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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 2:12 pm
by Ken Hobbs
Has anyone read the article in the Contry Smallholder.
Under: Our finest house cow.There is quite controversial paragraph on Dexters.
Quote: Very short legged Dexters are at times rather fashionable, yet the gene that results in dwarfism in the breed also leads to a high proportion of grotesquely misshapen stillborn calves, and I have to say, I find the thought of anyone perpetuating these deformities in pursuit of a popular style to be somewhat appalling.
The above is only a small part of his article.
Where does he get his fact from? :
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:05 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
The difficulty here is that what has been said is actually true. The real problem is that he has not stated that the deformed calves can easily be avoided by breeding carrier to non carrier. The fact that this is now so well recognised by Dexter breeders is of course the reason why there are so few bulldogs born now despite there being so many more Dexters than there were. Perhaps someone could write a reply letter to the magazine - I would tackle it if someone gets a copy of the original text to me email, post or fax 01700404868.
I suggested this approach to Sylvia when she was indignant about a Telegraph article and she responded nicely with an article and picture of herself and Dexters in the paper to counter the anti-beef lobby.
Duncan
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:42 pm
by Ken Hobbs
Duncan I do not have full article only the piece relevant to Dexters
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:49 pm
by groubearfarm
The offending article in Country Smallholding is very defamatory of Dexters we should defend ourselves against such libel. If anyone wants to read a copy of the article I will willingly email it on adobe. There needs to be a very strong response to such ignorance. The publishers should be made to take responsibility for publishing such a biased and inaccurate piece of writing and unreservedly apologise. Fiona
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:09 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
I intend to be in touch with the publisher, and amongst other things I will be pointing out that there are more Dexter breeders in their breeders directory than any other cattle breed, and suggesting that they carry an article on Dexters in the near future. I could well provide a short article myself.
Duncan
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:37 pm
by ann
Does the smallholder mag have an e-mail address for the editor,
If so can it be posted onto this topic, them maybe we could all e-mail them to express our disapproval of the article.
Ann
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:56 pm
by Law
The e mail address you need is editorial.csh@archant.co.uk
The article does convey a very one sided view, and totally different from the experience of most Dexter Breeders. Unfortunately it is negative comments like this that can have along lasting effect.
John Law
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:31 pm
by Jo Kemp
Yes please Groubearfarm - I would appreciate an adobe copy of the article in question posted on the site
Jo
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 5:22 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
Has a Dexter article appeared yet in Country Smallholder? One was submitted but I do not subscribe so have not seen latest issue.
Duncan
Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:14 am
by Sylvia
Ditto
Sylvia
Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:32 am
by Paddy
No Dexter article has appeared yet. But.... a letter was published which vehemently defended the Dexter and called into question the fitness of the article's author to write for the magazine. In addition, the editor stated that lots of emails and letters along the same line had been received and that she would address it.
Paddy
Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:39 am
by Sylvia
Paddy,
Whose letter was published or was it anon?
Sylvia
Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:00 pm
by Paddy
Sylvia
On checking - two letters were published, one from Mary Kay and one (by email) from Mrs S Collyer (you?) Both were very good and the editor stated:
'Thanks to the other people who have written on this subject - your comments are noted.'
Regards
Paddy
Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:47 pm
by Sylvia
Thanks Paddy. Yes, the e-mail was mine, I'd better get the magazine and see what was chopped out!
Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:16 am
by Woodmagic
I have managed to put this reply under the wrong subject, am not very computer literate, here it is again.
Perhaps I should have signed it ‘Woodmagic’, my reply came out in the March edition, and two more responses were published in the April copy. I would love to have been a fly on the editor’s office wall, during that month. I suspect we shall not find unfavourable material on the Dexter for a while. Many thanks to Fiona, for providing so many contributors with the necessary information.