Information on Irish Dexter beef
Enjoy this video from 1949 to see what a common herd of Dexters may have looked like at that time. It would be interesting to see what observations new people to the breed would take away from the video if they were to compare them to many Dexters now available for purchase.
Understanding where Your Dexters came from will Give you a vision for their future. Read More »
Historical
Poor Man’s Cow to Luxury Cow
How did the Poor Man’s Cow become owned by the wealthy and famous. Dexters and Kerry Cattle became recognized for their unique hardy attributes, Kerry for milk and Dexter for milk and meat. Dexters were known to get by on less, produce rich milk and raise a healthy vigorous calf for their owner’s table. Dexters were bred to their breed specific traits transforming them from just any poor Irish cows to these 2 beautiful, registered Dexter cows we see in these two later photos.
They were rare and they were at risk of being cross bred out of existence, but breeders in Ireland started selecting and registering Dexter cattle with breed defining traits to preserve and register them in a herd book. Once the promotion of Dexters began every wealthy aristocrat wanted one. All of a sudden, they were not the Poor Man’s cow but rather for a short spell until the numbers grew, cattle that only the wealthy could afford. Consider as this article states a $200 dollar Dexter cow from 1915. This is the equivalent of $6221.78. I checked multiple inflation calculators to verify that number as being correct. With the highest price the ad mentions at $350 in 1915, you would pay $10,936.81 today! Consider today we pay less for quality breeding stock. Rarity always drives the price up and just like with the rarity of gold it dictates the price.
Registered cows were important then and today. Registered Dexters will always hold a higher value than unregistered. Still with Dexters it took devoted breeders to breed Dexters according to the Dexter Standard to the highest quality like the 2 cows you see in the photographs. Not every Dexter cow was nearly as ideal as these two beauties. Compton Daphne, I speculate is a Chondro Carrier while Grinstead Watercress I speculate to be a non-carrier. Of course, we can never go back and test them so it’s just speculation. Both are extremely well bred and both fit the standard well.
So, as you can see Dexters are a dual-purpose breed that can be bred by multiple types of people regardless of fortune because they are a great pick for everyone. Whether you’re a small homesteader trying to save money with a thrifty headache free cow or someone who just wants to raise them as beautiful lawn mowers true Dexters are a great fit for these reasons and so many more!
30 Jan 1915 is the date of article written.
Photo of cattle in town are common type of Celtic cow that roamed Ireland.
Other two photos are of registered Dexters.
Dexters – Poor Man’s Cow to Luxury Cow By Danielle Lowther Read More »
Historical
Dexter Beef Podcast – Taste the Difference Read More »
Podcasts
Summer heat this seems endless. We hope that this podcast will help you recognize and help your Dexters deal with this heat.
This podcast is brought to you by Irish Dexter Cattlemen, whose purpose is to promote the Irish Dexter breed by guiding farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders on how to become more sustainable. You can access all our podcasts of interviews with other farmers and ranchers and discussions on typical subject matters by becoming a member. This includes our entry level membership of $20 per year. Podcasts are stored in our relational multimedia database system and are searchable by topic by members. Members also gain access to a vast array of valuable articles on topics to assist you with your farm, ranch, or homestead. For anyone looking to take it to the next level, Irish Dexter Cattlemen provides breeder, services, and affiliate memberships that include an online branding dashboard where you can tell your story and develop your brand. Thank you for listening to this Irish Dexter Cattlemen podcast.
Summer Heat Podcast- How It Affects Our Dexters and Other Livestock Read More »
Podcasts
Looking for Sustainability Podcast – Consider the Irish Dexter History Read More »
Podcasts
Cattle Marketing Podcast – Reach Your Target Market and Boost Profits Read More »
Podcasts
“The statement “you are what you eat” is actually a biologically correct concept akin to bioaccumulation, in which the nutrients at the bottom of a food chain carry through organism after organism, increasing in concentration as they reach the top of the chain…”
Better Beef Starts in the Soil Read More »
Beef
There are plenty more recognizable and branded breeds for beef, but are they the best? I would argue they are not. Am I wrong? Maybe you should taste for yourself…
Beef That Will Blow Your Mind Read More »
Beef
Direct beef purchases from the farm continue to be an emerging trend as consumers want to know both the story and faces behind the products they are purchasing, according to an expert.
Beef with a story to it: Niche market for ranch-raised beef on the rise Read More »
Selling
Here is a video that Nancy Bowers, Lonestar Ranch did on blood testing one her Dexters. This the same technique that you will need for testing for Tenet beef tenderness, except you will need much less….lol.
I have sent in 7 tenet tenderness tests to see if our Dexters have this genetic trait. Unlike other testing this is not done on scale and there is no comparison to other breeds. It’s either there or not there.
I truly believe that the tenderness of the beef is correlated to milk and that is sooo important in our dual purpose breed. We are working with them to prove this theory!
I have included what the cards look like, the paperwork that is needed…note it is very little. You can pay on line or send in a check. It is better for the lab if you pay with a check, so that they don’t loose the processing fee, but they are very accommodating.
Do you know how to do a tail stick to get blood for Pregnancy and Tenet Beef testing? Read More »
General Selling
When Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND) went public, there was a broad belief that people wanted meatless meat. It was healthier than meat. It was better for the environment. Beef cattle give off huge amounts of methane. McDonald’s even partnered with Beyond Meat to create a McPlant sandwich.
Beyond Meat Better than Dexter Beef? Read More »
Beef
Beef producers can realize major price premiums for grass-fed, pasture-raised, or local meat.
5 Tips For Finishing Cattle on Grass Read More »
Beef
Small-scale livestock producers who direct market their animals or their products have more control over variable market prices and can increase their profit potential.
Advantages of Marketing Your Beef Directly Read More »
Selling
As a farmer, you’re a growth expert. You can turn seeds into delicious produce, coax a bountiful harvest from even the poorest of soil, and take livestock from scrawny to hefty.
But for financial success, you also need to become an expert in growing your customer base.
Grassroots Marketing for Farms: 5 Ways To Reach Customers Read More »
Selling
My favorite thing about summer – easy meals on the grill. This steak with herbed butter is delicious! Especially when made with Dexter beef.
https://iowagirleats.com/perfect-grilled-steak-with-herb-butter/
Perfect Grilled Steak Read More »
Beef
I had never tasted Dexter meat previously, so I was very keen to sink my teeth into a nice steak. The first thing I noticed was the flavor. It reminded me of what beef used to taste like when I started as a butcher, 50 years ago.
https://butchermagazine.com/dexter-beef/https://butchermagazine.com/dexter-beef/
Submitted by Pam B
Dexter Beef – The Taste Test Read More »
Beef
Check out number 12! Dexters can make that happen….
Tips For Starting A Homestead Read More »
Homesteading
Valerie Tate shares management solutions, including planting warm-season annual forages such as pearl millet and sorghum-sudangrass
Filling the summer forage gap Read More »
Farm Management
This morning I just received my package from Callipyge Genetics Lab in Selah, Washington. This is very exciting because it could be a game changer.
The package is from W.F. Hendrix, DBA (Doing Business As) Callipyge Genetics, LLC. The first thing I noticed is it cost $2.04 to send it to me in Calfornia, which is just south of Washington State. I ordered a set of 25 Tenet Certification Cards for $47.50, including postage, from their website April 22, 2025 and they were able to ship it May 9th. So, they have to be really busy.
If you recall, in last month’s Irish Dexter Cattlemen Tips & Tricks Guide, April 2025 Issue, Jeff Reusser, Royal Fare Farm submitted an article titled, “Who Knew Tenderness is Directly Correlated to Easy Keeper“. If you haven’t read the article, just click on the tittle. This article is about predicting exceptional beef tenderness with 100% accuracy. Now that’s exactly what I am looking for!
Our ranch started in 2009 by purchasing 3 Irish Dexters, a bull, a cow, and one male calf. Right away I knew what we would be doing with that calf. Much to our surprise, the day it was being slaughtered on our farm, the guy preparing the steer to be delivered to the butcher looked at our pasture and declared, “This is going to be great tasting beef” Boy was he right. Not only did it have an amazing taste, but it was tender too. Over the years I have learned the techniques to insure the best tasting grass fed, grass finished beef by carefully monitoring the grass they eat. But what good it it to have the best tasting beef when chewing on tack room leather? Both taste and tenderness are critical if you are going to provide a product folks really love. Testing for tenderness? Now that’s a game changer.
After a bit of tugging and pulling, I was able to open the package without cutting it. Sure enough, inside were twenty-five “Tenet Beef” cards. Each one labeled with their logo, bar coded, and included their website address, www.tenetbeef.com.
On the back of each card is space to write your Ranch Name and Date. The next line down is for the Animal ID. Then the third line is for a 15 digit EID number. Below this is another bar code, which is the same bar code on the front of the card. Every card has its own unique bar code.
Opening the card, things get a little tricky. There is a list of three things to do and the first thing to do on the list is a globsmack.
Stay tuned. There maybe more to come. Honey, were we serious about doing this testing thing?
Game Changer – Genetic Tenderness Testing Read More »
Beef
The weather is getting warmer, you’re busy outside and need something easy for dinner. Throw a Dexter chuck roast in the slow cooker and dinner is served! Make a bowl, a burrito or tacos – you can’t go wrong!
https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/copycat-chipotle-barbacoa-slow-cooker-low-carb-paleo/
Breed Standards define breeds so that people know what unique traits the breed possess. Dexters were known to have extremely fine quality beef, it turns out that the original genetics Dexters process may actually help them to have finer quality beef because they have “skin that should be soft and mellow, and handle well, not too thin, hair fine, plentiful and silky”. Consider this quote from the first screen shot “This cow has a very soft supple skin with short sleek shiny, silky hair. She has a well developed gland system. Note the wrinkles in the skin. The softer the hide the closer the wrinkles are.” This well describes Dexters, they have both good overall butterfat and fine textured meat, and they are wearing the signs, if properly bred on their backs. Another good reason to not deviate away from the original Dexter breed standard.
Dry-aging is a key factor in creating high flavor profiles in your beef.
Dry-Aging – Why It’s Important Read More »
Beef
All about Dexter cattle
HOMESTEADING with Dexter Cattle Read More »
Homesteading
Renown chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oilver, indicate they’ve found something better…and just like diamonds… it comes in small packages. Introducing Dexter cattle.
https://www.thenorthcoastranch.com/blog/4-reasons-our-grass-fed-beef-tastes-uncommonly-delicious
Why Dexter Cattle? Read More »
Beef
By Shelley Hatfield/Whippoorwill Pines Farm
Spring is a beautiful time of the year!! All the new babies, flowers popping their heads up showing off their colors, everyone itching to get their hands in the dirt!! But that also brings some problems if you have cows. Here are a few things that I have found that make spring not so great.
First thing, with the crazy swings in the weather temps, you need to watch your cows for pneumonia. This is a hard thing to notice but if you keep watch you can start learning the signs. One of the signs is lower head, their sides are “thumping” (meaning catching their breath), not alot of energy. I had a steer go down and die the next day. He had eaten the night before and looked fine. But he was gone the next morning. I asked the vet if I was doing something wrong. She told me that it really doesn’t matter, it’s the big swings in the weather. They have shelter, water and food.
Keeping watch is one thing, but there is also a vaccine that you can give them once or twice a year to help with that. It is a BRD vaccine. Check with your vet to see if that is something that you want to give your cattle.
We have talked about the mud before, but we will mention it again. Make sure that your cattle don’t have to stand in the mud all the time. That is something that can keep them from staying warm in the spring weather. Make sure that they have a dry place to lay down.
I’m not an expert, but I have learned some things along the way. Some of those things I have learned the hard way….lol These are just some things that I have learned on this journey of raising cattle.
Welcome to Spring: Read More »
Beef
Try this quick (30 minute) and easy beef recipe for dinner tonight:
Mongolian Beef Recipe Read More »
Beef
Dexters are better at foraging for their food, live long, produce well and rear about 10 calves or more, during their lifetime. Because they are small cattle, you can stock more cattle per acre than you would with conventional cattle breeds.
Dexter Cattle – Ideal Small Cattle Breed for Homesteads and Small Farms Read More »
Homesteading
