Preserving an Irish Heritage Breed

Farm Produce

Dexter Cattle at Cloughan Farm

Dexter Cattle at Cloughan Farm

Preserving an Irish Heritage Breed

Cloughan Farm Pedigree Dexter Herd was established in June 2020 with the purchase of four heifer yearlings. In 2021 these heifers were put in calf to a Pedigree registered Dexter bull, and we welcomed our first crop of calves in the spring of 2022.

Today, we are incredibly proud of our small herd of Pedigree Dexter cattle, which play an integral role in the sustainability and diversification of Cloughan Farm.

While sustainability and diversification are often discussed in modern agriculture, our principal reason for establishing the Cloughan Farm Pedigree Dexter Herd was to help preserve one of Ireland’s oldest native breeds. By the early 1990s, the Dexter was close to extinction, with fewer than one hundred herds remaining in the country.

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Declining breed

The decline of the breed coincided with the rise of commercial agriculture and the introduction of larger continental cattle breeds that could carry significantly more weight than the Dexter.

Traditionally, Dexters were known as a dual-purpose breed, valued both for their rich, creamy milk and their exceptional beef. They once grazed throughout counties such as Longford, Leitrim, Mayo, Kerry and beyond, playing an important role in rural Irish life.

Although small in stature, Dexters are an extremely hardy and easily managed breed. The cows were renowned for the quality of their milk and the volume they produced despite their size. Their beef is highly regarded by chefs and food lovers alike for its natural marbling, tenderness and depth of flavour. Known for its succulent texture and rich taste, Dexter beef may be modest in size, but it leaves a lasting impression on the plate.

Dexter Cattle at Cloughan Farm

Life at Cloughan Farm

Here at Cloughan Farm, our Dexter cattle roam freely through species-rich grasslands, grazing naturally throughout the seasons.

They have become an important part of both the farm and the Cookery School, delighting visitors with their curious nature and enthusiastic gallop to the gate when called for a handful of treats.

Our land is naturally moory and easily poached by heavier livestock, making Dexter cattle the perfect fit for the landscape. Their lighter footprint allows us to farm in harmony with the land while protecting its natural character.

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Traceable Dexter Beef

Our Dexter beef is fully traceable from field to fork

  • Bred from our own Pedigree Dexter Bull and Pedigree Dexter Cows
  • Born on the farm
  • Reared and raised on the farm
  • Allowed to mature naturally with age
  • Processed at a Department of Agriculture licensed abattoir
  • Dry-aged for 21 days to develop flavour and tenderness

From Our Fields to Your Table

Our Dexter beef boxes reflect the integrity of traditional farming — slow-reared, grass-fed and full of flavour.

Available to order online and collect from the farm, they offer a true taste of Irish farming heritage.

Buy Dexter Beef

Choose Your Dexter Beef Box

Browse our selection of Dexter beef boxes below and place your order online.

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    River Inny Box

    • 1 Roast
    • 1 pack Steaks
    • 1kg mince
    • 1kg Stewing Beef
    • 1 pack of burgers 4 x 140g
    €90.00
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    Goldsmith Box

    • 1 pack striploin
    • 1 pack ribeye Steaks
    • 1 pack Burgers
    • 1kg Mince
    • 1kg Stewing Beef
    • 1 x Roast
    €130.00
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    Royal Canal

    • 1 Roast
    • 1 Pack Rib Eye Steaks
    • 1 Pack Striploin/Sirloin Steaks
    • 1 Pack Fillet Steaks
    • 1kg Mince
    • 1kg Stewing Beef
    €225.00

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