Important Update on Testing, Fall 2014 Dexter Bulletin

[ssrdex]

This is part of an email that I just received from region 4 director Vicki Jones-
" In response to the emails and phone calls from our members, the Board did hold a special board meeting this evening and a formal statement/response regarding all the input will be released in the next few days. "
Members are being heard.

[dexterlady]

I too am upset over this new mess....I find it appalling that the BOD can go over the members head with this mess but when it came to parentage verifying they couldn't!...This whole new mess is so dumb...I would love to know WHO was the brainstorm behind this idea...They can't even get some of the registrations right, can you imagine if this continues what a mess it is going to be?.....I do plan to write my director also and the president....For such smart people on that board, this is a BIG blunder!!!

[midhilldexters]

I heard from Jim Woehl who said they held a special Board meeting last night and that a statement would be forthcoming in the next few days.
Sounds like they are on the ball, that's good news.

Carol K

[copperhead]

I just talked to our Reg 6 director and so far, me and Patti are the only ones who have contacted them, REALLY!! All you Region 6 folks, get to e-mailing...complaining to each other won't get anything done, get involved.
P.J.

[RedRidge]

Reporting our opinions and even potential solutions "should" be done to our regional directors and I'd hope those directors relayed that in the meeting last night.

I suspect, relative to the overall membership in each district, that very few voices were heard. Why? Because most members will not be aware of the dilemma until they begin trying to register calves next spring. They don't read the bulletin, they don't have their finger on the pulse, and they simply have no clue what is going on. Jmo

[ladena]

Here's what I sent to my Regional Director.

I would like to add my name to the list of people that do not want the proposed changes to be made. The current coding for Genotyping and Parentage Verification is pretty straightforward. Trying to put PHA/Chondro status to that format does not makes sense to me. As far as PHA and Chondro, an animal is either a carrier or not a carrier. The old system seems to work with one exception. If the animal is untested and the status unknown it is left blank. If the animal is tested and the status is known, it is reported and shows up on the website. The exception to this is for obligate status. I believe that in order to be obligate free the animal should be parentage verified from tested free stock.

Thank you, LaDena

[zephyrhillsusan]

I got the same response to my email to Jim Woehl, that they had a conference call & a decision will be released soon. Crossing my fingers . . . !

I wonder if some people didn't get their Bulletin read through far enough to get to this article? It was kind of tucked away in back. It's also possible that some are discouraged and think it won't do any good to protest because the article said it was already voted. I trust that the quick response to our outpouring of protests shows that it is always worth making our voices heard.

I didn't realize all or most regions have FB pages. (Thanks, Sheri, for getting me onto Region 8's!) I also know some people here don't do FB. When I mentioned this discussion on our region's FB page, someone said a lot of them don't have time to get on here & would I please copy my post on there? So I did. That gives me the idea that I might occasionally post a link to a particularly interesting discussion on the regional FB page. Maybe I can eventually interest some others in coming on over here to join us!

[RedRidge]

To add to your post concerning "time to do things"...
We all need to keep in mind also that we are preaching to the choir. A very high percentage of dexter owners have no desire to test. They do genotyping of bulls only because it's required for registration and they think the guessing game is quite sufficient for the remaining tests.

[emsshamrock]

Everyone, here is the official statement from Jim Woehl and the ADCA. Thank you to the board for responding quickly to the concerns of the membership. Do not shoot the messenger...

"ADCA Members,



Over the past week, there has been significant concern expressed from all regions regarding the potential consequences of the implementation of our new registry system (see page 8 of the Fall 2014 Bulletin) planned for January 1, 2015. To address these concerns, a special Board of Directors (BOD) conference call was held on November 30, 2014. During this conference, the BOD unanimously voted to postpone the rollout of the new registry system until after the 2015 AGM. This postponement affords members additional time to provide input to their respective regional directors to help refine the registration system and for us to communicate our plan to transition to a parentage verified registry.

Our transition to a parentage verified registry was not started on a whim from the BOD, but was membership driven. The plan was developed in direct response to broad based membership requests to clarify the meaning of Chondrodysplasia, Pulmonary Hypoplasia with Anasarca (PHA), and the conveyance of an Obligate status for each when parentage verification is not required for registration.



We are grateful to the members that took the time communicate with the officers and the BOD regarding this first step in transitioning to a parentage verified registry. It is apparent that there are issues that need attention and clarification. As we go forward as an association, please contact your regional director with points of clarification and changes you would like to see prior to the 2015 AGM in Virginia. Please, do not contact the Registrar with your suggestions. Jill is the Registrar and does not make policy; that is the job of the Board.



Thank you,



Jim Woehl

ADCA, President"

[midhilldexters]

Thanks Emily.
Thanks go to the Board and Officers, I really appreciate you postponing and taking a new look at it.

Carol K

[LizMO]

I also appreciate the postponement. Thank YOU !!

[legendrockranch]

I was just told also about the BOD decision. The message is listed on the ADCA website. I too would like to thank the BOD & officers for giving membership a voice.

Hopefully we can move forward with sire and dam parentage verification as I feel it would be best for the registry.

[Dahdo]

Well that was quick. Nice job folks!

I'm really pleased by the timely response of the BOD. It's interesting that Woehl calls this policy "a transition to a parentage verified registry". In my opinion it just enabled people to continue get the benefit of obligate status for PHA and Chondro without paying for either genotyping or PHA/Chondro testing. I believe the only way we get to a PV registry is to reserve obligate status for animals that have both sire and dam qualified. It boils down to a financial incentive...you can pay for PV or you can pay for PHA/Chondro testing. I'll spend my $25 on PV thank you very much.

Now the work begins. If you were going to write your Director, but hadn't gotten around to it, please do it now. The leadership got the message that we didn't like their idea, now we have to give them our ideas.

[ladena]

I agree Dave, people are still getting the benefit of obligate status without PV. Now we should stress the importance of not giving animals obligate status without PV. Even if you only have one bull, cows can get mixed up also.

[copperhead]

I think people would be surprised at how many calves get mixed up, we need to have both parents verified, that's the only way to keep these pedigrees right, and the only way to know if they are truly obligate non- carries. I think they should give the large herds time to get their cows tested or start with 2014 heifers and go from there. Some people with large herds would take a big financial hit if they had to gynotype all their cows at once.