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Post by jamshundred on Oct 7, 2015 16:14:56 GMT
I have been working on the ADCA stats. I am baffled by the owners in this breed.
Updated just slightly from the report that is shown on the Legacy preservation website, there are 2184 registrations categorized and detailed on worksheets, numbered consecutively to about mid 2013. Shortly after the AGM that year. ( Many more are categorized just not on worksheets as yet).
Of those 2184 Dexters. . . . . ONLY. . . . . .275 are HORNED Legacy or Traditional Dexters all bloodlines predating 1987. The early and purest bloodlines in the breed. TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE
Of the other horned cattle, the modern horned, all descendents of Lucifer total 363.
There are 696 HORNED descendents of the polled bloodlines and 817 polled cattle.
The outcrossing in Lucifer is recorded in the herdbooks and the Legacy online pedigree but it pales in comparison to the multiple recorded outcrossings in Saltaire Platinum the ONLY polled ancestor to all the polled cattle. This bull is a fraud. . . . and he is NOT purebred on paper, nor on a hokey report from UCD which basically compares him to himself because over 90% of all the animals being registered are his descendents. The celebration was one not based on thoughtful analysis.
So that brings me to my wondering why. WHY are breeders using HORNED animals in their herds from a bull that is NOT a purebred bull and contributing to the destruction of the foundation of the Dexter breed, when they could be purchasing, raising and preserving the REAL thing? This is mind boggling to me. If the breeders are OK with the horns. .. . .why are they breeding outcrossed cattle? Why not just get foundation horned bloodlines and help preserve the breed?
Are there that many yet uninformed owners?
Judy
PS. Remember those stats are 2 years old and counting. The percentages will drop as the new stats are published.
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Post by lonecowhand on Oct 7, 2015 20:37:35 GMT
Judy,
Judging from the elation following the report , I'd say the polled crowd believes they were vindicated and the UCD Report laid that argument to rest. Now anyone feeling that there are distinct differences between what we refer to as Legacy or Traditional, compared to Polled, are thought of as deluded.(and deniers)
There will need to be another study using only some remaining Legacy, maybe even expanding to include a separate category of some Kerries, and comparing them to the polled progeny of Platinum.
If the next study shows there are differences, and evidence of outcrossing, then we'll only be back where we were, because the denial will come from the other camp.
I think there are several here, including myself, who would be willing to participate financially on another, more defined study.
Bill
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Post by cascade on Oct 17, 2015 19:41:34 GMT
Saltaire Platinum is the first DNA verified purebred Dexter on the planet.  |
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Post by cascade on Oct 17, 2015 19:57:38 GMT
Meanwhile, Parndon Charley Pudding and his sire, Round Chimney Roly Poly, are on 99% of "Traditional" American dexter pedigrees and those bulls have no proof of their parentage. no DNA testing for purity, and they have major gaps on their paper pedigrees. legacydextercattleregistry.com/pedigree.php?registry=O®no=EM1928Of course, without historical DNA parentage verification, the historical parentage of ALL dexters are in question. Parndon Charley Pudding sure was huge  |
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Post by jamshundred on Oct 17, 2015 20:27:08 GMT
Kirk,
i have seen the report. It is MEANINGLESS. It only covers current generations, it does not cover all possible breeds ans since we do NOT know what breeds are in thie herd book RECORDED outcrossings ( for instance the murray gray rumors) and it does not matter because he is NOT purebred. You yourself have a theory as to his polledness and no one buys novel mutation because it is not supported by science so keep on being as dishonest with yourself and others as you wish but DENIAL is reckless and for some folks more problematic than others. And for the Dexter breed it is an unmitigated tradedy. YOU cannot that change that, but you can continue to bury your head and pretend. The modern ankmals in the US herd are DIFFERENT. And not in a positive way. It is, afterall, to be expexted when the foundation traits are bred out and outcrossed genes bred in!
i have has three people referred to me since the AGM. One a polled owner, one a novice, one an owner of modern cattle and to a person they were aghast at how different the polled animals they saw were compared to what they knew or believed a Dexter shoukd be. And I will ad they were all three just as disa ppointed by how poorly they were treated by members of leadership they encountered once they voiced opinion and asked questions. And then recently a person contacted me who has raised both. In the past I ihave heard many anecdotal comments from folks who owned polled and traditionoal horned who actually had experience to relate that there are substantive differences...but this breeder spoke to ME so itnis no longer anecdotal, as I have heard in the past the related experience covered laeger sizes, greater food comsumptiin, and that the meat even tastes different. this from someone with experience of traditional and of polled. This person culled the pretenders.
Most of the folks in the breed today are new, and the only thing they have really experienced are these outcrossed lines. They know no better. I find it interesting that a few breeders who have been around the block a couple times and took a sidetrip into polled can be seen culling and replacing with traditional. There will be more! I believe people came into this breed being sold by the brochure. Polled animals do not fit the brochure. These people would NEVER set out to buy a pedigreed dog and accept the same status that has been foisted on them by a leadership in this breed that went to great lengths to hide the truth.
Keep on with your denial.......and your frantic and frenzied attempts to have unacceptable accepted. The cream has been stirred down a bit but it will rise again. Americans hate to be fooled even more to be made a fool.
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Post by jamshundred on Oct 17, 2015 20:33:52 GMT
fRound Chimneys Roly Poly, the ancestor of Parndon Charley Pudding is considered "original population" in England, and you will find him in the pedigree of the first bull bred and collected for semen sales from the original populatiin preservation effort. as to PCP...you are spreading gossip elicited from a drunk. My goodness you ARE desperate.
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Post by jamshundred on Oct 17, 2015 20:44:05 GMT
Now back to my wondering. I am still puzzled as to the number of breeders using polled lines to make horned cattle. Or am I?
actually I am not. They were kept ignorant that Saltaire Platinum has FOUR recorded upgrades not all of which are yet corrected (but one can expect the English registry will do the right and proper thing soon to clear up this mess they have made, can we not), and the US leadership went to extraordinary lengths to keep their members from learning the truth. Heck, it took ME almost ten years to finally get them to admit old SP was upgraded. Took less time than that to get the importer to acknowledge the truth LOL. Well Kirk, how long do you want to continue to be in denial? I am never giving up on trying to save this breed because not only do the Dexters deserve justice, the originak foundation genetics of the Dexter breed, should there ever come a time and need, will be important to mankind.
Judy
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Post by cascade on Oct 17, 2015 22:01:52 GMT
Round Chimney Roly Poly (on nearly all "tradtional" pedigrees was born in the 1950's.... if he's "Original Population from Non-Register-able stock" then that means "Traditional" dexters are about the same age as me.... and I'm still reasonably young(ish). So I guess we should say that "Traditional" Dexters originated in the 1950's, close to the same time that Polled dexters originated.
There is only ONE way to save a heritage breed. That is to breed it in a heritage manner and select for heritage traits. The top most important heritage traits for dexters are 1.Friendliness/relative safety including VERY friendly bulls, 2.Compactness 3. Hardy and trouble free including easy calving, 4.multi-purpose. (these traits are similar to most heritage traits in most heritage breeds).
Awe-Struck visitors to my 50 member nearly entirely polled Heritage Dexter herd get surrounded by a mob of compact friendly hardy, trouble-free, multi-purpose dexters begging for attention.
My polled herd can even throw horned calves if I want some for oxen (I'll just use a hetero-polled bull on some hetero-polled girls).
My polled herd has more complete pedigrees than Parndon Bullfinch and Parndon Charley Pudding
What am I missing?
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Post by jamshundred on Oct 20, 2015 8:57:14 GMT
Parndon charley Pudding LOL
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Post by jamshundred on Oct 20, 2015 9:08:55 GMT
Make that ROFLMAO
The Sheppy article that ADCA was so eager to print in hopes of discrediting the preservation lines, and bolstering polled applies to Platinum as well, multiple times. Leadership always manages to step in it because they do not think and they do not listen. They were told it was rife with error but wanted so desperately to quiet the interest in preservation they forged ahead.
They should both ask and listen to the voice of reason. More laughing
Judy
PS. I am sure, based on your saying so, that visitors are surrounded by friendly cattle Kirk. And if they were to visit like-type breeders of Highland or Lowline, Jersey, Belmont, Mini Hereford.....their experiences woukd likely be the same. What they are not experiencing in your herd, as they do, for example, at Gene Bowen's farm, are traditional horned Dexters that are typical of the brochure. Your animals are not brochure Kirk. Not your fault......but those at fault have devastated a rare heritage horned breed with their ignorance. (And duplicity)
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Post by cascade on Oct 21, 2015 0:08:51 GMT
More than twice as many horned Dexters are registered in the US per year now, than were registered per year, 25 years ago (before polled were available).
The popularity of polled Dexters has greatly helped the popularity of horned Dexters.
Further, hornless Dexters were introduced and widely accepted many, many decades ago, by the many breeders who physically dehorned them. Unlike Longhorn Cattle,and Highland Cattle, horns never have been a "must-have" feature of Dexters.
Absence of horns actually contributes to Dexters' must-have features of being friendly and un-intimidating for all beginners.
Some people who gain experience and comfort with hornless Dexters, may later be willing to experiment with keeping some horned ones for their interest and beauty.
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Post by jamshundred on Oct 21, 2015 9:09:00 GMT
Just think what a treasure trove herd the US woukd have were it not bastardized by leadership. We had ALL the original bloodlines in the world! In 20 years they have all but been wiped out! You cannot win ANY argument with me as to faux Dexters. Just like faux diamonds or faux furs.....they are missing something important.....they look like the real thing. But they are not. Upon closer inspection one discovers the fakery.
You laud the characteristics of the foundation Dexters and yet they are being lost. Isn't personality at the top of your list? In the past three weeks I have witnessed and been charged by descendent Lucifer animals and The numbers of reports of aggression in these imported bloodlines increases dramatically, and NOT A WORD from leadership to discuss this issue or warn people that Dexter bulls no longer mirror the brochure claims.
and easy calving. Thats on your list isn't it! I am stunned by the reports of dead calves, pulled calves and calves removed surgically from the wombs of their Dexter dams. Good grief! There is an epidemic of dead Dexters the likes of which is unprecedented in my Dexter years. Furthermore, there are members of leadership past and present who know this, have experienced it, and AGAIN, have you seen an article, discussion, or warnings?
The numbers may have increased Kirk, but the Dexter as it existed in the brochure is being lost to us daily. YOU are part of the problem......not part of the SOLUTION.
Judy
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Post by bruff64 on Oct 22, 2015 13:45:43 GMT
Seen it before. The Shorthorn in New England was upgraded with holstein because it could not compete with the production of the latter. Unless you can get your hands on a "Native Shorthorn" as the originals, now very rare, are called you will simply have a red and white holstein. None of the old desirable traits are left. Bred away from the original form. Upgrading is done for a purpose. The upgrade in Dexters was done with a purpose. It shows.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Oct 22, 2015 18:43:19 GMT
I will always believe that the introduction of polled into the Dexter breed has resulted in more dilution than will ever be known, or admitted. Platinum is the tip of the iceberg. It used to be, prior to the acceptance of polled genetics, that if an Angus jumped the fence and bred the Dexter, you ended up with a beefier, hybrid vigor, guaranteed polled example called a "Dangus". But it couldn't be sold as a registered Dexter, because it was polled and there was clearly something other than Dexter in the woodpile. However, for two decades, it has been relatively easy (and profitable) to sweep a polled Dexter under the rug with such an "error". This is why there has been such a dramatic change in the phenotype of so many registered Dexters over time. They have changed whether you like it or not. Here is a local Craigslist ad. Tell me what kind of cow that is in the background with the Red Angus bull? I'd lay odds that it is a Dexter, probably a shorty, based on the appearance. thumb.craigslist.org/grd/5268545082.html |
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Post by otf on Oct 22, 2015 21:48:18 GMT
Hans, from all appearances, I'd have to agree with you on the cow in the background.
I am appalled at the amount of cross-breeding that goes on with Dexters....either to get more milk, more beef, more whatever, in an effort to improve what's there and has been working quite well for a long time....and the blatant disregard for the importance of registration of Dexters, no matter what registry. They are no longer special. Because of their "popularity," Dexters now can be modified in any way people might choose in order to be what they want. I imagine some people reading this might have a problem with the fact that some of our cattle have Brambledel Redberry Prince and Lucifer in their background. Honestly, I've had good and bad experiences with "traditional" bulls and "modern" bulls. In some ways, it's all a crap shoot!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2015 2:33:22 GMT
I dont believe that bull is a full Angus. There is Dexter in that bull. Maybe even that cows calf.
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Post by cascade on Oct 23, 2015 3:24:14 GMT
Maybe we should change the dexter in the brochure to be this purest of pure Legacy Dexter...... Wee Gaelic Ms. Fermoy  |
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Post by lonecowhand on Oct 23, 2015 18:25:56 GMT
Back under the Bridge!
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Post by lilbitty on Oct 23, 2015 20:34:31 GMT
Meanwhile, Parndon Charley Pudding and his sire, Round Chimney Roly Poly, are on 99% of "Traditional" American dexter pedigrees and those bulls have no proof of their parentage. no DNA testing for purity, and they have major gaps on their paper pedigrees. legacydextercattleregistry.com/pedigree.php?registry=O®no=EM1928Of course, without historical DNA parentage verification, the historical parentage of ALL dexters are in question. Parndon Charley Pudding sure was huge Kirk, WHY do you continually insist on inserting yourself into Traditional preservation efforts discussions? EVERYONE here is well acquainted with your thesis statement: • If an animal’s pedigree has ANY holes in it historically (even if it was during the years that the English farmers’ had Nazi bombs and missiles falling on them) this equates to irrefutable evidence that those owners were trying to cover up their cross-breeding efforts. A curious idea since in general, in the UK, this has been a generally accepted practice (as exemplified by the Appendix and Experimental registries.) • Therefore ALL Dexters are not purebloods, but an amalgamation of several different breeds. (This belief was directly shot down by Dr. Sponenberg at the 2015 ADCA AGM.) • Since, in YOUR opinion ALL Dexters originate from quasi-Dexter lineages the bloodlines from recent UK imports that have DOCUMENTED out-crossing (or “upgrading” by some folks terminology) are no less Dexter than any of the others. • The fact that Saltaire Platiunum has not only documented out-crossing, but a specific genetic link (his polled gene) to non-Dexters is of no consequence to you. He is JUST as Dexter as animals with no documented outcrossing and no genetic evidence of non-Dexter parentage. • THEREFORE those of us who are devoting our breeding programs, or a portion of our breeding programs to preserving Dexter bloodlines that do not have any documented non-Dexter ancestors (e.g. Saltaire Platinum and Lucifer of Knotting) are naïve idiots. WE GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We simply disagree with your thesis, and NO amount of your insisting that you are right and we are wrong is going to change our minds (quite to the contrary actually). Below I will quote my first response to your efforts to pick a fight with me. Many of us have related this sentiment to you many times on this discussion board when you continue to insult, inflame, degrade, and otherwise pick a fight over Dexter preservation issues because YOU do not support them: “Clearly we disagree. I suggest you breed animals, Dexter or not, as you see fit and allow me and others to do the same.” Please stop hijacking our discussions with your endlessly repetitive rants. Did I mention: "WE GET IT!" |
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Post by cascade on Oct 26, 2015 18:40:29 GMT
Saltaire Platinum has NO DOCUMENTED outcrossing to another breed.
If you disagree, then please provide the DOCUMENT that shows the other breed in his pedigree background (I've asked for that documentation repeatedly and you fail to post it, but you repeat the myth over and over).
Saltaire Platinum DOES have DNA analysis proving that he is pure dexter with no DNA traces of other breeds.
To date, Saltaire Platinum is the ONLY Dexter that is DNA-verified as PURE Dexter by DNA experts.
Meanwhile, Parndon Charley Pudding and his sire, Round Chimney's Roly Poly have major holes in their pedigrees. No amount of emotional war stories can fill those gaps your "traditional" pedigrees.
The good news is that the DNA experts tell us that old holes in old pedigrees are meaningless.
All dexters come from non-dexters... Dexters were invented from Kerry crosses and other mixtures in just the past 150 years or so. Dexter DNA analysis shows that they have become their own breed over time as DNA experts would expect because they are mostly isolated from those other breeds. That's how genetics work. Dexters aren't a conglomeration of today's other cattle breeds... but they come from many of the same sources that other breeds have come from. This is genetics 101 and is key to understanding evolution of breeds and species.
As far as preserving dexters go, the ONLY way to preserve dexters, is to make an exact list of traits that you are preserving, and to select for those traits generation after generation. The irrational purists have failed to give an exact description/definition of "traditional" traits they are supposedly preserving.
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Post by lonecowhand on Oct 26, 2015 20:30:08 GMT
Okay, you've fulfilled your marching orders and earned whatever stipend you've been promised, Go Back to the Dark Side!
When you frequent the website of "Irrational Purists", What do you expect?
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Post by cascade on Oct 27, 2015 19:23:47 GMT
I think the Purists here are perfectly capable of being rational, if we all put our minds to it.
Let's work together to make a complete list of TRAITS that you believe we should all be breeding for. I'll bet we'll agree on 95% of it.
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Post by lonecowhand on Oct 27, 2015 19:45:55 GMT
I think someone should have mentioned to you that insults are not the way to inspire cooperation.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Oct 28, 2015 10:32:55 GMT
Kirk, I am in a rather unique position of having a large number of registered Dexters consisting of Traditional lines in one group, modern horned with some occasional Lucifer breeding in another group, and we used to have some polled Dexters in another group which were sold several years ago. All on the same property, but separated by type. Each group in it's own right as large if not larger than most Dexter breeders have in total. I can tell you that to a discerning eye, there is a difference, especially between the Traditional horned Dexter group and the polled group, and not just because of the horns.
We maintained a polled group because we thought it would at least get some people who otherwise wouldn't consider horned Dexters to the farm so they could make an informed choice. It did work, because more than a few came to look at the polled, but many left our farm with the impression that they actually preferred our horned or dehorned Dexters to the polled ones.
The point I'm trying to make is that even when Sheril and I went to purchase the polled Dexters that we used to start our herd (and these were polled Dexters from a very well known polled breeder) on their own we didn't really think that they were so much different. We didn't have the comparison side by side to our other Dexters, and the time we spent with them was limited in comparison as well. However, once we got them to our farm, and we were able to compare them side by side to our Traditional, and even our very slightly Lucifer pedigreed herds, and especially over an extended period of time, the differences became very apparent. However, it is impossible to quantify or put it into specific descriptions or traits as you seem to think we should do, and certainly not in a manner that specifically targets anything. I'll give you some of my general observations of the differences however...the polled were much more aggressive about their food being the biggest. If I happened to have the polled in together with the others and brought out a new bale of hay, they were first to the feeder. Actually, they would get in the path of the tractor trying to get the bale before I ever got to the feeder, and then do their best to crowd the others out of the feeder while they ate. They were generally more aggressive, not in a bad way, but just more aggressive. The polled bulls would "herd" their group away from the other bull along the fenceline, if a cow made a move toward the other pasture with a bull, the polled bull would run over and chase her back to the group. None of our other bulls have ever done this.
Must run now to go feed them. Perhaps I'll continue later when I have a chance.
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Post by bruff64 on Oct 28, 2015 12:32:23 GMT
"The irrational purists have failed to give an exact description/definition of "traditional" traits they are supposedly preserving." Very simple Kirk, lets start with Horns as the original Dexter breed description required, before the tom foolery slipped in the polled gene.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2015 14:50:37 GMT
never had a polled bull here. but I have seen the aggression in polled cows.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Oct 28, 2015 17:53:59 GMT
Following up on my post...I think we all can recognize that Kirk is attempting to get us to define what Dexter (Traditional) traits are, and then he's going to show us how friendly, small, etc... his cows and bulls are...as evidence of Dexter traits in the polled variety. I've had Angus cows that were friendly, small in size (lowline), and had all of the attributes on paper that the official breed description has. But that didn't make the lowline into a Dexter. Going back to my earlier post, the polled Dexters that we had, on their own and without side by side comparison to the others, for all intents and purposes looked like and even acted like what we would expect a Dexter to look and act like, however once put side by side with the traditional and very slightly Lucifer descendant Dexters the differences became more apparent to an observant eye, as subtle as they may have been in some instances.
Though we found the side by side comparison beneficial to our prospective customers, ultimately neither Sheril or I felt that having them 365 days/year was worth the few days/year that we had visitors that were considering polled and would benefit by the side by side comparison that we could give them. So they were sold to a family that was adamant that they wanted polled Dexters. They were Dexter owners for just a little over a year and a half before they in turn sold them.
Those who have only been exposed to one particular type of Dexter can only supply anecdotal evidence with their arguments, very few can offer side by side direct comparisions. Frankly it can be more work than most are willing to undertake, running separate herds like that. Just a couple of days ago I put out 5 different round bales in 5 different pastures. There are times that I think wouldn't it be nice to just feed one group. However, with over 100 Dexters, even if they were all of one type, it would be impractical to put them all in one pasture at a time, and I'd still be bringing out multiple round bales because you can't squeeze 100 plus Dexters around one round bale because the dominant ones would eat and the others would starve. Certainly we all have our preferences of what type to raise, and that's great. I have no doubt that Kirk really enjoys his herd. I would probably enjoy them too, if I hadn't had some of the experiences with the other types of Dexters that we've had and the comparisons I've been able to make between them.
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Post by cascade on Oct 30, 2015 19:23:58 GMT
"The irrational purists have failed to give an exact description/definition of "traditional" traits they are supposedly preserving." Very simple Kirk, lets start with Horns as the original Dexter breed description required, before the tom foolery slipped in the polled gene. The Dexter breed description has NEVER said that Dexters MUST have horns. That's why so many dexter owners including some of you here have been dehorning dexters for many, many, many decades. Just take a look at all the show winners... many/most all have no horns . Starting in the 1960' the standards have specifically stated that dexters without horns are equal to dexters with horns. Many shows reject Dexters with horns because they don't want the liability. Longhorn cattle, on the other hand, are defined as a HORNED breed, and horns are a must-have defining feature in their breed and all the show-winners must have horns... but those amazing horns scare-off many would-be newbies from getting into that breed. No "tom-foolery" is required to bring the polled gene into dexters. If we completely eliminated all polled cattle in the ADCA right now, I could go to Australia and bring back another polled bull that meets ALL the requirements for ADCA registration. That bull would likely have a polled ancestor from another breed far back on his pedigree, but that's 100% acceptable. All dexters come from other breeds. The polled gene has helped make Dexters more popular than ever before because the polled gene contributes to Dexters' most important feature of being un-intimidating for beginners. Horns are nice to look at and have a certain charm, but a majority of beginners are intimidated by them, that's why polled is so very very popular. PS. I'm happy that some people still breed horned Dexters and I happily send people looking for horns to those horned breeders. |
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Post by cascade on Oct 30, 2015 20:02:21 GMT
We started with nearly all horned dexters on our farm (polled females weren't yet very available, but polled bulls were available). We were able to compare horned mothers (with no polled cattle in their background), to polled daughters. The polled gene only does ONE thing.... it switches off horn growth and that's it, just like the genetics experts tell us. There is no linkage to other traits. Polled is independent of other traits.
Our original horned moms that were naturally very friendly tended to have naturally friendly polled calves. Horned moms that weren't very friendly, tended to have unfriendly calves and we eliminated them. We've line-bred to our best and most friendly and most compact females and now we have a VERY friendly compact polled herd.
One thing I have noticed is that many our dexters are so VERY friendly that they like to be VERY VERY close to us and we enjoy it as much as they do.... But we don't let the horned ones get so close because they can accidentally bump us with their horns. I notice that the polled ones end up being slightly MORE friendly because I let them freely gather around me licking me and interacting with me.... I tend to keep the horned ones away a bit so I don't get accidentally bumped (yes, it hurts a little).
Since the polled gene is independent from all other genes, you can breed tall polled cattle or short polled cattle, or very friendly polled cattle or very mean polled cattle, or very large polled calves or very tiny polled calves or just-right polled calves. If you or your neighbor's attempts at breeding polled cattle had poor results, you were doing it wrong. The same thing goes with horns... if you have mean horned cattle or too-big horned cattle, then you're doing it wrong. You MUST select for ALL the important dexter traits at the same time. Selection is EVERYTHING.
I'm happy that some folks want horned dexters and I happily send folks who want horns, to horned breeders. Horned dexters are lovely and not as intimidating as some people might fear.
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Post by jamshundred on Oct 30, 2015 21:04:32 GMT
The influx of people into the Dexter breed can mostly be counted as opportunists. Few milk or produce beef commercially. They came into the breed on the fad rush based on high prices. Opportunists and un-informed, inexperienced newbies have moved breed to breed leaving a trail of devastation. Dexters will not likely escape the crash. . . . . as a non-commercial breed the prices have been artificially elevated beyond the ability of the target market to afford them. When the fad wanes, ( as it will - since the brochure and the actuality of the animals in the sale pool differ dramatically), this breed will likely suffer the same devastation of the other breeds hyped with marketing rhetoric for uses the average owner would never realize.
Does anyone remember the $50,000 stud Llama? Or the furry females that would stare you down while spitting a vile stream of green stomach contents right in the middle of your face? ♪ ♪ ♪ Where have all the Llamas gone. .. . short time passing. ♪♪♪ Or the curried and disciplined mini stallions you would be absolutely convinced were worth the $50-$100,00 price tags when you saw the photo of their sire in the show ring draped in ribbons, or pulling a cart with the impeccably groomed owner behind the reins. Anyone remember the black mini donkey stallion for $10,000 at the beginning of that fad? The "in-crowd" breeders out there in the show rings and on the ad pages wouldn't even talk the sale of a female for less than $3-$4000 minimum and if they were a desirable color. . . . .the price would rise a couple thousand. Can anyone forget the pot-belly pig frenzy. I had someone call me yesterday and offer me two litters for free! Oh! The emus! I know a really intelligent and successful farmer who got talked into raising emus. That didn't last long either. At least he could afford the loss he suffered. See any $40,000 pandas on the pages of the rural magazines lately? And lest we forget, there are all those $40-$50,000 Alpacas so many who rushed into the breed were going to comb and sell for spinning. The Dexters are in the midst of the same breed-destroying fad frenzy, and it won't last. "Real" cattle people will move on to the actual beef breeds when they realize the inability of Dexter cattle to be sold by any means other than private treaty. . . breeder to breeder. No commercial market. .. . short period of sustained prices that are not commensurate with the utility of the animals.
The pyramid scheme is near running it's course. There is nothing unique or special about a field of animals that are common place. Barely different from the commercial breeds going through sale barns.
The real unique and authentic genetics have been nearly wiped out by the frenzy. A tragedy. But there are enough being preserved to preserve that which is special when the breed crashes and the fad animals end up in sale barns and butcher shops in droves. Don't believe me? Compare the lists of people who have come into the breed in the past 10 years with those in the breed today. See how many are still raising Dexters! They buy the sales rhetoric and the brochure, and then the pasture reality sets in and they are gone pretty much as fast as they arrive.
Dexters do not have their unique appearance, many of the valued traits which were connected to the dwarf Dexters have been lost by the extensive culling in the breed, and if it is personality or samll size an owner seeks in an animal, there are other mini breeds, or even small standards that offer equivalent meat and beef to an owner along with a pet in the pasture. The unique phenotype and characteristics of the foundation Dexters are not being protected or preserved by modern bloodline breeders.
Judy
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