ADCA Brochure - American Dexter Cattle Association

Dexters rank
among the smallest
breeds of cattle in
the world.
No other breed
can satisfy such
a diverse market!
AMERICAN
DEXTER
CATTLE
ASSOCIATION
Little cows. Big benefits.
We’ve offered the Raleigh community spacesaving solutions for the past 10 years. We
information-packed Dexter Bulletin each year.
You’ll gain access to our regional directors and
other Dexter experts and enthusiasts—a
particular plus for people new to the breed.
You’ll have opportunities to exhibit your cattle at
venues across the country…and much, much
more!
Why Dexters?
Dexters originated in southern Ireland, where
they were bred by small landholders and
roamed about the shelter-less, mountainous
districts in an almost wild state. They were
introduced to the U.S. when more than 200
Dexters were imported to this country between
1905 and 1915.
In recent years, there has been a worldwide
surge of interest in Dexter cattle—and that’s
no surprise.
Why join the ADCA?
Because the ancestry of each animal in our
registry has been documented and,
increasingly, its DNA analyzed, breeders and
buyers can be assured that it meets our
association’s strict genetic requirements. In
addition, ADCA members have committed to
supporting good breeding practices and to
breeding for specific Dexter guidelines and
qualities. As the result, registered Dexters
typically command higher sale prices than
unregistered ones do.
Other membership benefits? As an ADCA
member, you’ll receive four issues of the
Dexters are also the perfect old-fashioned
family cow. Pound for pound, they cost less to
get to the table. They’re efficient foragers,
which makes sense with the average farm
acreage becoming smaller. You can keep two
Dexters per acre! That means you can
1325 W. Sunshine #519
Springfield MO 65807
844-588- ADCA (2322)
Dexter facts
● According to breed standards, the ideal 3year-old Dexter bull measures 38 to 44 inches
at the shoulder and weighs less than 1,000
pounds. The ideal Dexter cow measures
between 38 and 42 inches at the shoulder and
weighs less than 750 pounds.
● Dexters are born horned or polled (without
horns), with some people preferring to dehorn
the horned varieties.
● A Dexter cow can produce more milk for its
weight than any other breed. The daily yield
averages 1 to 3 gallons per day with a butterfat
content of 4 to 5 percent.
● Beef animals mature in 18 to 24 months and
result in small cuts of high-quality, lean meat,
graded choice, with little waste.
Check out our
website!
The ADCA website provides a single,
easy-to-access source of information
about our breed, our organization,
our membership and related events
and activities and events. Click on
www.dextercattle.org, and you’ll also
find membership and registration
applications as well as other forms,
payment options, testing information
and even an online store.
Photos by Charles Bernath, Elissa Emmons, Kelly Laffey, Elizabeth Ridings, Rick Seydel and Cherrie Wood
By joining the ADCA, you’ll take a critical
first step toward including your cattle in the
world’s largest registry of pedigreed Irish
Dexters.
These remarkable cattle thrive in hot as well as
cold climates and do well outdoors year-round,
needing only a windbreak, shelter and fresh
water. Their fertility is high, and calves typically
are dropped in the field without difficulty. Their
docile temperament and small size contribute
to a more manageable cow—making them an
excellent choice for cattle enthusiasts of all
ages. They’re triple purpose, useful for beef,
dairy and oxen.
economically turn forage into rich milk and
quality, lean meat.