OFA Fair X-Ray - Page 2

I agree that the flat spot is normal. I also agree with Blackthorn and think they could have gone GOOD on another day.

Actually what probably got you lower evaluation ( besides some other minor things) is the top of the ball of the femur.  The top part on the femur which is out of the socket and progresses to the neck of the femur. It needs to be more convex-more ball like,... but it is almost flat.  Top of the femoral head should be just about as round as the bottom of it. 
Thi indentations in the middle of the femoral head are quite normal that is where the ligaments are attached. It is called Fovea capitis = Pit in the head:

In the SV system and with an X-ray taken earlier at 12 months of age the hips would be Normal .. I wouldn't worry about those hips.  People in the USA import dogs from Germany with Normal hips every day that are no better or probably worse than your dog's hips.  OFA Fair is equivalent to SV Normal in many, many cases.  Fast Normal at 12 months in the SV system could better be called "will be worse at 24 months".

Personally I don't put a lot of emphasis on OFA ratings anymore. I had 2 dogs fail with milds that got goods with  better xrays taken 2 months later. (Litter mates, both xrays read the same day and rejected the same day by OFA; both xraying vets said - no way). One of my females got an A1 at 24 months and an OFA borderline with a copy of the same xray. 6 months later she was OFA rated as good. I've seen more than one fair get a good and even an excellent with a different xray.  I used a fair male with a good dam, 7 puppies, 3 goods, 4 excellents. I'm not convinced the SV does a much  better job plus one only gets the benefit of one reader and they don't allow a resubmission of an xray to try for a better rating. SV's evaluation is final - no challenges allowed.

IMO sibling, parent, and grandparent status and production history is far more important in the long run than OFA and SV ratings. I'm glad I don't breed dogs anymore.

there are so many variables that it would be impossible to discuss them all. Is a dog "fair" from a litter that none others passed or "fair" from a litter of excellent and good.  And what are the parents and grandparents. Fair is a consensus among specialists that there is no sign of HD @ 2 yrs. or later. If I had an above average breeding prospect that was rated fair, I would not hesitate at all in breeding.

Thank you everyone for all of the responses.  I do see the difference in the shape of the top of the ball of the femur.  This has been very informative!

can someone post excellent hips? with official rating...

 Blitzen:Personally I don't put a lot of emphasis on OFA ratings anymore.
I remember when I said just about the same as Blitzen here in a thread some time ago and I was the worst villain under the sun.  Basically I said that it is more important to post xray here on pedigrees gallery of  PDB then their evaluation by some registry.  I have also said that people who can not read those posted x rays should not breed dogs  or they should get them read by someone who knows how to do it and they are trust worthy. SV and OFA readings are good point of reference but not a panacea. It is confirmation tool for me. 


Excellent hips according to OFA:

Prager Hans 

As far as the pictures go, look at the upper part of the femoral neck on the example of OFA Excellent and you will see concave  shape between the neck and ball of the femur. Where on the op 's picture you can see convex shape. That is one of the reasons those hips are downgraded. It is also called the thickening of the neck.