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Robert Seddon, Director of Region 9, called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM.

Robert Seddon has been the Director of Region 9 for one elected term, having been appointed by the ADCA Board of Directors as Director of Region 9 for the first two years, replacing Mark Muir.

Robert explained to the group that the ADCA is in the process of developing new Articles of Incorporation which were voted on at the 2008 AGM in Belton, TX.  The ADCA is also in the process of developing Standard Operating Procedures and a set of By-Laws; it is hoped that this work will be completed and presented to the entire ADCA membership in 2009.  The old Rules & Regulations were deemed to be illegal; thus, there is no framework under which to operate at this time.

At the 2008 AGM, the idea of Random Parentage Testing was discussed, voted on, and accepted by membership.  This vote authorized the Genetics & Pedigree Committee of the ADCA to develop the protocol to carry out random parentage testing; the Genetics & Pedigree Committee is still working on this protocol. 

The Dexter Bulletin (Winter 2008, Vol.27, No. 3) contains “A Proposal for DNA Genotyping,” specifying that a DNA genotype test must be completed before a bull calf can be registered, starting January 1, 2009.  If approved, this program will allow the ADCA to begin tracking genetics.  Coupled with Random Parentage Testing, this will help to guarantee the accuracy of the registry.  However, there are some objections to the DNA Genotyping, including startup date of January 1, 2009, and the fact that the proposal requires that testing be done by the ADCA’s designated laboratory and that genotyping done by other laboratories will not be accepted by the ADCA.  It was stressed that these are two totally separate programs, but they will work together to accomplish our goals.

There was discussion among those present about animals that have already been genotyped by the UC Davis Laboratory and the consensus was that genotyping tests completed at labs other than Texas A&M should be accepted by the ADCA, provided the results are sent to the ADCA directly by the other testing agency.  It was agreed that the testing agencies involved will have to develop a means of accepting other laboratories’ results. Robert stated that Dr. Cothran at Texas A&M would be asked to contact UC Davis to try and see if a method to do this can be done, and we would have to wait for the outcome of that before any concrete changes can be made.

There was further discussion on the DNA genotyping of all bulls; questions were raised regarding bulls that are deceased, stored semen, the expenses of testing, adhering to a breed standard, bias against carrier Dexters, and grandfathering in existing breeding bulls.  This new proposal for testing will not cover all bases.  Robert stated that once implemented, the DNA Genotyping Program, together with the Random Parentage Testing, will provide the ADCA with a database to help guarantee the accuracy of the registry.  Both protocols are works in progress; what was printed in The Dexter Bulletin will be modified to address members’ concerns, and a final vote by the entire ADCA membership will be required to implement these testing programs.

To maintain legality in Delaware, directors are not permitted to vote by proxy; they must be present at the meeting in order to vote.  However, members of a region are allowed to vote by proxy.  The differences between a proxy and a ballot were explained.  A proxy must be signed and dated to make it legal.  Two members were nominated as Director of Region 9 and both declined to run.

Robert Seddon read an email received this morning from a Region 9 member complaining about the election process for a new director of Region 9 and pointed out the errors in content.  He then told the group that Mike Vaughn from Kentucky, who owns herds in Kentucky and Tennessee, had contacted him by email to volunteer himself as the Region 9 Director; Robert read Mr. Vaughn’s qualifications and placed his name as a nominee for Director of Region 9 when nominations from the floor were opened.

A member asked what Mr. Vaughn’s reasons for running were, as he fears that some ADCA officers seem to be favoring red, polled animals only, thereby discounting his carrier herd.  Cynthia Williams proposed that the nomination of Mr. Vaughn be left open to allow other region members time to get more information on Mr. Vaughn.  Robert stated this would require a second mailing of proxies to all Region 9 members, along with a statement by Mr. Vaughn regarding his qualifications and desire to become the Director of Region 9, followed by a second physical meeting for Region 9 members. This was unanimously agreed to by all attending today.  Robert will notify Marcia Read, Vice President of the ADCA, who will handle the process, hopefully before the end of this year.

Robert briefly mentioned the Cardiff Study done in England to examine the genetic drift in Dexters over the last 50-60 years.  It was concluded that there is little genetic difference between the Dexter cattle of 1910 and those of today.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Gale B. Seddon

Secretary