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Post by Donlin Stud on Feb 2, 2015 21:54:34 GMT
My mind is a well containing many things these days but without warning a thought floated to the surface re the posts under the Grinstead herd video.
Of course there would not have been any long legged Dexters seen in the Grinstead herd and nor would they have been hidden in the back of the barn because long legged Dexters would not have been kept for breeding _back then_.
If calves were not small in stature and full-bodied, they would have become the source of meat products for the family.
It was normal practice to run a bull with the females and have calves arriving at all times of the year. Land ownership usually was for small parcels of land so separation practices seen today would not have been possible in many herds of yester year.
It wasn’t until commercialisation did calendars, technology, timing calf drops etc come into play.
If a cow took several attempts to fall pregnant (miscarriage, aborting) it would not have been that obvious given this type of management.
While there would have been some dead calves at birth, wouldn’t the thought process have been: well, that’s nature!
Sorry to raise this again
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Post by lonecowhand on Feb 2, 2015 23:54:29 GMT
Hi Donna , there's nothing to be sorry for. I agree with you. Those accusations in the Grinsted Video thread were only an attempt to wreck a nice dialog. I wish I could see a whole herd of dwarfs like that now, as a matter of fact, That's exactly what I hope to achieve someday! I will be smiling big, too! They are just so doggone cute!
But you know I have Corgis,(The Queens Dogs) so dwarfs are in my blood!
Bill
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Post by lakeportfarms on Feb 3, 2015 0:13:44 GMT
Bill,
As you know, we have a pretty good size herd, probably now split 50/50 between the dwarf and the long legged. It's hard to describe the reaction people have when they see the two types. If they see the long legged first, they love them and think that they're really nice, but when they go into the pasture with the dwarf Dexters, the smiles on their faces can't be stopped.
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Post by jamshundred on Feb 3, 2015 3:05:01 GMT
EXACTLY Hans! Even those of us who have both and adore both. . . . . still have special places in our hearts for the dwarf cattle. They ARE different. I am sad so often anymore because a certain faction within this breed has been so sucessful in demonizing the very foundation of our herd. After the test for chondro was developed it was wholesale slaughter! The word "lethal" started being mouthed by non-dwarf breeders and the campaign against the dwarf cattle shifted into full gear and breeders were made to feel ashamed of breeding dwarf cattle. Much like happens on this board and elsewhere. Soon newbies to the breed were of the opinion that every time you breed a dwarf cow you will get a bulldog calf.
What gripes me is that NO where was there leadership on this issue. Not a single member of leadership in this breed worked to balance the scales . .. no articles were written with the beautiful pictures of Grinstead, or Bedford, or dwarf cattle in the Peerless herd showing their remarkable phenotype and unique qualities or to tell new members HOW to breed to avoid aborted calves. Oh no! What we get is a sensationalized article with photos the likes of which *I* have never once seen in this breed. The article is designed to scare the dickens out of newcomers and it is promoted by the association.
Judy
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Post by cascade on Feb 3, 2015 5:12:27 GMT
The Grinstead Chrondrodysplastic Deformed Dwarf Herd could only reproduce itself 50% of the time. That wouldn't even classify it as a breed of ANY sort. True breeds breed true. Grinsteads had an interesting collection of animals, but they weren't any sort of breed... and they suffered from arthritis at an early age. Meanwhile, the Woodmagic Herd (non-chondro) could breed true 100% of the time. They are a TRUE breed.  Get yourself some of these true-breeding true-shorts, and when people come for a visit, give them a choice between these 3 options: 1. Big Tall Long Legs 2. Lethal Gene Dwarfs that don't breed true 3. True Shorts like the one in the picture, tested free of lethal genes, and easy to breed like-to-like with no deformed-monsters. I'll bet if they are fully informed they'll pick option 3. |
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Post by cascade on Feb 3, 2015 5:27:45 GMT
Are these both Chondrodysplastic Dwarfs?  |
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Post by jamshundred on Feb 3, 2015 14:25:24 GMT
Kirk
after the discussion here would you move the photos to historical so they do not get lost to time? Thanks!
i think they both may be carriers but there is something I notice in the bull that will have me tracing pedigrees. He has a phenotypic appearance I note in many PHA carriers. Once you begin to observe it you can notice it in most carriers. Very interesting! it is the area from the head attachment back to the body and sometimes through the chest area at the shoulders
i can usually spot it in a calf immediately. Bulls are easier than cows.
Judy
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Post by Donlin Stud on Feb 3, 2015 20:48:26 GMT
Bill let me share with you then.... Miniature Horses: Polly and Smarties Miniature Goats: Tom and Jerry Maltese X Silky dogs: Pash, Bear, Mouse and Jai And then there are the small moos It wasnt planned that way - it just happened  |
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Post by lonecowhand on Feb 3, 2015 22:56:12 GMT
Ha! Donna, I used to raise Great Danes! The Corgis were not planned either! Life has it's little twists!
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Post by Donlin Stud on Feb 4, 2015 2:00:49 GMT
I know *LOL* At a recent -visit only- to a dog show, we were asked if we still had our Rottweilers................the look on their faces was priceless after telling them no but we do have 4 x fluffy yappies .................. |
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