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Breeding Forward - Essays on Stewardship and Breeding
To breed forward is to hold a breed in your hands—and in your mind—for the next generation.
The Breeding Forward is a series of essays from Silver Maple Dexters that challenge, reframe, and propose methods forward as an integrated call to action to advance our stewardship of the Dexter cattle breed. It is not a primer, a moralistic screed, nor a nostalgia piece. It is a strategic call to stewardship. These essays examine the theories, mechanics, meaning, roles, and responsibilities of being a purebred Dexter cattle breeder for and across generations.
The series reflects over 25 years of Dexter breeding and a significantly longer history in livestock. What follows is equal parts lived reality, structured study, and breed-specific application—deliberate, practical, and shaped by what holds across generations.
The Core Arc: Framework for Intentional Breeding
The Core Arc builds the foundational case for intentional breeding and structured progress. These essays define the systems, standards, and long-view thinking that should guide every breeding program—before a single pairing is made.
​The Core Arc helps breeders think in systems and generations—to set direction, understand risk, and shoulder the responsibility that comes with shaping a breed.
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The Applied Arc: Decisions in the Field and Breeding Shed
This arc tackles the day-to-day realities that shape a breed over time. It’s where the big picture meets the daily grind—and where theory gets tested by cows, conditions, and constraint. These essays take up practical questions with long-term consequences:​
The Applied Arc is written for breeders working in the real world with a breeding plan, making decisions in the pasture and breeding pen.
Core Arc
Applied Arc
Beyond Numbers: Structure, Standards, and Stewardship (April 2025)
The Standard is Not the Summit (Upcoming May 2025)
The Breeder's Equation: Why Progress Requires Intent (Upcoming)
The Breeder's Duty (Upcoming March 2026)
The Constructive Breeder's Dilema (Upcoming)
From Utility to Ornament: What We've Lost and How to Regain It (Upcoming)
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Genetic Stagnation and Drift in Closed Herds (Upcoming)
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Semen Tanks and Saviors? (Upcoming)
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The Measured Herd: Evaluation, Selection, and the Path to Progress (May 2026)
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More to come