KERRY AND DEXTER-KERRY.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume XII, Issue 47, 21 April 1910, Page 2

KERRY AND DEXTER-KERRY.

"She's like the Kerry cow, little, but good," is an old saying on the other side of the world. The native home of the Kerry cattle is on the ranges of mountains which lie between Kenmare and Cabirciveen, on the south-west coast of County Kerry Ireland. The country is'very poor, and it is remarkable how much good' rich milk the Kerry cow gives there. The true type of Kerry is not large, but very even and no white being allowed by judges straight and light looking. The horns are white, tipped with black, and the hoofs are hard and black. In colour the Kerry is whole black, except a little on the udder. The beef of the Kerry is very good,and the' animals when put on good feed fatten easily. i The Dexter-Kerry is smaller than the Kerry, and differs a good deal in appearance. The head is short and thick, and the neck is very short and the hind ones are turned in from ' the fetlocks down, while the fore ones are turned out. She'has a very large udder comparatively, and sometimes it is only 10 or 12 inches off the ground. The Dexter is the smallest breed in the United Kingdom. The colour was originally red. but through crossing with the Kerry they are now nearly all black.' It is be- . lieved that a Captain Dexter brought ■ some cattle over to the island of. Valentia about the year 1800, and that was the origin of the breed in Ireland. There are . a few Kerrys „ 'And Dexters; in New South Wales, !j which have been imported by the, .Government, but as a breed; they are - unlikely in practical to com- J { pete with established breeds. ; \