Historic Herd - Woodmagic

[jamshundred]

[cascade]

By eliminating the Chondrodysplasia Lethal Gene from her herd, and via decades of selecting for excellent, truly short Dexters, the late, great Beryl Rutherford achieved this:





These true-shorts are tested free of PHA and free of Chondrodysplasia, and 100% of their offspring can be truly short, just like the parents.

The Woodmagic Herd was famous for promoting true-breeding true-short Dexters with short legs, but NO Chondrodysplasia Lethal Genes.

For those who like short Dexters, you can breed a True-Short Bull on a True-Short Cow and have 100% True-Short calves (with no long legs and no Chondro and no dead bull-dog deformities, and no ongoing DNA Chondro testing required).

[genebo]

Beryl Rutherford did a very daunting task: she eliminated bulldog calves from her herd. That is not the same as eliminating chondrodysplasia from her herd. The term was not even in use, and the scientific evidence that supported its discovery din't come about until after Mrs. Rutherford's accomplishment.

Today, we know that the same task can be accomplished simply by only using a herd bull that is chondrodysplasia free. That knowledge and the tools to accomplish it was not available to her. She was a pioneer that did her work under adverse conditions.

It would not surprise me if genetic evidence was discovered, to find that there were still dwarf Dexters in her herd.

Do not let anyone belittle Mrs. Rutherford's accomplishment, for she deserves the credit for figuring out how to eliminate bulldog calves from her herd. Sure, it is an easy task today, but it was an unheard of task in her day.

I find it amusing that you continue to foist the term "true short" upon every picture of a nice looking Dexter you can find, as well as try to pass off your own animals as "true shorts". One of the sons of one of your bulls is shown here at only 1.5 years old, dwarfing his owner.  laffeysirishanimals.com/ourcows.php

Goodness knows how big Mojo will be at 3 years, the official measurement age.

It's hard to figure out just exactly what you are claiming sometimes, but the figures you throw out about how a bull's true height can be 9" taller than it measures must figure into this somehow. Is it possible that your measuring stick is warped? Or do your bulls' sons actually grow to be 9" taller. I can't figure out what you're claiming.

Here's a suggestion: quit making claims about animals that you know only from pictures you grabbed off of the internet and provide your audience with some real, actual fact measurements of your own cattle, taken using the rules for Dexters, with a legitimate measuring instrument like you can buy at Lowe's. Be sure and measure the grandsire, the sire and the son, all using the same ruler and at the proper age.

Be honest. The same animal that you described as being "very long legged" back in 2006 can't now be described as one of your supposed "true shorts", can it? Did it actually shrink, or is that in your imagination?

I'll do you one favor: If you really want a herd of Dexters that will awe, amaze and attract people, get you some of the dwarf Dexters. You will get satisfaction on so many fronts. You will love the gentle nature of the little dwarfs and you will love the attention you draw from your visitors. With luck, maybe photos of your new herd of dwarf Dexters will still be around, pleasing viewers and being shown by people you've never heard of, for as long as Mrs. Rutherford's herd of little Dexters has been. You could be famous, in a good way.

[cascade]

There are two ways to get shorter dexters:

Method 1 - Do what Beryl Rutherford of the Wood Magic Herd did, which was to get rid of the lethal Chondrodysplasia bone disease gene and to select for truly short Dexters over the decades, using sound breeding principles. This method requires REAL breeding skills and take decades of effort and you can get LASTING results just like the Woodmagic Herd did.  

Method 2 - Use the Chondrodysplasia Lethal Gene to infect taller Dexters with a bone disease that malforms their bones but does NOTHING to reduce the true genetic height of dexters. You can get instant shorter results (deformed dwarf dexters shortened by a lethal genetic disease), but you accomplish NOTHING and risk MUCH.    Some countries are considering outlawing this questionable inhumane practice.  Further, because chondrodysplasia is a lethal gene, Chondrodysplastic Deformed Shorts can NEVER breed true, so can never be a true breed.


Here's what Beryl Rutherford had to say about the lethal Chondrodsyplasia genetic bone disease:

"Anyone who has watched a cow mourning over a dead bulldog calf, (accidents can happen so long as short leg bulls are retained to produce short legs from long leg cows); or watched a lame cow crawl across the meadow while her stable-mates galloped with gay abandon, has a right to say we should provide a breeding programme to avoid it."

"Today, few folks with a glimmering of genetics will contemplate a breed that relies on a lethal recessive to produce the desired effect. Moreover, those that do may well be pitch-forked out of the breed if one of the two lovely little cows that they recently acquired, produces a monstrosity, instead of the miniature calf that they had been eagerly anticipating. Their recounted experiences can put others off before they even own a Dexter.
Serious livestock breeders recognise that to qualify as a breed means ‘like breeds like’. Many vets would steer folks away from the breed for the same reasons. It is essential that the Society informs newcomers of the problem, and how to avoid it but even then, it is not a good advertisement. Established breeders will cling to their ‘short leg’ [chondro-dwarf], but eventually I believe the trend is going to be towards a small genetically sound Dexter that provides straightforward breeding, and I believe is much closer to the Celtic cow from which it is descended."

"I am sure the dwarf syndrome can be found in early cattle, and the farmer would have had no idea of how to prevent it. Early in the last century, man encouraged it in most beef breeds, but only the Dexter retained it, all the other breeds have done their best to eliminate it.   The [Chrodro] craze in America is doomed eventually, the E.U. is now teetering on banning all lethal abnormalities, if we don’t do it first, it will be forced on us. Some northern countries have gone ahead already. "



On our farm,  we started with "Long Legged" Dexters because we were told that was the way to avoid the dreaded Chrondrodyplasia Genetic Disease, and we're gradually selecting for shorter ones WITHOUT chondro, just like the Wood Magic herd did, and the way REAL breeders do it.   In REAL breeding programs, there are no instant short cuts.  I'm happy that I was able to have discussions with Beryl Rutherford while she was still around.   Our herd is gradually coming down in true-genetic height and legs are getting truly shorter in each generation, thanks to Beryl Rutherford's good advice.  

Both long legs AND lethal genes are faults to be corrected/eliminated over time.











 

[nicosteintjesholland]

Feb 3, 2015 0:23:05 GMT genebo said:

It would not surprise me if genetic evidence was discovered, to find that there were still dwarf Dexters in her herd.

I bet there were none!
Beryl did try to prove her theorie by making a cross with a dwarf bull one time (Cobthorn Cuthbert). Progeny were dwarfs and non-dwarfs but no bulldogs. She sold all the progeny, you can recognize them because they all have Cuthbert in their name. (source: My love affair with the Dexter from B. Rutherfield).
One off these progeny is the basis from the Apple herd.

More information about the woodmagic herd: www.woodmagic.co.uk

[jamshundred]

Nico,

I can posit a different theory.   Maybe she didn't have any or very few dwarf cattle to begin with.  Look at the photo above of the cattle in front of her barn.  How many dwarf cattle can you identify?
I identify ZERO.    She did however have PHA in her herd. . . . . perhaps she removed the PHA carriers that were causing her loss of calves?   

Judy

[Donlin Stud]

The one thing that I am trying to get to the bottom of is why more than just a few of those who are dedicated to the Woodmagic bloodlines are so obsessed with toplines and feet.

Its the first thing/s they ask about.

[genebo]

Tailset is not the same as top line, but a good, straight and level top line includes a level tailset.

I've heard it said, in our round table discussions, that the tail set affects the birthing ease of a cow. I high tail set is said to be the best indicator of birthing ease, but carries a tendency toward failing to clean the manure from the vulva, leading to infection. A low tail set indicates a cow that will have more trouble in calving. A level tailset is a good compromise and is also the one that is the most pleasing to look at.

Feet are all important to the overall health. Cows with poor feet will be less apt to graze freely and in severe cases, may fail to prosper. Long feet lead to tendon damage in older cows, while cows with short feet tend to develop joint problems as they age.

In shopping for new blood, the top line and feet are the first things I look at after the pedigree.

[Deleted]

gene, you can have a level top line and a high tail set. if the pin bones are lower. It is forward tail set that i consider an issue. I have only had one that had that issue.