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Post by lakeportfarms on Sept 19, 2014 6:13:11 GMT -5
"He certainly has the look with all the curls." So Hans are you thinking that Woodmagic bred bulls have the curls? I thought that curls were in all lines, just that some bulls have them and some bulls don't, and it goes along with a large crest, and large testicles. These characteristics were a sign of their testosterone levels. I have a share in a bull that is probably about 3/4 Woodmagic and he has straight hair, not a curl in sight, also almost no crest and not very masculine looking at all, almost steer like Thanks for the compliment about him, we love him, he brings the size down in his calves. He is about 44 inches at 9 years of age. From what I've seen of male Hedgehog progeny (I'm assuming I was correct about him like Dexterfarm was), they've all had quite pronounced curls and he really stamps that on his bull calves. Your bull reminded me of that and I imagine they get even more pronounced with a winter coat. I'm not sure all of the Woodmagic bulls have that though, as you've pointed out . I've read the same about Gearald Fry and his beliefs about the heavy tight curls on the neck and face. I have to agree, based on my own observations as well. Our bull Mike had (has, we haven't put him down yet) extremely pronounced curls and he doesn't suffer from a lack of testosterone or masculinity in the least! When I'd run into people I don't even know who had seen him in the pasture, many thought he was a small buffalo (because of his dark dun color as well I'm sure). We've had Mike retired for the summer out in the back of the property, however we moved him up a bit closer to the cows a week ago, and one was cycling yesterday. As bad a shape as he's in, he pushed off some wood fence boards that didn't have a hot wire to get to her. The other bull, Shadwell, no slouch himself, deferred to Mike at least as long as Mike was able to follow her. After about 30 minutes of trying to follow Mike just plopped down for a rest, poor guy didn't have the energy any more, but he sure still had the drive. I really like Shadwell a lot, he shows a lot of respect to his elder . I guess I'll have to add Mike as a possible sire to the calf in 9 months in my genotyping testing..lol Our recent addition, Shadwell, is a carrier and his mother was a Hedgehog progeny, he's extremely short, and we'll be looking for a non-carrier out of him to retain and breed to our chondro cows in the future, also hopefully to bring down the height a little bit.
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Post by dexterfarm on Sept 19, 2014 20:41:43 GMT -5
I wasn't really considering the curls. Our bull is 90% woodmagic and a hedgehog son. he does not have very much for curls. I was looking more at the whole body shape when I made my prediction about him being a hedgehog son.
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Post by carragheendexters on Sept 20, 2014 22:14:57 GMT -5
Mike and Hans are both on the money, and got it totally right. Justin is non-chondro, 44 inches at 9 year old, and weighs about 1000lb (by tape not scales). He is a Hedgehog 3 son. He does have the Woodmagic look of shorter legs. So many new Dexter people look at him and call him a shortleg, (mind you I have also had long time breeders say the same) ,and I agree he is a short leg by visual appearance, but non-chondro. This is my reasoning why we have to be really careful when we talk to new and prospective Dexter owners and say what we mean. You know the old saying "Say what you mean and mean what you say" It can be rather confusing to new people otherwise.
My first 2 Dexter heifers I bought from an established breeder, and I had researched bulldogs etc, this was before the gene had been isolated and there was a test. I supposedly bought as far as the breeder was concerned one "shortleg" and one "longleg". I couldn't see much of a difference but he assured me that they were. Funny thing, when the test became available I had them done. Both were non-chondro. I wonder how many more he got wrong.
Well done guys, you've got a good eye.
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Post by carragheendexters on Sept 20, 2014 22:15:52 GMT -5
Olga, do you have a photo of Sam that you can post? It would be nice to see him.
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Post by Olga on Sept 21, 2014 12:59:02 GMT -5
I will try to find one that isn't on my old laptop that quit working recently.
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