I am new to this Dexter lark!!!Long or short leg??
Long or short leg??
I have a 2 1/2 month heifer calf, I was wondering if anyone could tell me, how to tell, if it is a long or short Dexter? Thank you I am new to this Dexter lark!!!
I am new to this Dexter lark!!!-
Broomcroft
- Posts: 3005
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:42 am
- Location: Shropshire, England
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Re: Long or short leg??
Do you know whether the dam and sire are short or non-short? Or one of each?
If they are both non-short, then the calf is non-short. If either the dam or sire are short, or both, the calf could be either.
If they are both non-short, then the calf is non-short. If either the dam or sire are short, or both, the calf could be either.
Clive
Re: Long or short leg??
Mother is a medium/long and Father is a short. 
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Duncan MacIntyre
- Posts: 2372
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 12:38 am
- Location: Isle of Bute, Scotland, UK
Re: Long or short leg??
Hello,
Traditionally short really referred to dexters carrying the chondrodysplasia gene, whilst medium or long referred to animals which did not. If you search this board you should find all sorts of posts on the subject. Nowadays we can easily get a DNA test done to show if a dexter is a carrier or not, and if you want to be really sure that is the way to go - contact the Dexter Society Office for details. Hopefully as a new dexter owner you have joined up, if not I would thoroughly recommend it.
In most areas there are support groups or individuals who are willing to help and advise, and DCS has a network of Field Advisors too. If your heifer is an obvious long or short then someone local can probably be found who could look at her with you and offer guidance. The important thing is not to mate short with short or you have a 25% chance of getting a non-viable bulldog calf, you probably know that already.
If you give rough location I am sure someone local will be reading this and may be able to contact you if you wish. There are lots of helpful fellow dexter owners out there.
Duncan
Traditionally short really referred to dexters carrying the chondrodysplasia gene, whilst medium or long referred to animals which did not. If you search this board you should find all sorts of posts on the subject. Nowadays we can easily get a DNA test done to show if a dexter is a carrier or not, and if you want to be really sure that is the way to go - contact the Dexter Society Office for details. Hopefully as a new dexter owner you have joined up, if not I would thoroughly recommend it.
In most areas there are support groups or individuals who are willing to help and advise, and DCS has a network of Field Advisors too. If your heifer is an obvious long or short then someone local can probably be found who could look at her with you and offer guidance. The important thing is not to mate short with short or you have a 25% chance of getting a non-viable bulldog calf, you probably know that already.
If you give rough location I am sure someone local will be reading this and may be able to contact you if you wish. There are lots of helpful fellow dexter owners out there.
Duncan
Duncan MacIntyre
Burnside Dexters 00316
Burnside
Ascog
Isle of Bute
Burnside Dexters 00316
Burnside
Ascog
Isle of Bute
Re: Long or short leg??
Can you post a picture of the calf on the board then we can maybe give you a better idea. At 2 months unless your calf is going to be a small non short usually the short ones are looking a bit more stocky and at this age the ratio of body depth viewed from the side is usually about the same as their leg length, and the non shorts are more leggy
However with dexters nothing is written in stone , but I'm sure by the time she is 6mths old you will certainly have a much better idea, and as Duncan mention's if your still not sure there is the DNA test.
However with dexters nothing is written in stone
, but I'm sure by the time she is 6mths old you will certainly have a much better idea, and as Duncan mention's if your still not sure there is the DNA test.