Kerry cows are a very rare heritage dairy breed of cattle. There are only about seventy left in the US and only a few hundred in the world. They are an ancient breed that generally produce about two gallons of very high-quality milk per day which is an ideal amount for a family homestead. Kerry cattle do quite well on poor pasture. They are black with horns, but many herds are dehorned. They are small cows, but they have not been downbred to achieve their small size. They have been small for thousands of years. Their body is proportional. They are not the large cows on tiny peg legs that you see on so many miniature or dwarf cows. They are similar to Dexter but without the chrondodysphlasia (bulldog gene). Most believe that Dexters were produced by crossing Kerry with something else. Kerry cattle have characteristics that have been lost in modern dairy breeds such as Holstein and Jersey. They are ideal for the homestead or small family farm. They are wonderful for making cheese or butter.
The bad news is that Kerry cows are generally not for sale at any price. The handful of people who own them generally will not sell any female animal and even buying a bull is difficult. They're scarce. Any cow that becomes for sale is gobbled up by the present breeders regardless of price. It's not that the breeders want to be a hog. Most present Kerry owners are very dedicated to the breed and they want to make sure the few Kerry cows remain pure and reproducing and they don't want to risk a single animal to a beginner who might not succeed. It is not acceptable for even one cow to be lost or sold on the livestock market for slaughter. If the Kerry breed survives every single purebred animal must be fully valued. Not a single one can fall through the cracks for any reason. It is our goal to increase the Kerry population so that the average person can once again own a Kerry cow. Kerry cows can soon be obtained from us through embryo transplant. We will also have bull calves for sale.
We are very pleased to announce that we have a new young herd bull. He will be the biggest influence in our future Kerry cattle. You might want to meet Sampson.
email Lee's Kerry Farm
Lee's Kerry Farm
Carlton R. and Karen Lee
58 Choncie Lee Road
Caneyville, KY 42721
270-879-8351