When Country Life gathered chefs, food writers and restaurateurs together for a blind tasting of Britain’s native cattle breeds, one breed came out on top: Dexter.
In a feature celebrating the very best of British beef, judges praised Dexter for its exceptional flavour, marbling and tenderness, with one describing it as “juicy, gentle, buttery”.
At Glaneirw, that result came as no surprise.
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Dexter cattle have long been at the heart of the estate and are a huge part of what makes farming here so special. Native to these islands and naturally suited to slower, grass-based farming systems, Dexters produce beef with incredible depth of flavour, fine marbling and a richness that simply comes from time, care and good pasture.
Unlike intensive commercial systems, Dexter cattle grow slowly and naturally. They are smaller-framed animals, thriving on grass and roaming the Welsh countryside much as native cattle breeds have done for generations. That slower growth creates beef with real character: dark, richly flavoured and beautifully tender.
The Country Life judges noted that properly aged, grass-fed British beef is “almost impossible to beat”, particularly when flavour and texture are allowed to develop naturally.
That philosophy mirrors exactly how we farm at Glaneirw.
Our Dexter cattle are raised traditionally on the estate’s pastures close to Cardigan Bay, with animal welfare, sustainability and quality always coming first. It is farming rooted in patience rather than speed, and flavour rather than volume.
For us, this recognition is about more than steak. It is about celebrating native breeds, supporting British farming and proving that small-scale, thoughtful agriculture that puts welfare first produces some of the very best food in the world.
If you’ve ever enjoyed our Dexter beef for yourself, you’ll know exactly why we’ve always believed it deserved the spotlight.
If you’d like to experience this exceptional native breed for yourself, visit the estate shop here at Glaneirw. Alongside our Dexter beef, we also offer a wide selection of rare-breed pork and other locally sourced produce. The shop is open Monday to Saturday, 10:30am – 4:00pm.
Whether you’d like to visit in person, place an order or find out more, we’d love to hear from you.