Near fourfold increase in number of Irish Dexter herds
The number of Dexter Herds in Ireland has increased almost fourfold from 2021-2024, according to the latest figures from the Dexter Cattle Society.
The figures were recently highlighted by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, in response to a Parliamentary Question from Labour TD, Robert O' Donoghue.
In 2021, there were a total of 221 Dexter herds in Ireland, which had increased to 834 by 2024. Of these herds, there were a total of just over 3,100 breeding female Dexter cattle in 2024, according to the Dexter Cattle Society figures.
The table below details some key statistics on the number of Dexter cattle in Ireland from 2021-2024:
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of breeding males (Over 12 months) | 101 | 138 | 263 | 220 |
| Total number of Breeding Females | 1,648 | 2,868 | 3,745 | 3,143 |
| Total population | 4,004 | 5,378 | 6,768 | 7,296 |
| Number of herds in the country | 221 | 397 | 636 | 834 |
Commenting on the figures, Minister Heydon said: "The Dexter Breed Society is recognised by my department and operates an approved breeding programme in accordance with the EU Animal Breeding Regulations.
"The Rare Breed Conservation Grant - administered by my department - is available to breed societies to assist them in the preservation and in the operation of the respective rare breed breeding book."
Minister Heydon said that currently, the maximum payment under the initiative is €1,000 annually.
Minister Heydon said that the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) includes the Dexter as a breed in the ‘Rare Breed’ options which gives applicants Tier 1 'priority entry'.
"Payment is €200/LU/year to a maximum of 20 LU. Participants are only required that their breeding females produce at least one registered offspring before the end of the five year contract. A bonus of €75 is to be paid for additional progeny registered," he said.
