Country Smallholder Magazine

Ken Hobbs · Post by **Ken Hobbs** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 2:12 pm

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? :

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:05 pm

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

Ken Hobbs · Post by **Ken Hobbs** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:42 pm

Duncan I do not have full article only the piece relevant to Dexters

groubearfarm · Post by **groubearfarm** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:49 pm

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

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:09 pm

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

ann · Post by **ann** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:37 pm

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

Law · Post by **Law** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:56 pm

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

Jo Kemp · Post by **Jo Kemp** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:31 pm

Yes please Groubearfarm - I would appreciate an adobe copy of the article in question posted on the site
Jo

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 5:22 pm

Has a Dexter article appeared yet in Country Smallholder? One was submitted but I do not subscribe so have not seen latest issue.

Duncan

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:14 am

Ditto

Sylvia

Paddy · Post by **Paddy** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:32 am

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

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:39 am

Paddy,

Whose letter was published or was it anon?

Sylvia

Paddy · Post by **Paddy** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:00 pm

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

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:47 pm

Thanks Paddy. Yes, the e-mail was mine, I'd better get the magazine and see what was chopped out!

Woodmagic · Post by **Woodmagic** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:16 am

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.