Buyer question
How big do Dexter cattle get?
Our Animal Library lists the Dexter cattle at cows 600–750 lb (mature weight).
Source: the Dexter cattle page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Dexter cattle in the Animal Library
The detail
Dexters are a small Irish breed, among the smallest European cattle, kept for both milk and beef. Their size makes them a favorite for homesteads with a few acres, and a cow can supply a family with milk and a steer with beef.
What to weigh
Dexters carry chondrodysplasia, a dwarfism gene that is lethal when a calf gets two copies, and some lines also carry PHA. Every breeding animal should be tested.