vicinity of Bantry Bay. The size of this animal does not exceed that of an ordinary yearling calf. From the prevalent inclination of the people to discard the native stock of their hills, it is presumed that they derive more profit from the enlarged breed; but there are some of a contrary opinion, who still maintain their attachment to the ancient race; and who contend that from their hardy character and the abundance and richness of their milk, they are peculiarly adapted to the situation and circumstance of the country."
:
The same author mentions as a well-known fact that Kerry butter, which was then regarded as amongst the best produced in Ireland, was re-made in London, deprived of its salt, and sold as the produce of Epping.
:
In the early part of the present century the Royal Dublin Society undertook a general survey of Ireland, for the purpose of developing the industrial resources of the country. The County Kerry was not separately surveyed; but the adjoining County of Cork was surveyed for the Society by the Rev. Horatio Townsend. The author refers frequently in the course of his survey to the partiality of the farmers for the small breed of cattle for dairy purposes. These cattle seem to have been closely related to the Kerries of the present day. Referring to the cattle of the Barony of Carbery, in the south-west of the county, he says:- "the cattle of this district , except those possessed by gentlemen, are of a small size, seldom weighing more than three hundred and a half weight, and frequently not more than two. The breed is now a mixed one, of various colours; formerly they were all black. In the more remote and mountainous parts of the district this colour still predominates; but few, I believe, of the pure native breed at present remain. They are in general, very good milkers - eight pottles, or sixteen quarts a day, being no uncommon produce from a cow of three hundredweight. The usual price for a new milch cow of this description is from eight to ten guineas. Small beasts of all kinds are preferred by the farmers as being better suited to the circumstances of the country, more capable of enduring hardship, and more easily subsisted."
:
A few years later Edward Wakefield writes:- " The Kerry Stock are a distinct breed, but they are not to be procured of the true blood, because the long-horned are now so much dispersed throughout the country that the breeds have become intermixed, The Duke of Bedford desired me to purchase some of this kind for him; but though I rode many miles and made every possible inquiry, I was not able to find any which I thought free from admixture"
:
The views expressed by David Low about Kerries nearly half a century ago, are of special interest at the present time. He says:- " These cattle are hardy and capable of subsisting on scanty fare. Although stunted in size when brought from the bogs and sterile pastures on which they are reared, they make a wonderful advance in size, even though several years old, when supplied with suitable food. The fat of their beef is well admixed with the muscular parts, or, in technical language, marbled; and they fatten well in the inside, a character which renders them valuable to the butcher, and distinguishes them, in a remarkable degree, from the long-horned breeds of the lower country.
:
"But the peculiar value of the Kerry breed is the adaptation of the females to the purposes of the domestic dairy. In milking properties the Kerry cow, taking size into account, is equal, or superior, to any in the British Islands. It is the large quantity of milk yielded by an animal so small which renders the Kerry cow so generally valued by the cottagers and smaller tenants of Ireland. She is frequently termed the poor man's cow, and she merits this appellation by her capacity of subsisting on such fare as he has the means to supply.
:
"This fine little breed has been greatly neglected: scarce any means have been used to produce a progressive development of form, by supplying proper nourishment to the breeding parents and the young, and no general care has been bestowed on preserving the purity of the stock. In almost every part of Ireland the breed has been crossed with the longhorns; and a great proportion of the cows of the country, known under the name of Kerries, are the result of crosses of this kind, and so have deviated in a greater or less degree from the native type, and almost always for the worse.
:
"A few honourable exceptions, however, exist to this general neglect of the mountain dairy breed of Ireland. One attempt had succeeded to such a degree as to form a new breed, which partially exists with the characters communicated to it. It has been termed the Dexter Breed. It was formed by the late Mr. Dexter, agent to Lord Hawarden. This gentleman is said to have produced his curious breed by selection from the best of the mountain cattle of the district. He communicated to it a remarkable roundness of form and shortness of legs. The steps, however, by which this improvement was effected, have not been sufficiently recorded; and some doubt may exist whether the original was the pure Kerry, or some other breed proper to the central parts of Ireland now unknown, or whether some foreign blood, as the Dutch, was not mixed with the native race. One character of the Dexter breed is frequently observed in certain cattle of Ireland, namely, short legs, and a small space from the knee and hock to the hoofs. This has probably given rise to the saying sometimes heard of, 'Tipperary beef down to the heels'. However the Dexter breed has been formed, it still retains its name, and the roundness and depth of carcase which distinguished it. When any individual of a Kerry drove appears remarkably round an short-legged, is is common for the country people to call it a Dexter...
:
"The Kerry cows afford admirable first crosses with the Short-horns, Herefords, and other larger breeds. Of these crossed, that with the Shorthorns is the most general, and appears to be the best. The crosses are found well adapted to fattening as well as to the dairy; and the profit from this system is so immediate, that it is to be believed that it will be more largely resorted to than a progressive improvement of the parent stock.
:
"Nevertheless, the cultivation of the pure dairy breed of the Kerry mountains ought not to be neglected by individuals or public associations. The breed is yet the best that is reared over a large extent of country, from its adaptation to the existing state of agriculture, and to the humid mountains and bogs in which it is naturalized. Were it to be reared with care in a good district, the form would be gradually more developed, and the Kerry breed might then bear the same relation to the mountain breeds of Ireland that the Castle Martin does to those of Wales, or the West Highland to those of the North of Scotland."
:
It is hoped that the publication of the Kerry and Dexter Herd-book by the Royal Dublin Society will have the effect of further developing the good qualities for which these cattle are now celebrated. It can scarcely fail to preserve the distinctive characters of the breeds; and it will afford the guarantee of pedigree which has been so anxiously desired.
:
RICHARD J MOSS
Royal Dublin Society,
September 1890
:
:
RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY'S KERRY AND DEXTER HERD BOOK
:
FOUNDATION HERD
:
1. All animals entered in the first, second, and third issues of the Kerry Register, as published by the Farmer's Gazette, shall be accepted as the basis of the Royal Dublin Society's Kerry and Dexter Herd-book. The numbers given to each animal shall be the Herd Book number of that animal.
:
2. Any animal not entered in the Kerry or Dexter Herd Book which shall receive a Prize or Commendation at any Show held in the United Kingdom, where there is a separate classification for Kerries and Dexters, shall be eligible for entry in the Herd Book, provided that the Royal Dublin Society shall nominate the Judges at such Show, and that they comply with the following conditions as to Colour:-
Kerry Bulls must be pure black, with the exception of a few grey hairs about the organs of generation, in animals of exceptional merit.
Kerry Cows and Heifers must be pure black, with the exception of white on the udder, in animals of exceptional merit.
Dexter Bulls and Cows may be either black or red, with a little white.
:
PEDIGREE STOCK
:
3. Any animal is eligible for entry which is the produce of a sire and a dam both of which are duly entered, or are eligible for entry, in the Herd Book. In the latter case the sire and dam must also be entered.
:
4. Any animal is eligible for entry if the sire, and the dam's sire, and the grand-dam's sire, are all entered, or eligible for entry, in the Herd Book; the sires not already entered must also be entered.
:
5. Each application for entry must be made on the Official Form, and all the particulars required in that Certificate must be given, if known.
:
6. The application must be accompanied by a Statutory Declaration as to the correctness of the pedigree and other particulars required, and also a Certificate from the owner of the sire of the animal to be entered, certifying that the dam was served by his bull, and giving the date of the last service.
:
7. No application for entry shall be entertained until a fee of 5s for each animal is paid to the Society.
:
8. The Society reserves the right to discontinue or alter any of the foregoing Rules, or to add any new Rule thereto.
:
9. Entry Forms, etc, will be supplied on application to "The Agricultural Superintendent”, Royal Dublin Society, Kildare Street, Dublin.
:
"Preface to the Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Volume One, 1890"
Royal Dublin Society
:
In January 1887, the "Farmer's Gazette" published the first register of Dexter (and Kerry) cattle in Ireland. This ran for about three years and was then published by the Royal Dublin Society as the Kerry and Dexter Herdbook, with Volume 1 appearing in 1890. The Irish Kerry and Dexter Society was not formed until 1917. Duncan MacIntyre, a Vet and Dexter breeder on the Isle of Bute in Scotland, typed out this Preface and on 13 November 2004 posted it on the Discussion Board of www.dextercattleforsale.co.uk. Thanks to Duncan for his work on the keyboard, allowing us access to this significant historical writing.
:
The full listing of Dexter Bulls and Dexter Cows in this Herd Book are also provided on this website. [Not yet on this Blog]
:
~~ Start of Herdbook Preface ~~
:
The interesting attention devoted to the Kerry and Dexter Breeds of Cattle induced the Royal Dublin Society, early in the year 1887, to establish a Herd-Book for these breeds.
:
Previous attempts in this direction had been made. In 1879 the County Kerry Agricultural Society passed a resolution approving of the publication of a Herd-book under their own auspices; but difficulties arose which prevented the project from being carried out.
:
The "Farmer's Gazette" undertook the publication of a Register, and in January, 1887, published the first issue of their "Register of Pure Kerry Cattle and Dexters". This register extended to three volumes, including 46 Kerry Bulls and 100 Kerry Cows. It did not include any Dexter Bulls and only 10 Dexter Cows. The Royal Dublin Society acquired from the publishers of the "Farmer's Gazette" their rights in connexion with this register; and the Cattle, with the numbers originally assigned to them, are now included in the Society's Herd-book.
:
Kerry Cattle were shown for the first time at Cattle Shows of the Royal Dublin Society at the Spring Show held in 1844. A distinct class for Dexters was first introduced in 1876. It is generally believed that Kerry Cattle are the descendants of a well-defined native breed of great antiquity; but it is difficult to trace the history of the breed further back than the middle of the last century. Since that time the character of the breed in the remoter parts of Kerry seems to have undergone little, if any, change.
:
Mr Wilde (afterwards Sir William Wilde) stated, as his opinion, in 1858, that about 25 years previously there were four native breeds of oxen in Ireland:-
:
(1) The Old Irish Cow of small stature, long in the back, with moderate-sized, wide-spreading, slightly elevated and projecting horns; in colour they were principally black and red.
:
(2) The Irish Long-horns, resembling the Lancashire and Craven; in some cases the horns were wide-spreading and only slightly curved, but frequently the horns were so completely curved inwards as to cross in front of or behind the mouth: these were large animals of a brindled-red colour.
:
(3) the Maol or Moyle, a polled or hornless variety, similar to the Angus; a medium-sized docile animal, dun, black, or white in colour, rarely mottled; much used for draught and ploughing.
:
(4) The Kerry, somewhat of a middle horn.
:
Of this animal [the Kerry] he states:-"
:
"In its native state it is usually much smaller than the old Irish Cow; in colour it is either red, brindled, or black; it is exceedingly hardy; its milk is abundant and rich, and it possesses the additional advantage of rapidly fattening upon very moderate fare when brought from its native mountains into the plains and fertile country. This race has small heads and rather short horns turning upwards. They are very docile; although Fynes Moryson writing in the times of Elizabeth, and Thomas Dineley in those of Charles II, describe them as exceedingly ungentle, and 'as wicked and rebellious as the people'. Several possess many of the finest points belonging to the modern shorthorns, and are in some respects superior as a stock, owing to their fattening as well as their milking qualities. Their beef is also most excellent. As was recently stated by His Excellency Lord Eglinton, 'they are the thoroughbreds of cattle'. Their chief localities are at present the mountains of Kerry and Cork; but it is more than probable that in former times the race existed in all the regions of Ireland. It was said that during hard winters the people of Kerry thatched their cattle by means of mats tied on their backs."
:
Wilde has described a number of ancient crania of cattle found in various parts of Ireland; but the modern Kerry Cow cannot be identified with any of these ancient remains. There are recently in the Dublin Science and Art Museum 53 crania of different varieties of oxen, from the bogs, lake deposits, and crannogs of Ireland; but there is not one which presents a close resemblance to the skull of a modern Kerry. It may be observed that none of these remains comes from the County Kerry: they are chiefly from Meath.
:
The following references will be of interest to the owners of Kerry and Dexter Cattle:-
:
Arthur Young, referring to Lord Doneraile's experiences of cattle on his estate in the County Cork, says:- "He tried many breeds of cattle, and finds that the long-horned English Cow is the best for fattening. The Holderness for giving much thin, poor milk, but are too heavy for winter feeding. The Kerry Cow is much the best for milking in quantity of good milk."
:
Writing in 1807, about the mountainous regions of west Kerry, Isaac Wilde says:- "This country was formerly remarkable for a vary small and beautiful breed of black cattle; but the people have been seized with the spirit of improvement, and the true Kerry Cow, as it is called, is now rarely to be found, excepting amongst the mountains in the vicinity of Bantry Bay. The size of this animal does not exceed that of an ordinary yearling calf. From the prevalent inclination of the people to discard the native stock of their hills, it is presumed that they derive more profit from the enlarged breed; but there are some of a contrary opinion, who still maintain their attachment to the ancient race; and who contend that from their hardy character and the abundance and richness of their milk, they are peculiarly adapted to the situation and circumstance of the country."
:
The same author mentions as a well-known fact that Kerry butter, which was then regarded as amongst the best produced in Ireland, was re-made in London, deprived of its salt, and sold as the produce of Epping.
:
In the early part of the present century the Royal Dublin Society undertook a general survey of Ireland, for the purpose of developing the industrial resources of the country. The County Kerry was not separately surveyed; but the adjoining County of Cork was surveyed for the Society by the Rev. Horatio Townsend. The author refers frequently in the course of his survey to the partiality of the farmers for the small breed of cattle for dairy purposes. These cattle seem to have been closely related to the Kerries of the present day. Referring to the cattle of the Barony of Carbery, in the south-west of the county, he says:- "the cattle of this district , except those possessed by gentlemen, are of a small size, seldom weighing more than three hundred and a half weight, and frequently not more than two. The breed is now a mixed one, of various colours; formerly they were all black. In the more remote and mountainous parts of the district this colour still predominates; but few, I believe, of the pure native breed at present remain. They are in general, very good milkers - eight pottles, or sixteen quarts a day, being no uncommon produce from a cow of three hundredweight. The usual price for a new milch cow of this description is from eight to ten guineas. Small beasts of all kinds are preferred by the farmers as being better suited to the circumstances of the country, more capable of enduring hardship, and more easily subsisted."
:
A few years later Edward Wakefield writes:- " The Kerry Stock are a distinct breed, but they are not to be procured of the true blood, because the long-horned are now so much dispersed throughout the country that the breeds have become intermixed, The Duke of Bedford desired me to purchase some of this kind for him; but though I rode many miles and made every possible inquiry, I was not able to find any which I thought free from admixture"
:
The views expressed by David Low about Kerries nearly half a century ago, are of special interest at the present time. He says:- " These cattle are hardy and capable of subsisting on scanty fare. Although stunted in size when brought from the bogs and sterile pastures on which they are reared, they make a wonderful advance in size, even though several years old, when supplied with suitable food. The fat of their beef is well admixed with the muscular parts, or, in technical language, marbled; and they fatten well in the inside, a character which renders them valuable to the butcher, and distinguishes them, in a remarkable degree, from the long-horned breeds of the lower country.
:
"But the peculiar value of the Kerry breed is the adaptation of the females to the purposes of the domestic dairy. In milking properties the Kerry cow, taking size into account, is equal, or superior, to any in the British Islands. It is the large quantity of milk yielded by an animal so small which renders the Kerry cow so generally valued by the cottagers and smaller tenants of Ireland. She is frequently termed the poor man's cow, and she merits this appellation by her capacity of subsisting on such fare as he has the means to supply.
:
"This fine little breed has been greatly neglected: scarce any means have been used to produce a progressive development of form, by supplying proper nourishment to the breeding parents and the young, and no general care has been bestowed on preserving the purity of the stock. In almost every part of Ireland the breed has been crossed with the longhorns; and a great proportion of the cows of the country, known under the name of Kerries, are the result of crosses of this kind, and so have deviated in a greater or less degree from the native type, and almost always for the worse.
:
"A few honourable exceptions, however, exist to this general neglect of the mountain dairy breed of Ireland. One attempt had succeeded to such a degree as to form a new breed, which partially exists with the characters communicated to it. It has been termed the Dexter Breed. It was formed by the late Mr. Dexter, agent to Lord Hawarden. This gentleman is said to have produced his curious breed by selection from the best of the mountain cattle of the district. He communicated to it a remarkable roundness of form and shortness of legs. The steps, however, by which this improvement was effected, have not been sufficiently recorded; and some doubt may exist whether the original was the pure Kerry, or some other breed proper to the central parts of Ireland now unknown, or whether some foreign blood, as the Dutch, was not mixed with the native race. One character of the Dexter breed is frequently observed in certain cattle of Ireland, namely, short legs, and a small space from the knee and hock to the hoofs. This has probably given rise to the saying sometimes heard of, 'Tipperary beef down to the heels'. However the Dexter breed has been formed, it still retains its name, and the roundness and depth of carcase which distinguished it. When any individual of a Kerry drove appears remarkably round an short-legged, is is common for the country people to call it a Dexter...
:
"The Kerry cows afford admirable first crosses with the Short-horns, Herefords, and other larger breeds. Of these crossed, that with the Shorthorns is the most general, and appears to be the best. The crosses are found well adapted to fattening as well as to the dairy; and the profit from this system is so immediate, that it is to be believed that it will be more largely resorted to than a progressive improvement of the parent stock.
:
"Nevertheless, the cultivation of the pure dairy breed of the Kerry mountains ought not to be neglected by individuals or public associations. The breed is yet the best that is reared over a large extent of country, from its adaptation to the existing state of agriculture, and to the humid mountains and bogs in which it is naturalized. Were it to be reared with care in a good district, the form would be gradually more developed, and the Kerry breed might then bear the same relation to the mountain breeds of Ireland that the Castle Martin does to those of Wales, or the West Highland to those of the North of Scotland."
:
It is hoped that the publication of the Kerry and Dexter Herd-book by the Royal Dublin Society will have the effect of further developing the good qualities for which these cattle are now celebrated. It can scarcely fail to preserve the distinctive characters of the breeds; and it will afford the guarantee of pedigree which has been so anxiously desired.
:
RICHARD J MOSS
Royal Dublin Society,
September 1890
:
:
RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY'S KERRY AND DEXTER HERD BOOK
:
FOUNDATION HERD
:
1. All animals entered in the first, second, and third issues of the Kerry Register, as published by the Farmer's Gazette, shall be accepted as the basis of the Royal Dublin Society's Kerry and Dexter Herd-book. The numbers given to each animal shall be the Herd Book number of that animal.
:
2. Any animal not entered in the Kerry or Dexter Herd Book which shall receive a Prize or Commendation at any Show held in the United Kingdom, where there is a separate classification for Kerries and Dexters, shall be eligible for entry in the Herd Book, provided that the Royal Dublin Society shall nominate the Judges at such Show, and that they comply with the following conditions as to Colour:-
Kerry Bulls must be pure black, with the exception of a few grey hairs about the organs of generation, in animals of exceptional merit.
Kerry Cows and Heifers must be pure black, with the exception of white on the udder, in animals of exceptional merit.
Dexter Bulls and Cows may be either black or red, with a little white.
:
PEDIGREE STOCK
:
3. Any animal is eligible for entry which is the produce of a sire and a dam both of which are duly entered, or are eligible for entry, in the Herd Book. In the latter case the sire and dam must also be entered.
:
4. Any animal is eligible for entry if the sire, and the dam's sire, and the grand-dam's sire, are all entered, or eligible for entry, in the Herd Book; the sires not already entered must also be entered.
:
5. Each application for entry must be made on the Official Form, and all the particulars required in that Certificate must be given, if known.
:
6. The application must be accompanied by a Statutory Declaration as to the correctness of the pedigree and other particulars required, and also a Certificate from the owner of the sire of the animal to be entered, certifying that the dam was served by his bull, and giving the date of the last service.
:
7. No application for entry shall be entertained until a fee of 5s for each animal is paid to the Society.
:
8. The Society reserves the right to discontinue or alter any of the foregoing Rules, or to add any new Rule thereto.
:
9. Entry Forms, etc, will be supplied on application to "The Agricultural Superintendent”, Royal Dublin Society, Kildare Street, Dublin.
:
Original Article 2: "When is a Dexter not a Dexter?"
:
"When is a Dexter Not a Dexter"
by Beverley McCulloch
:
Originally published in "Dexter Dispatch", No. 46, December 2004, pages 14-15 ("Dexter Dispatch" is the Bulletin of the Dexter Cattle Society of New Zealand - the DCSNZ website is http://www.dexter-cattle.co.nz/)
:
Beverley McCulloch was a retired scientist who used to work for the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand. She died in March 2006, just two years after writingthis article. She wrote a wide range of articles on Dexters, rare breeds conservation, and smallfarming, and undertook editing and website development for a number of groups, notably the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand. In all these activities, she worked alongside her husband, Michael Trotter. Together, they operated Summer Wine Dexter stud on 10 acres in North Canterbury. See their website, Summer Wine Dun Dexters http://www.dundexters.co.nz/.
:
~~ Start of Article ~~
:
Once upon a time (well, a couple of hundred years ago anyway) there was a relic population of “black Celtic cattle” (hardy animals and good milkers), which had survived among the cottagers of south-western Ireland – principally in County Kerry. As with most livestock breeds of that time they were known by the name of their place of origin as Kerry Cattle.
:
At some time in their history – and how far back this occurred is not known – a genetic mutation occurred in the Kerry population which resulted in a percentage of calves being born with a form of dwarfism (very similar to the achondroplastic dwarfism that occurs in humans). These dwarfed animals had short legs and relatively large heads on normal-sized – if rather heavy – bodies. Both the ‘normal’ Kerries and the dwarfed form were equally useful for milk or meat – it was, after all, really only the shorties’ legs that were markedly affected.
:
The local population soon realized that there were now some rules required in the breeding of these cattle. The basic one was to never breed a short-legged animal to another short-legged type. If you did, you apparently concentrated the dwarfism effect and the result was often a much-deformed calf that was born dead. Their solution was simply to make sure you always bred a short-leg to a long-leg – this way you were almost always safe – as of course you were when breeding long-legs together.
:
And so they continued happily breeding these two physical forms of the Kerry cattle until some time in the Victorian era, some bright spark of an Englishman decided that the stumpy variety of Kerry was kind of cute, and further decided that it perhaps would be a good idea to declare it a separate variety. The name “Dexter” was adopted, but, at least initially, breeders had the sense to keep all the animals, regardless of leg length, in the same Herd Book. The tall ones continued to be called Kerries, and the shorties were termed Dexter-Kerries. Each form could still be bred indiscriminately with the other.
:
Trouble first arose with the decision to declare the ‘Dexter’ and the ‘Kerry’ two separate breeds and put them into two separate Herd Books. That was fine for the Kerry, but for the Dexter it created a nonsensical situation whereby to maintain the Dexter breed either a high percentage of deformed or “bulldog” calves had to be accepted (i.e. breeding short-leg to short-leg) or the short-legged Dexters had to be cross-bred with long-legged Kerries – these being now a different breed.
:
The resolution to this problem was that the long-legged animals to which any of the short-legged Dexters were bred became referred to (quite ridiculously) as long-legged Dexters. There could, of course, be no such thing – a Dexter was short-legged by definition! A long-legged ‘Dexter’ was identical with a Kerry – in fact it was a Kerry.
:
That situation has remained with us to the present day, but it has recently been compounded by two developments.
:
The first is that for some years there has been a selection for small size in the Dexter breed which is not brought about by dwarfism (now known as chondrodysplasia) – in other words, we now have a lot of small, long-legged Dexters – far smaller than the original Kerry.
:
The second, and much more important, has been the isolation of the gene that causes chondrodysplasia in Dexters and the development of a testing programme which will identify affected animals. The potential is now there to develop a chondrodysplasia-free breed.
:
It is my contention that we will soon no longer have Dexters as the breed was historically defined. Remember, a Dexter was a dwarfed form derived from the Kerry breed of cattle, and characterized by its short legs and relatively heavier bone.
:
For a long time Dexter breeders have proudly advertised their animals as the smallest British cattle – pointing out smugly that they were ‘naturally’ small and not just a miniature version of a larger breed. The way things are progressing, the time is coming when the Dexter as it has been known for hundreds of years will no longer be with us. Instead we will have only a breed of miniature Kerries.
:
And that’s the long and the short of it. (Except that you can all sit down and start writing letters to the Editor, telling me why I’m wrong!)
:
"When is a Dexter Not a Dexter"
by Beverley McCulloch
:
Originally published in "Dexter Dispatch", No. 46, December 2004, pages 14-15 ("Dexter Dispatch" is the Bulletin of the Dexter Cattle Society of New Zealand - the DCSNZ website is http://www.dexter-cattle.co.nz/)
:
Beverley McCulloch was a retired scientist who used to work for the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand. She died in March 2006, just two years after writingthis article. She wrote a wide range of articles on Dexters, rare breeds conservation, and smallfarming, and undertook editing and website development for a number of groups, notably the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand. In all these activities, she worked alongside her husband, Michael Trotter. Together, they operated Summer Wine Dexter stud on 10 acres in North Canterbury. See their website, Summer Wine Dun Dexters http://www.dundexters.co.nz/.
:
~~ Start of Article ~~
:
Once upon a time (well, a couple of hundred years ago anyway) there was a relic population of “black Celtic cattle” (hardy animals and good milkers), which had survived among the cottagers of south-western Ireland – principally in County Kerry. As with most livestock breeds of that time they were known by the name of their place of origin as Kerry Cattle.
:
At some time in their history – and how far back this occurred is not known – a genetic mutation occurred in the Kerry population which resulted in a percentage of calves being born with a form of dwarfism (very similar to the achondroplastic dwarfism that occurs in humans). These dwarfed animals had short legs and relatively large heads on normal-sized – if rather heavy – bodies. Both the ‘normal’ Kerries and the dwarfed form were equally useful for milk or meat – it was, after all, really only the shorties’ legs that were markedly affected.
:
The local population soon realized that there were now some rules required in the breeding of these cattle. The basic one was to never breed a short-legged animal to another short-legged type. If you did, you apparently concentrated the dwarfism effect and the result was often a much-deformed calf that was born dead. Their solution was simply to make sure you always bred a short-leg to a long-leg – this way you were almost always safe – as of course you were when breeding long-legs together.
:
And so they continued happily breeding these two physical forms of the Kerry cattle until some time in the Victorian era, some bright spark of an Englishman decided that the stumpy variety of Kerry was kind of cute, and further decided that it perhaps would be a good idea to declare it a separate variety. The name “Dexter” was adopted, but, at least initially, breeders had the sense to keep all the animals, regardless of leg length, in the same Herd Book. The tall ones continued to be called Kerries, and the shorties were termed Dexter-Kerries. Each form could still be bred indiscriminately with the other.
:
Trouble first arose with the decision to declare the ‘Dexter’ and the ‘Kerry’ two separate breeds and put them into two separate Herd Books. That was fine for the Kerry, but for the Dexter it created a nonsensical situation whereby to maintain the Dexter breed either a high percentage of deformed or “bulldog” calves had to be accepted (i.e. breeding short-leg to short-leg) or the short-legged Dexters had to be cross-bred with long-legged Kerries – these being now a different breed.
:
The resolution to this problem was that the long-legged animals to which any of the short-legged Dexters were bred became referred to (quite ridiculously) as long-legged Dexters. There could, of course, be no such thing – a Dexter was short-legged by definition! A long-legged ‘Dexter’ was identical with a Kerry – in fact it was a Kerry.
:
That situation has remained with us to the present day, but it has recently been compounded by two developments.
:
The first is that for some years there has been a selection for small size in the Dexter breed which is not brought about by dwarfism (now known as chondrodysplasia) – in other words, we now have a lot of small, long-legged Dexters – far smaller than the original Kerry.
:
The second, and much more important, has been the isolation of the gene that causes chondrodysplasia in Dexters and the development of a testing programme which will identify affected animals. The potential is now there to develop a chondrodysplasia-free breed.
:
It is my contention that we will soon no longer have Dexters as the breed was historically defined. Remember, a Dexter was a dwarfed form derived from the Kerry breed of cattle, and characterized by its short legs and relatively heavier bone.
:
For a long time Dexter breeders have proudly advertised their animals as the smallest British cattle – pointing out smugly that they were ‘naturally’ small and not just a miniature version of a larger breed. The way things are progressing, the time is coming when the Dexter as it has been known for hundreds of years will no longer be with us. Instead we will have only a breed of miniature Kerries.
:
And that’s the long and the short of it. (Except that you can all sit down and start writing letters to the Editor, telling me why I’m wrong!)
:
Friday, January 23, 2009
3: Dexters as the Multi-Purpose Smallholder’s Cattle Breed
:
Traditionally Dexters are viewed as a dual-purpose breed, with the ability to produce high quality milk and beef. They are renowned as one of the best converters of feed for both meat and milk. Dexters thrive in a wide range of difficult conditions, from the dry heat of Australia and South Africa to the cold of Canada and the damp temperateness of England and New Zealand. Hence they have been called "Beefy Little Milkers".
:
Dexter milk can be used for humans – the UK has had a number of Dexter dairy herds in the past and a small number still survive there and elsewhere. Dexter milk can also be used to raise calves – Dexter cows can easily suckle two calves a year and have been known to suckle up to three or four, or even more!
:
Traditionally Dexters are viewed as a dual-purpose breed, with the ability to produce high quality milk and beef. They are renowned as one of the best converters of feed for both meat and milk. Dexters thrive in a wide range of difficult conditions, from the dry heat of Australia and South Africa to the cold of Canada and the damp temperateness of England and New Zealand. Hence they have been called "Beefy Little Milkers".
:
Dexter milk can be used for humans – the UK has had a number of Dexter dairy herds in the past and a small number still survive there and elsewhere. Dexter milk can also be used to raise calves – Dexter cows can easily suckle two calves a year and have been known to suckle up to three or four, or even more!
:
A graded Dexter cow (Jersey-Dexter cross) suckling her own calf and one other (Photo: JLP, 2004).
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Dexter cattle can be good beef producers. They hold their condition over winter and during dry spells much better than other breeds. Dexter beef can be produced for the household or sold to a niche market – people looking for high quality meat from a known source.
:
However Dexters have also been referred to as a triple-purpose breed, adding their use as a draft animal, a task they performed in ancient times. In the UK, Dexters have been used to simulate Neolithic ploughing in an experimental Iron Age farm. Using Dexters as draft animals draws on their ability to learn quickly, their sturdiness and their stout hearts. One writer on breeds of oxen has referred to Dexters as "Rugged animals with plenty of zip" (www.ruralheritage.com/ox_paddock/oxbreeds2.htm#dexter).
:
Irish Dexter team Rex and Dun with their teamster Myles Matteson of Suncook, New Hampshire (photo by Drew Conroy - www.ruralheritage.com/ox_paddock/dexter.htm).
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But there’s no need to restrict Dexters to just three purposes! For example, they are well known as friends and companions to people, young and old. They are also kept by many breeders for ecological conservation purposes, because their impact on the land is much less than larger cattle.
:
Around the world, Dexters are often the choice of smallholders, who are only part-time or hobby farmers. The majority of Dexter breeders in the UK own between 20 and 80 acres. In New Zealand, in 2003, more than half of the Dexter breeders had six Dexters or less, with only 10% of breeders having over 15 Dexters. Smallholders look for a rewarding animal to raise, something unusual, interesting, a little bit different. Dexters meet these criteria. Dexters are a genuinely multi-purpose breed.
:
2c: Photos of a Bulldog Calf (Warning: Not for the faint-hearted)
:
A bulldog calf is a deformed aborted foetus and in the past has been a genetic-related problem in a number of cattle breeds, especially Dexters. They are now easily avoided by breeders due to improvements in genetic knowledge and testing.
:
As noted in the Paper, "A DNA Test for Chondrodysplasia in Dexter Cattle" by J.A.L. Cavanagh, I Tammen, P.A. Windsor. P.C. Thomson, F.W. Nicholas and H.W. Raadsma, a bulldog calf displays "disproportionate dwarfism, a short vertebral column, abnormally short legs, a relatively large head with retruded muzzle, cleft palate, protruding tongue and a large abdominal hernia" (p.1).
:
In an article "Chondrodysplasia in Australian Dexter cattle" by P.A. Harper, M.R. Latter, F. W. Nicholas, R.W. Cook and P.A. Gill in the Australian Veterinary Journal, March 1998, vol. 76(3), the characteristic features of "congenital lethal chondrodysplasia (Dexter bulldog)" are described as including "abortion, disproportionate dwarfism, a short vertebral column, marked micromelia, a relatively large head with retruded muzzle, cleft palate and protruding tongue and a large abdominal hernia".
:
Duncan MacIntyre, a vet and Dexter breeder from Scotland, has kindly made available photos of a bulldog calf . These photos were taken in 1997 and show the characteristics noted above.
:
:
:
:
A bulldog calf is a deformed aborted foetus and in the past has been a genetic-related problem in a number of cattle breeds, especially Dexters. They are now easily avoided by breeders due to improvements in genetic knowledge and testing.
:
As noted in the Paper, "A DNA Test for Chondrodysplasia in Dexter Cattle" by J.A.L. Cavanagh, I Tammen, P.A. Windsor. P.C. Thomson, F.W. Nicholas and H.W. Raadsma, a bulldog calf displays "disproportionate dwarfism, a short vertebral column, abnormally short legs, a relatively large head with retruded muzzle, cleft palate, protruding tongue and a large abdominal hernia" (p.1).
:
In an article "Chondrodysplasia in Australian Dexter cattle" by P.A. Harper, M.R. Latter, F. W. Nicholas, R.W. Cook and P.A. Gill in the Australian Veterinary Journal, March 1998, vol. 76(3), the characteristic features of "congenital lethal chondrodysplasia (Dexter bulldog)" are described as including "abortion, disproportionate dwarfism, a short vertebral column, marked micromelia, a relatively large head with retruded muzzle, cleft palate and protruding tongue and a large abdominal hernia".
:
Duncan MacIntyre, a vet and Dexter breeder from Scotland, has kindly made available photos of a bulldog calf . These photos were taken in 1997 and show the characteristics noted above.
:
: ::2b: Dexters and the Genetics of Leg Length
:
It appears that the gene relating to leg length in Dexters has two alleles, one which is dominant and generally designated as "L", the other which is recessive and generally designated as "S". A Dexter with "LL" is long-legged, an "LS" Dexter is short-legged, and an "SS" Dexter is a non-viable bulldog calf. See Post 2c for photos of a bulldog calf (which are rather distressing).
:
If two long-leg (LL) Dexters are mated, only long-leg (LL) Dexters result - remember, offspring receive half of their DNA from their mother and half from their father:
:
L L (sire) x L L (dam)
gives 4 calves
L L
L L
L L
L L
:
If a long-leg (LL) Dexter is mated with a short-leg (LS) Dexter, then of the four possible resulting genotypes, two are long-legged (LL) and two are short-legged (LS):
:
L L (sire) x L S (dam)
gives
L L
L S
L L
L S
:
If two short-leg (LS) Dexters are mated, then of the four possible resulting genotypes, one is long-legged (LL), two are short-legged (LS) and one is a bulldog calf (SS):
:
L S x L S
gives
L L
L S
S L
S S
:
Note that these genetic outcomes are statistical probabilities only. For example, the first four calves from the same sire and dam may be all of exactly the same type.
:
It appears that the gene relating to leg length in Dexters has two alleles, one which is dominant and generally designated as "L", the other which is recessive and generally designated as "S". A Dexter with "LL" is long-legged, an "LS" Dexter is short-legged, and an "SS" Dexter is a non-viable bulldog calf. See Post 2c for photos of a bulldog calf (which are rather distressing).
:
If two long-leg (LL) Dexters are mated, only long-leg (LL) Dexters result - remember, offspring receive half of their DNA from their mother and half from their father:
:
L L (sire) x L L (dam)
gives 4 calves
L L
L L
L L
L L
:
If a long-leg (LL) Dexter is mated with a short-leg (LS) Dexter, then of the four possible resulting genotypes, two are long-legged (LL) and two are short-legged (LS):
:
L L (sire) x L S (dam)
gives
L L
L S
L L
L S
:
If two short-leg (LS) Dexters are mated, then of the four possible resulting genotypes, one is long-legged (LL), two are short-legged (LS) and one is a bulldog calf (SS):
:
L S x L S
gives
L L
L S
S L
S S
:
Note that these genetic outcomes are statistical probabilities only. For example, the first four calves from the same sire and dam may be all of exactly the same type.
:
2a: Why Dexters are Small
:
The smallness of the Dexter can be due to either of two quite different factors, one genetic, the other a breeding strategy. The first factor is a gene that in its recessive form results in a "short-legged" animal. A short-legged Dexter has an obviously short length of the cannon bone on the front legs between the knee and the fetlock (ankle) joint. The first photo below shows two Dexter bull calves of the same age, one of which carries the short-leg gene. The second photo below contrasts two Dexter heifer calves of the same age, one also carrying the short-leg gene. NOTE: All four of these calves are registered Dexters and recognised as legitimate representatives of the breed, despite the noticeable differences in height between each member of the pair.
:
The smallness of the Dexter can be due to either of two quite different factors, one genetic, the other a breeding strategy. The first factor is a gene that in its recessive form results in a "short-legged" animal. A short-legged Dexter has an obviously short length of the cannon bone on the front legs between the knee and the fetlock (ankle) joint. The first photo below shows two Dexter bull calves of the same age, one of which carries the short-leg gene. The second photo below contrasts two Dexter heifer calves of the same age, one also carrying the short-leg gene. NOTE: All four of these calves are registered Dexters and recognised as legitimate representatives of the breed, despite the noticeable differences in height between each member of the pair.
:
Long-leg and short-leg Dexter bull calves due to genetic difference (Source: Debbie Davis, http://www.lazyj5dexters.com/).
:
Dexter heifer calves of the same age, one carrying the short-leg gene (Source: Debbie Davis).
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The second source of smallness in a Dexter has been the selective breeding for size of those Dexters which do not carry the short-leg gene. This process seems capable of producing just as short an animal as the short-leg gene, and it often produces a Dexter which is more proportionate in character. Below is a Dexter bull that at first glance has the height and body of a short-leg Dexter but it has been verified through DNA testing as NOT carrying the short-leg gene.
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Shilton Pontius (M4241 DCS UK) at 4 years old, 41 inches high at the rump - non-short dun bull (Photo: D. MacIntyre).
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One of the reasons why Dexter breeders have pursued a selective breeding strategy is that the genetic source of short-legs has historically posed a problem for Dexters. The carrying of two short-leg genes by a Dexter foetus results in developmental abnormalities, early abortion and death - what has become known as the "bulldog calf". For more, see Post 2b: "Dexters and the genetics of leg-length". Experienced breeders easily avoid this by mating short-leg Dexters only with long-leg Dexters. With the identification of the short-leg gene and the development of a DNA test for it in 2002, Dexter breeders now have a certain method for avoiding the mating of two cattle with the short-leg gene. The days of the bulldog calf now belong to history.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
2: Dexters as a Small Breed
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When you first see a Dexter, its small size is most striking. A Dexter is half to two-thirds the size of traditional breeds of dairy and beef cattle. The Dexter's smallness is perhaps its greatest attribute, being the basis of many of its other valuable characteristics. The Dexter is widely recognised as the smallest of the traditional British breeds. There are now breeds of a similar size, including the Lowline Angus and Miniature Hereford, but they have emerged very recently relative to the Dexter and, as specialist beef breeds, lack the Dexter's versatility.
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A Friesian heifer and a Dexter heifer, both the same age, 15 months (Photo, JLP, 2005).
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It is generally accepted that the preferred height for Dexter cows is between about 96 to 106 centimetres (38 to 42 inches) at the rump; for Dexter bulls, it is 101 to 111 centimetres (40 to 44 inches), though breed standards in different countries vary a little from these. The average height of the Lowline Angus and Miniature Hereford breeds are very similar, at about 100 to 110 centimetres. By contrast, a small Jersey cow may be 120 cms high while a Friesian cow will stand up to 136 cms, a Friesian bull up to 150 cms.
:It is generally accepted that the preferred height for Dexter cows is between about 96 to 106 centimetres (38 to 42 inches) at the rump; for Dexter bulls, it is 101 to 111 centimetres (40 to 44 inches), though breed standards in different countries vary a little from these. The average height of the Lowline Angus and Miniature Hereford breeds are very similar, at about 100 to 110 centimetres. By contrast, a small Jersey cow may be 120 cms high while a Friesian cow will stand up to 136 cms, a Friesian bull up to 150 cms.
Two Dexter calves in a herd of Friesian calves of the same age (Photo: JLP, 2005).:
Dexters are shorter than other traditional breeds but they also have a smaller body. The average weight of a Dexter cow is usually put at between 300 and 350 kgs (660 to 770 pounds). By contrast, a Jersey cow weighs between 320 and 440 kgs (700 to 970 pounds) while a Hereford cow weighs between 680 and 770 kgs (1,500 to 1,700 pounds).
:Dexters are shorter than other traditional breeds but they also have a smaller body. The average weight of a Dexter cow is usually put at between 300 and 350 kgs (660 to 770 pounds). By contrast, a Jersey cow weighs between 320 and 440 kgs (700 to 970 pounds) while a Hereford cow weighs between 680 and 770 kgs (1,500 to 1,700 pounds).
However, the smallness of the Dexter can be due to either its genetic makeup or a selective breeding strategy. See Post 2a for an explanation of these. Whatever its source, the smallness of the Dexter means that it can be managed more easily by the smallholder. In these days when the norm is "bigger is better", a small cow provides a point of difference and interest. There is no denying the "cuteness" appeal as well.
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Langley End Forsythia (left), with breeder Stuart Creasey (right) (From 1988 Herd Book of the UK Dexter Cattle Society. Scanned by Duncan MacIntyre).
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Some Dexter breeders refer to Dexters as a "miniature" breed. There is increasing interest in "miniature" livestock, and cattle breeds that are referred to as "miniature" are usually about the same size as a Dexter. But please note: a miniature cow is still larger than a sheep - it is heavy enough to be very painful when it is standing on your foot!
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Some Dexter breeders refer to Dexters as a "miniature" breed. There is increasing interest in "miniature" livestock, and cattle breeds that are referred to as "miniature" are usually about the same size as a Dexter. But please note: a miniature cow is still larger than a sheep - it is heavy enough to be very painful when it is standing on your foot!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
1: Former Home Page
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As the 20th century progressed, Dexter numbers declined. In the 1970s, they were designated as rare and endangered. Throughout the 1990s, their attractiveness to small landholders saw a significant increase in their numbers globally. As a result, the Dexter is the best example of a domestic cattle breed saved from extinction. (Photo below: Rob Wendorf of Sutton Bonington in Leicestershire, England, with Sherry Kindred, another local Dexter breeder, and her two grand-daughters, with Dexter cows from Rob's Riverside herd. Photo: JLP, 12 April 2003. )
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The contemporary Dexter fulfils a very wide variety of functions in a diversity of ecological and economic settings. The following Posts in this Blog provide more information about these attributes of this unique cattle breed:
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*Small Breed (see Post 2)
(Photo above: Black Dexter cow with dun calf, just outside the village of Tyn-Y-Groes near Conwy in Gwynedd, Wales, from Morna Arkle's Bryn-Y-Pyn herd. Photo: JLP, 20 April 2003.) :
The following made up the main information on the Home Page of www.dex-info.net:
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Dexter cattle are an ancient dual-purpose Irish breed, the smallest of the British breeds. They originated as a hardy breed of small mountain cattle run on small family holdings. At the turn of the 20th century, Dexters became the show cattle of the English gentry (the photo below, from "Livestock Journal" 1899, is of Dexter bull Simple Simon, owned by Mr E. Sydney, Upminster in Essex, England - A frequent Show Champion. Photo courtesy of Ted Neal, from his book "Life and Times of Dexters").
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:As the 20th century progressed, Dexter numbers declined. In the 1970s, they were designated as rare and endangered. Throughout the 1990s, their attractiveness to small landholders saw a significant increase in their numbers globally. As a result, the Dexter is the best example of a domestic cattle breed saved from extinction. (Photo below: Rob Wendorf of Sutton Bonington in Leicestershire, England, with Sherry Kindred, another local Dexter breeder, and her two grand-daughters, with Dexter cows from Rob's Riverside herd. Photo: JLP, 12 April 2003. )
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From this origin and history can be traced the breed’s main attributes:
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Small -- Hardy -- Efficient -- Versatile -- Intelligent -- Full of Personality
:From this origin and history can be traced the breed’s main attributes:
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Small -- Hardy -- Efficient -- Versatile -- Intelligent -- Full of Personality
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(Photo below: NZ Dexter breeder, Heather Cunningham, with one of Diana Lusty's red Dexter cows, near Staplehurst in Kent, England. Photo: JLP, 30 April 2003.)
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:The contemporary Dexter fulfils a very wide variety of functions in a diversity of ecological and economic settings. The following Posts in this Blog provide more information about these attributes of this unique cattle breed:
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*Small Breed (see Post 2)
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*Multi-Purpose Smallholder's Cattle
: *Commercial Dairy Breed
:*Market-Niche Natural Beef
:*Ideal House/Nurse Cow
:*Family Pet and Companion
:*Show Animal
: *Environmentally-Responsible Grazer
:*Rare Breed
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*Ancient Breed
:*Women and Dexters "
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*Role in Mainstream Agriculture
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(Photo above: Black Dexter cow with dun calf, just outside the village of Tyn-Y-Groes near Conwy in Gwynedd, Wales, from Morna Arkle's Bryn-Y-Pyn herd. Photo: JLP, 20 April 2003.) :
List of "Articles on Other Websites" (in progress)
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Articles on Dexters to be Found on Other Websites
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The following are currently being checked to see if they are still on the internet.
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1) "Couple's Trailer Vigil Defends Herd of Britain's Smallest Cattle" by Astrid Goddard - published in Sovereignty, an independent monthly journal - the story of Bill and Sue Osborne's stand to protect their 34 Dexter cattle during the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK. Don't forget to follow up the "pictures page" link in the last paragraph of the article.
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2) "Some Info on Dexter Oxen" by Kathleen Smith - from the website of the Purebred Dexter Cattle Association of North America
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3) "Dances with Calves: Smallfarming and Organic Cattle" by John Paterson - first experiences hand-raising Dexter/Jersey cross calves, and review of Pat Coleby’s book “Healthy Land for Healthy Cattle” (originally from The Smallfarmer, no. 32, October 2000, pages 11 and 13 - on the Lifestyleblock website). [No longer available at original website]
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4) "The Romance (and Mystery) of the Dexter" by Roy Bollwell - comments on Dexter history in Ireland and England, and on the place of Dexters in Australia, from the website of Dexter Cattle Australia - go to http://dexter.une.edu.au and click on "News/Media".
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5) "Dexter Cattle: Beefy Little Milkers" - some figures on Dexter milk and beef production, the milking data being from the Irene Animal Improvement Institute of South Africa, with a photo of Grinstead Nightingale 3rd, from the website of Dexter Cattle Australia - go to http://dexter.une.edu.au and click on "News/Media".
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6) "A Morning Stroll with the Dexters" by Lucas Henry - a brief story about the gentle joy of an early Summer morning encounter with a Dexter calf.
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7) "What is a 'Lifestyle Block' and is it a Form of 'Rural Gentrification'?" by John Paterson - A Paper presented to the Waikato Branch of the New Zealand Geographical Society in 2005. It examines the recent boom in rural smallholdings in NZ and the diversity of people to be found on them. "Gentrification" involves the development of the countryside through the intensive development and enrichment of the rural environment by an urban-linked population. Part of this is a growing interest in heritage livestock breeds, including Dexters. The result is a view of the countryside in conflict with the dominant "productivist" values of large-scale agriculture which is focused on maximising production.
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8) "Dexter cattle" - entry in Wikipedia, the free internet encyclopedia.
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9) "Milking Dexters: How to Have a Milk Cow and a Life" by Debbie Davis (2005) http://www.lazyj5dexters.com/Milkingart.html - In the fall of 2004, Debbie was asked to give a presentation on milking Dexters for the local Dexter Cattle association group. "As there is much information widely available about traditional dairying and dairy breeds, I thought it would be fun to share information on 'part-time' milking."
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Articles on Dexters to be Found on Other Websites
:
The following are currently being checked to see if they are still on the internet.
:
1) "Couple's Trailer Vigil Defends Herd of Britain's Smallest Cattle" by Astrid Goddard - published in Sovereignty, an independent monthly journal - the story of Bill and Sue Osborne's stand to protect their 34 Dexter cattle during the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK. Don't forget to follow up the "pictures page" link in the last paragraph of the article.
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2) "Some Info on Dexter Oxen" by Kathleen Smith - from the website of the Purebred Dexter Cattle Association of North America
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3) "Dances with Calves: Smallfarming and Organic Cattle" by John Paterson - first experiences hand-raising Dexter/Jersey cross calves, and review of Pat Coleby’s book “Healthy Land for Healthy Cattle” (originally from The Smallfarmer, no. 32, October 2000, pages 11 and 13 - on the Lifestyleblock website). [No longer available at original website]
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4) "The Romance (and Mystery) of the Dexter" by Roy Bollwell - comments on Dexter history in Ireland and England, and on the place of Dexters in Australia, from the website of Dexter Cattle Australia - go to http://dexter.une.edu.au and click on "News/Media".
:
5) "Dexter Cattle: Beefy Little Milkers" - some figures on Dexter milk and beef production, the milking data being from the Irene Animal Improvement Institute of South Africa, with a photo of Grinstead Nightingale 3rd, from the website of Dexter Cattle Australia - go to http://dexter.une.edu.au and click on "News/Media".
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6) "A Morning Stroll with the Dexters" by Lucas Henry - a brief story about the gentle joy of an early Summer morning encounter with a Dexter calf.
:
7) "What is a 'Lifestyle Block' and is it a Form of 'Rural Gentrification'?" by John Paterson - A Paper presented to the Waikato Branch of the New Zealand Geographical Society in 2005. It examines the recent boom in rural smallholdings in NZ and the diversity of people to be found on them. "Gentrification" involves the development of the countryside through the intensive development and enrichment of the rural environment by an urban-linked population. Part of this is a growing interest in heritage livestock breeds, including Dexters. The result is a view of the countryside in conflict with the dominant "productivist" values of large-scale agriculture which is focused on maximising production.
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8) "Dexter cattle" - entry in Wikipedia, the free internet encyclopedia.
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9) "Milking Dexters: How to Have a Milk Cow and a Life" by Debbie Davis (2005) http://www.lazyj5dexters.com/Milkingart.html - In the fall of 2004, Debbie was asked to give a presentation on milking Dexters for the local Dexter Cattle association group. "As there is much information widely available about traditional dairying and dairy breeds, I thought it would be fun to share information on 'part-time' milking."
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List of "Summaries of Publications and Articles" About Dexters
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Note: Please note in the Comments below if you have a request for one of the following to be posted sooner rather than later.
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Summaries of Publications and Articles About Dexters
:
Short or abbreviated accounts of the contents of some important publications.
:
Publications are included because of their historical significance or because they contain important or interesting information. They are summarised as I have not gained permission to reproduce them in their entirety. Inclusion does not mean that I endorse, agree with or support the views presented in them.
:
1) "Bloodlines, Breed Structure, and the Influence of Artificial Insemination in Dexter Cattle" by Andrew Sheppy, a paper presented to the First World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in England in 1998. Congress Proceedings were published by the Dexter Cattle Society (UK) in 1999 in The World of Dexter Cattle. Copies of this publication have now all been sold. Sheppy's paper is based on an examination of the UK Dexter Herd Books. He examines the influence of a number of AI bulls on the UK and global Dexter herd. Focusing on the post-1970 Herd Books, Sheppy identifies eight key bloodlines arising from eight high profile individual animals. The research for this publication and the next one below influenced the decision of the UK Rare Breeds Survival Trust to designate a Dexter "Original Population" as reported in 3) below. A comment by the UK DCS on Sheppy's Paper, in response to an inquiry from the New Zealand DCS, is also included.
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2) "Introgression and Purity Assessment in Dexter Cattle" by Andrew Sheppy, a paper presented to the Second World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in Australia in 2002. The Congress Proceedings have not been published. This paper follows up the concerns of the previous one and examines the purity of the Dexter stock in the UK. Purity is defined as free from introduced genes from other breeds of cattle. Sheppy presents evidence that there are very few such pure-bred Dexters in the UK.
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3) "The Dexter is Back" from The Ark, the magazine of the UK Rare Breeds Survival Trust, 2003 - The Dexter breed is back on the Rare Breed Listings in the UK. This short article reports on the identification of a small number of "original type" Dexters to be designated as an "Original Population" of the breed.
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4) "A DNA Test for Chondrodysplasia in Dexter Cattle" by J.A.L. Cavanagh, I Tammen, P.A. Windsor. P.C. Thomson, F.W. Nicholas and H.W. Raadsma, a paper presented to the Second World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in Australia in 2002. The Congress Proceedings have not been published. At the Congress, Julie Cavanagh presented this paper, announcing her successes in identifying two genes responsible for bulldog calves in Dexters and developing a DNA test for them. Part of the paper also reported on research on the relationship between the height of individual Dexters and whether they carried the chondrodysplasia gene.
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5) "Royal Farmers" by Ralph Whitlock, a book published by Michael Joseph Ltd, London, 1980. In this book, Whitlock provides a history of the farming activities of the Kings and Princes of British royalty. A summary is provided here of the brief comments made in the book on the royal Dexters, their farmers and their farms.
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6) "TYRP1 is Associated With Dun Coat Colour in Dexter Cattle or How Now Brown Cow?" by T.G. Berryere, S.M Schmutz, R.J. Schimpf, C.M. Cowan and J. Potter, 2003. This article was published in the scientific journal, Animal Genetics. It reports on research that concluded that the dun gene in Dexters is unique to the breed.
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7) "The Changing Geography of Rare Livestock Breeds in Britain" by Richard Yarwood and Nick Evans, 1999. This is an academic article by two University Geographers. They examine the patterns of distribution of a number of rare breeds in the context of the rise of "post-productivist" agriculture. Post-productivism is concerned more with diversification, the environment and food quality than specialisation, intensification and food quantity. Dexters are mentioned only in passing, but the context of their history in Britain is provided.
:
8) "Kerry and Dexter" in Two Hundred Years of British Farm Livestock by Stephen J.G. Hall and Juliet Clutton-Brock, 1989. This book presents an account of the development of the different breeds of British cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses. Its entry on the Kerry and Dexter contains a brief history of the breeds, along with some data on the number of Dexters in England the first half of the 20th century.
:
9) "Dexter" in Cattle: A Handbook to the Breeds of the World by Valerie Porter, with illustrations by Jake Tebbit, 1991. This is an entry in a book that provides an account of nearly all cattle breeds in the world. Porter emphasises the dual purpose character of the Dexter and comments on the breed's historical relationship to the Kerry.
:
10) "Genetic and Breeding Research in Dexter Cattle Since 1970" by Andrew Sheppy, a paper presented to the First World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in England in 1998. Congress Proceedings were published by the Dexter Cattle Society (UK) in 1999 in The World of Dexter Cattle. Sheppy summarises four main areas of research - the genetics of size; the bulldog calf problem; the development of polling in the Dexter; and the genetics of coat colour and markings.
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11) "Dexter Cattle: Origin and Relationships" by Lawrence Alderson, a paper presented to the First World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in England in 1998. Congress Proceedings were published by the Dexter Cattle Society (UK) in 1999 in The World of Dexter Cattle. Alderson examines the view that the Dexter is an off-shoot of the Kerry and highlights three areas of research (blood-typing, linear assessment and production characteristics) that show that the modern Dexter has a distant relationship to the Kerry, and does not belong to the Celtic group of breeds, though this may be due to genetic introgression.
:
12) "A Comparative Study of Blood Groups in the Kerry and Dexter Cattle Breeds" by C. Buys and Jy Chiperzak, a chapter in the book, Genetic Conservation of Domestic Livestock, Volume 2, 1992, originally presented as a paper at the second non-governmental meeting on the genetic conservation of domestic livestock, held in Budapest in August 1991. The authors present the results of blood typing analyses to examine the relationship between the Kerry and Dexter breeds. Comparing the blood groups found in 45 Kerries and 45 Dexters led them to conclude that these are two separate breeds.
:
13) "Domestic Animal Genetic Resources in Canada" by J. Chiperzak and J.N.B. Shrestha, extracts from a chapter in the book, Genetic Conservation of Domestic Livestock, Volume 2, 1992, originally presented as a paper at a conference held in Budapest in August 1991. Data are presented on the status of Dexters as a rare breed in Canada.
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14) "A Contemporary Geography of Indigenous Irish Livestock" by Richard Yarwood, Nick Evans and Julie Higginbottom, published in the journal, Irish Geography, Volume 30, No. 1, 1997, pages 17-30. Includes a discussion, with illustrative maps, of the contemporary distribution of three rare breeds of Irish cattle - the Kerry, Irish Moiled and Dexter.
:
Note: Please note in the Comments below if you have a request for one of the following to be posted sooner rather than later.
:
Summaries of Publications and Articles About Dexters
:
Short or abbreviated accounts of the contents of some important publications.
:
Publications are included because of their historical significance or because they contain important or interesting information. They are summarised as I have not gained permission to reproduce them in their entirety. Inclusion does not mean that I endorse, agree with or support the views presented in them.
:
1) "Bloodlines, Breed Structure, and the Influence of Artificial Insemination in Dexter Cattle" by Andrew Sheppy, a paper presented to the First World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in England in 1998. Congress Proceedings were published by the Dexter Cattle Society (UK) in 1999 in The World of Dexter Cattle. Copies of this publication have now all been sold. Sheppy's paper is based on an examination of the UK Dexter Herd Books. He examines the influence of a number of AI bulls on the UK and global Dexter herd. Focusing on the post-1970 Herd Books, Sheppy identifies eight key bloodlines arising from eight high profile individual animals. The research for this publication and the next one below influenced the decision of the UK Rare Breeds Survival Trust to designate a Dexter "Original Population" as reported in 3) below. A comment by the UK DCS on Sheppy's Paper, in response to an inquiry from the New Zealand DCS, is also included.
:
2) "Introgression and Purity Assessment in Dexter Cattle" by Andrew Sheppy, a paper presented to the Second World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in Australia in 2002. The Congress Proceedings have not been published. This paper follows up the concerns of the previous one and examines the purity of the Dexter stock in the UK. Purity is defined as free from introduced genes from other breeds of cattle. Sheppy presents evidence that there are very few such pure-bred Dexters in the UK.
:
3) "The Dexter is Back" from The Ark, the magazine of the UK Rare Breeds Survival Trust, 2003 - The Dexter breed is back on the Rare Breed Listings in the UK. This short article reports on the identification of a small number of "original type" Dexters to be designated as an "Original Population" of the breed.
:
4) "A DNA Test for Chondrodysplasia in Dexter Cattle" by J.A.L. Cavanagh, I Tammen, P.A. Windsor. P.C. Thomson, F.W. Nicholas and H.W. Raadsma, a paper presented to the Second World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in Australia in 2002. The Congress Proceedings have not been published. At the Congress, Julie Cavanagh presented this paper, announcing her successes in identifying two genes responsible for bulldog calves in Dexters and developing a DNA test for them. Part of the paper also reported on research on the relationship between the height of individual Dexters and whether they carried the chondrodysplasia gene.
:
5) "Royal Farmers" by Ralph Whitlock, a book published by Michael Joseph Ltd, London, 1980. In this book, Whitlock provides a history of the farming activities of the Kings and Princes of British royalty. A summary is provided here of the brief comments made in the book on the royal Dexters, their farmers and their farms.
:
6) "TYRP1 is Associated With Dun Coat Colour in Dexter Cattle or How Now Brown Cow?" by T.G. Berryere, S.M Schmutz, R.J. Schimpf, C.M. Cowan and J. Potter, 2003. This article was published in the scientific journal, Animal Genetics. It reports on research that concluded that the dun gene in Dexters is unique to the breed.
:
7) "The Changing Geography of Rare Livestock Breeds in Britain" by Richard Yarwood and Nick Evans, 1999. This is an academic article by two University Geographers. They examine the patterns of distribution of a number of rare breeds in the context of the rise of "post-productivist" agriculture. Post-productivism is concerned more with diversification, the environment and food quality than specialisation, intensification and food quantity. Dexters are mentioned only in passing, but the context of their history in Britain is provided.
:
8) "Kerry and Dexter" in Two Hundred Years of British Farm Livestock by Stephen J.G. Hall and Juliet Clutton-Brock, 1989. This book presents an account of the development of the different breeds of British cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses. Its entry on the Kerry and Dexter contains a brief history of the breeds, along with some data on the number of Dexters in England the first half of the 20th century.
:
9) "Dexter" in Cattle: A Handbook to the Breeds of the World by Valerie Porter, with illustrations by Jake Tebbit, 1991. This is an entry in a book that provides an account of nearly all cattle breeds in the world. Porter emphasises the dual purpose character of the Dexter and comments on the breed's historical relationship to the Kerry.
:
10) "Genetic and Breeding Research in Dexter Cattle Since 1970" by Andrew Sheppy, a paper presented to the First World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in England in 1998. Congress Proceedings were published by the Dexter Cattle Society (UK) in 1999 in The World of Dexter Cattle. Sheppy summarises four main areas of research - the genetics of size; the bulldog calf problem; the development of polling in the Dexter; and the genetics of coat colour and markings.
:
11) "Dexter Cattle: Origin and Relationships" by Lawrence Alderson, a paper presented to the First World Congress on Dexter Cattle held in England in 1998. Congress Proceedings were published by the Dexter Cattle Society (UK) in 1999 in The World of Dexter Cattle. Alderson examines the view that the Dexter is an off-shoot of the Kerry and highlights three areas of research (blood-typing, linear assessment and production characteristics) that show that the modern Dexter has a distant relationship to the Kerry, and does not belong to the Celtic group of breeds, though this may be due to genetic introgression.
:
12) "A Comparative Study of Blood Groups in the Kerry and Dexter Cattle Breeds" by C. Buys and Jy Chiperzak, a chapter in the book, Genetic Conservation of Domestic Livestock, Volume 2, 1992, originally presented as a paper at the second non-governmental meeting on the genetic conservation of domestic livestock, held in Budapest in August 1991. The authors present the results of blood typing analyses to examine the relationship between the Kerry and Dexter breeds. Comparing the blood groups found in 45 Kerries and 45 Dexters led them to conclude that these are two separate breeds.
:
13) "Domestic Animal Genetic Resources in Canada" by J. Chiperzak and J.N.B. Shrestha, extracts from a chapter in the book, Genetic Conservation of Domestic Livestock, Volume 2, 1992, originally presented as a paper at a conference held in Budapest in August 1991. Data are presented on the status of Dexters as a rare breed in Canada.
:
14) "A Contemporary Geography of Indigenous Irish Livestock" by Richard Yarwood, Nick Evans and Julie Higginbottom, published in the journal, Irish Geography, Volume 30, No. 1, 1997, pages 17-30. Includes a discussion, with illustrative maps, of the contemporary distribution of three rare breeds of Irish cattle - the Kerry, Irish Moiled and Dexter.
:
List of "Original Articles" that were on dex-info.net
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Note: Please note in the Comments below if you have a request for one of the following to be posted sooner rather than later.
:
Original Articles About Dexters
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The full text of articles, or parts of articles, some of which have not been published before.
:
Articles are included because of their historical significance, because they contain important or interesting information, or because they have been written by me. For recently published articles, I have gained permission to reproduce them, or they are brief extracts from a much larger work. Inclusion does not mean that I endorse, agree with or support the views presented in them, unless I have written them.
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1) "Our Land and Our Bodies: Moonlight, Meat and Me" by John Paterson - revised version of an article first published in The Smallfarmer, August 2002 - Modern mechanistic thinking eliminates awe, reverence and humility in how we use the world; animals have value in themselves, yet we eat them; Moonlight Dancer, a Dexter-Jersey bull raised on Waikoha Smallfarm; his slaughter for meat; the costly sacrifice behind meat; “Now he is part of me, though I miss him”.
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2) "When is a Dexter Not a Dexter" by Beverley McCulloch - an article originally published in DCSNZ's Dexter Dispatch - On the history and definition of Kerry and Dexter cattle, particularly in the light of the possibility of eliminating the Dexter's distinctive dwarfism.
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3) "Representation of Dexters on the Internet" by John Paterson - extract from "Representing Rare Breeds on the Internet: The Case of Dexter Cattle", Paper presented to the 22nd New Zealand Geographical Society Conference, July 2003 - 12 themes apparent in how Dexters are represented in text and images on the Internet.
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4) "Preface to the Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Volume One, 1890", Royal Dublin Society - This Herd Book brought together the animals listed in the first register of Kerry and Dexter cattle published by the Irish "Farmer's Gazette" from January 1887. The Royal Dublin Society acquired the rights to the register and started to publish an annual Kerry and Dexter Herd Book.
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5) "The Dexter in History" by Beverley McCulloch and Michael Trotter - a six-part series of articles originally published in DCSNZ's Dexter Dispatch. A number of early historical writings on Irish cattle are quoted extensively to convey aspects of the early Dexter breed.
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6) "Profiles of Dexter Internet Users" by John Paterson (revised and up-dated, in two Parts) - from "Dexters Online: The Present Situation and Future Potential for Promoting and Marketing Dexters on the Internet", Paper presented to the Second World Dexter Congress held in Australia in October 2002 - Based on e-mail questionnaires, a categorisation is developed of 15 different types of Dexter breeders in terms of their use of the Internet, as consumers or providers of Internet information and services.
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7) "Principles of Website Design", by John Paterson, an extract from "Strong Verbs and Pithy Paragraphs, White Space and Limited Levels: Website Design and Dexter Cattle Association Websites" by John Paterson - Dexter Dispatch: Quarterly Publication of the Dexter Cattle Society NZ, no. 35, February 2002, 25-31 - Guidelines on writing text for a webpage and designing a website; analysis of a Dexter-related website - www.cowichanbayfarm.com - in the light of these guidelines.
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8) "Dexter Bull Entries in the Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Volume One, 1890" - a transcription of the 26 Dexter bulls entered in this the first Kerry and Dexter Herdbook, published by the Royal Dublin Society.
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9) "Dexter Cow Entries in 1890 Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Volume One, 1890" - a transcription of the 210 Dexter cows entered in this the first Kerry and Dexter Herdbook, published by the Royal Dublin Society.
:
10) "New Zealand's First Dexters" by B. McCulloch and M. Trotter - an account of the discovery that Dexters had come to New Zealand much earlier than first thought - as live imports from the UK in 1904, not as semen imports in the late 1970s. An article originally published in DCSNZ's Dexter Dispatch in 2003.
:
11) "Issues in the Future Development of Dexters on the Internet: Breeders' Views" by J. Paterson - from "Dexters Online: The Present Situation and Future Potential for Promoting and Marketing Dexters on the Internet", Paper presented to the Second World Dexter Congress held in Australia in October 2002 - Based on response to an e-mail survey, a number of ways in which the Internet could be more useful to Dexter breeders is outlined. Originally published in the ADCA Bulletin and International Dexter, this version is revised and up-dated.
:
12) "Grade One - and the Colour Dun" by B. McCulloch and M. Trotter - an article written in 2005 in the light of the identification of the distinctiveness of the dun gene in Dexters, exploring the implications for the "grading up" of Dexters, especially in New Zealand.
:
13) "The Founder Effect: Origins, Characteristics and Future of the New Zealand Dexter Herd" by Tony Cutten and Alex Meades - A paper presented to the Second World Dexter Congress held in Australia in October 2002. The influential role of a small number of Artificial Insemination bulls in the New Zealand Dexter herd is discussed in the context of the concepts of "founder effect" and "genetic drift".
:
14) "Smallfarming Landscapes, Real and Imagined" by John Paterson - revised version of an article first published in The Smallfarmer, December 2001. Includes the tale of the arrival of the first Dexter bull at Waikoha Smallfarm, and a survey of children's books about animals and the landscape.
:
15) "Kerry and Dexter Cattle" by A.N. Wilson - a ten-page entry, with photos, on these breeds from Volume One "Cattle" of the six volume Live Stock of the Farm, published in London in 1918. Includes much valuable information about the history of Kerrys and Dexters.
:
16) "Dexters as Beef Cattle" by A.E. Jones - from a chapter entitled "The Selection and Judging of Cattle" in Volume One "Cattle" of the six volume Live Stock of the Farm, published in London in 1918.
:
17) "The Significance of an Achondroplasia-Like Condition Met With in Cattle" by F.A.E. Crew - an article published in Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, volume 95, 1923, pages 228-255. Includes now out-dated scientific analysis of the Dexter bulldog calf but provides a reminder of the problem that it posed breeders and the difficulty of identifying its cause. Includes photographic plates of bulldog calves.
:
18) "Congenital Defects [in Dexters]" by Lawrence Alderson - an extract from Alderson's book The Chance to Survive: Rare Breeds in a Changing World, published by Cameron & Tayleur, London, 1978. This extract, pages 124-127,discusses the bulldog calf in Dexters as well as gradations in size to be found in the breed, illustrated by photos of Dexters.
:
19) "Genetic Vulnerability of the Dexter" by Lawrence Alderson - an extract from Alderson's book The Chance to Survive: Rare Breeds in a Changing World, published by Cameron & Tayleur, London, 1978. This extract, pages 174-178, provides a comparative evaluation of the genetic value and vulnerability of the three Irish cattle breeds, the Kerry, the Irish Moyled, and the Dexter.
:
20) Extracts on Dexters by James Wilson - from Wilson's book, The Principles of Stock-Breeding, published by Vinton and Company, Chancery Lane, 1912. Three extracts from a book introducing Mendelian principles of inheritance in livestock. Extract One refers to the bulldog calf, and mentions that the Dexter is probably a cross between Kerry cattle and North Devons; Extracts Two and Three refer to the inheritance of leg length in Dexters, including in the light of Dexter-Shorthorn crosses. Wilson correctly describes short-leggedness as dominant but mistakenly argues that all offspring from long-leg/short-leg will be short-legged.
:
21) "The Kerry Breed" by Robert Oliphant Pringle - from Pringle's book, The Livestock of the Farm, published by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, 1886. Pringle was editor of the Irish Farmers' Gazette" and wrote this book to promote the improvement of animal production. One chapter described the different breeds of cattle and included a section on the Kerry which mentioned the Dexter.
:
22) "Dexter" by Valerie Porter - from her book, Practical Rare Breeds: A Modern Approach to the Breeding and Farming of Minority Livestock, published by Pelham Books, London, 1987. This book contains chapters on breed conservation and issues about raising rare or minority livestock. There then follow chapters on different kinds of livestock. Chapter 8 is on cattle, and includes this extract on Dexters.
:
23) "History of the Dexter Breed in Canada" by Carol Davidson, 2006 - this article is a revised and up-dated version of an article published in The International Dexter, Issue 1, September 2002, pages 17-19, and which also appeared at one stage on the website of the Canadian Dexter Cattle Association. It covers key aspects of the history of Dexters in Canada from the late 19th century to 2001.
:
25) Extracts on Dexters from The Cattle of Britain by Frank Garner, 1944 - this book aimed to provide an account of the development of the cattle industry in Britain, the classes of stock to be found there, and the ways in which they could be managed for milk and neat production. The material on Dexters includes some data on beef and milk production from the 1930s.
:
26) "Population Dynamics of the Dexter Breed of Cattle" by G.B Young, 1953 - this article was published in The Journal of Agricultural Science, Volume 43, 1953, pages 369-374. It examines aspects of Dexter breeding based on an examination of information from the herd books of the Dexter Cattle Society (UK) between 1900 and 1948. One important concern of the author is the impact of the lethal bulldog calf gene on the breed. Includes some statistical information from this period and some comparisons with a couple of other cattle breeds.
:
Note: Please note in the Comments below if you have a request for one of the following to be posted sooner rather than later.
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Original Articles About Dexters
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The full text of articles, or parts of articles, some of which have not been published before.
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Articles are included because of their historical significance, because they contain important or interesting information, or because they have been written by me. For recently published articles, I have gained permission to reproduce them, or they are brief extracts from a much larger work. Inclusion does not mean that I endorse, agree with or support the views presented in them, unless I have written them.
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1) "Our Land and Our Bodies: Moonlight, Meat and Me" by John Paterson - revised version of an article first published in The Smallfarmer, August 2002 - Modern mechanistic thinking eliminates awe, reverence and humility in how we use the world; animals have value in themselves, yet we eat them; Moonlight Dancer, a Dexter-Jersey bull raised on Waikoha Smallfarm; his slaughter for meat; the costly sacrifice behind meat; “Now he is part of me, though I miss him”.
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2) "When is a Dexter Not a Dexter" by Beverley McCulloch - an article originally published in DCSNZ's Dexter Dispatch - On the history and definition of Kerry and Dexter cattle, particularly in the light of the possibility of eliminating the Dexter's distinctive dwarfism.
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3) "Representation of Dexters on the Internet" by John Paterson - extract from "Representing Rare Breeds on the Internet: The Case of Dexter Cattle", Paper presented to the 22nd New Zealand Geographical Society Conference, July 2003 - 12 themes apparent in how Dexters are represented in text and images on the Internet.
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4) "Preface to the Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Volume One, 1890", Royal Dublin Society - This Herd Book brought together the animals listed in the first register of Kerry and Dexter cattle published by the Irish "Farmer's Gazette" from January 1887. The Royal Dublin Society acquired the rights to the register and started to publish an annual Kerry and Dexter Herd Book.
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5) "The Dexter in History" by Beverley McCulloch and Michael Trotter - a six-part series of articles originally published in DCSNZ's Dexter Dispatch. A number of early historical writings on Irish cattle are quoted extensively to convey aspects of the early Dexter breed.
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6) "Profiles of Dexter Internet Users" by John Paterson (revised and up-dated, in two Parts) - from "Dexters Online: The Present Situation and Future Potential for Promoting and Marketing Dexters on the Internet", Paper presented to the Second World Dexter Congress held in Australia in October 2002 - Based on e-mail questionnaires, a categorisation is developed of 15 different types of Dexter breeders in terms of their use of the Internet, as consumers or providers of Internet information and services.
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7) "Principles of Website Design", by John Paterson, an extract from "Strong Verbs and Pithy Paragraphs, White Space and Limited Levels: Website Design and Dexter Cattle Association Websites" by John Paterson - Dexter Dispatch: Quarterly Publication of the Dexter Cattle Society NZ, no. 35, February 2002, 25-31 - Guidelines on writing text for a webpage and designing a website; analysis of a Dexter-related website - www.cowichanbayfarm.com - in the light of these guidelines.
:
8) "Dexter Bull Entries in the Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Volume One, 1890" - a transcription of the 26 Dexter bulls entered in this the first Kerry and Dexter Herdbook, published by the Royal Dublin Society.
:
9) "Dexter Cow Entries in 1890 Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Volume One, 1890" - a transcription of the 210 Dexter cows entered in this the first Kerry and Dexter Herdbook, published by the Royal Dublin Society.
:
10) "New Zealand's First Dexters" by B. McCulloch and M. Trotter - an account of the discovery that Dexters had come to New Zealand much earlier than first thought - as live imports from the UK in 1904, not as semen imports in the late 1970s. An article originally published in DCSNZ's Dexter Dispatch in 2003.
:
11) "Issues in the Future Development of Dexters on the Internet: Breeders' Views" by J. Paterson - from "Dexters Online: The Present Situation and Future Potential for Promoting and Marketing Dexters on the Internet", Paper presented to the Second World Dexter Congress held in Australia in October 2002 - Based on response to an e-mail survey, a number of ways in which the Internet could be more useful to Dexter breeders is outlined. Originally published in the ADCA Bulletin and International Dexter, this version is revised and up-dated.
:
12) "Grade One - and the Colour Dun" by B. McCulloch and M. Trotter - an article written in 2005 in the light of the identification of the distinctiveness of the dun gene in Dexters, exploring the implications for the "grading up" of Dexters, especially in New Zealand.
:
13) "The Founder Effect: Origins, Characteristics and Future of the New Zealand Dexter Herd" by Tony Cutten and Alex Meades - A paper presented to the Second World Dexter Congress held in Australia in October 2002. The influential role of a small number of Artificial Insemination bulls in the New Zealand Dexter herd is discussed in the context of the concepts of "founder effect" and "genetic drift".
:
14) "Smallfarming Landscapes, Real and Imagined" by John Paterson - revised version of an article first published in The Smallfarmer, December 2001. Includes the tale of the arrival of the first Dexter bull at Waikoha Smallfarm, and a survey of children's books about animals and the landscape.
:
15) "Kerry and Dexter Cattle" by A.N. Wilson - a ten-page entry, with photos, on these breeds from Volume One "Cattle" of the six volume Live Stock of the Farm, published in London in 1918. Includes much valuable information about the history of Kerrys and Dexters.
:
16) "Dexters as Beef Cattle" by A.E. Jones - from a chapter entitled "The Selection and Judging of Cattle" in Volume One "Cattle" of the six volume Live Stock of the Farm, published in London in 1918.
:
17) "The Significance of an Achondroplasia-Like Condition Met With in Cattle" by F.A.E. Crew - an article published in Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, volume 95, 1923, pages 228-255. Includes now out-dated scientific analysis of the Dexter bulldog calf but provides a reminder of the problem that it posed breeders and the difficulty of identifying its cause. Includes photographic plates of bulldog calves.
:
18) "Congenital Defects [in Dexters]" by Lawrence Alderson - an extract from Alderson's book The Chance to Survive: Rare Breeds in a Changing World, published by Cameron & Tayleur, London, 1978. This extract, pages 124-127,discusses the bulldog calf in Dexters as well as gradations in size to be found in the breed, illustrated by photos of Dexters.
:
19) "Genetic Vulnerability of the Dexter" by Lawrence Alderson - an extract from Alderson's book The Chance to Survive: Rare Breeds in a Changing World, published by Cameron & Tayleur, London, 1978. This extract, pages 174-178, provides a comparative evaluation of the genetic value and vulnerability of the three Irish cattle breeds, the Kerry, the Irish Moyled, and the Dexter.
:
20) Extracts on Dexters by James Wilson - from Wilson's book, The Principles of Stock-Breeding, published by Vinton and Company, Chancery Lane, 1912. Three extracts from a book introducing Mendelian principles of inheritance in livestock. Extract One refers to the bulldog calf, and mentions that the Dexter is probably a cross between Kerry cattle and North Devons; Extracts Two and Three refer to the inheritance of leg length in Dexters, including in the light of Dexter-Shorthorn crosses. Wilson correctly describes short-leggedness as dominant but mistakenly argues that all offspring from long-leg/short-leg will be short-legged.
:
21) "The Kerry Breed" by Robert Oliphant Pringle - from Pringle's book, The Livestock of the Farm, published by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, 1886. Pringle was editor of the Irish Farmers' Gazette" and wrote this book to promote the improvement of animal production. One chapter described the different breeds of cattle and included a section on the Kerry which mentioned the Dexter.
:
22) "Dexter" by Valerie Porter - from her book, Practical Rare Breeds: A Modern Approach to the Breeding and Farming of Minority Livestock, published by Pelham Books, London, 1987. This book contains chapters on breed conservation and issues about raising rare or minority livestock. There then follow chapters on different kinds of livestock. Chapter 8 is on cattle, and includes this extract on Dexters.
:
23) "History of the Dexter Breed in Canada" by Carol Davidson, 2006 - this article is a revised and up-dated version of an article published in The International Dexter, Issue 1, September 2002, pages 17-19, and which also appeared at one stage on the website of the Canadian Dexter Cattle Association. It covers key aspects of the history of Dexters in Canada from the late 19th century to 2001.
:
25) Extracts on Dexters from The Cattle of Britain by Frank Garner, 1944 - this book aimed to provide an account of the development of the cattle industry in Britain, the classes of stock to be found there, and the ways in which they could be managed for milk and neat production. The material on Dexters includes some data on beef and milk production from the 1930s.
:
26) "Population Dynamics of the Dexter Breed of Cattle" by G.B Young, 1953 - this article was published in The Journal of Agricultural Science, Volume 43, 1953, pages 369-374. It examines aspects of Dexter breeding based on an examination of information from the herd books of the Dexter Cattle Society (UK) between 1900 and 1948. One important concern of the author is the impact of the lethal bulldog calf gene on the breed. Includes some statistical information from this period and some comparisons with a couple of other cattle breeds.
:
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