Question on genotype test

[alicenfred]

Has anyone done the DNA Genotype test for their Dexter Bull?
Our Dexter Bull must have a genotype on file with the ADCA to have any of his calves registered.
I have the insructions on how to pull hair samples from the switch of his tail, but how do you do this? Does the bull need to be in a squeeze shoot to pull the hair samples out of the switch of the tail? Where is the switch of the tail?

[kansasdexters]

Hi alicenfred,

Here is the website link for ADCA testing: www.dextercattle.org/testing_info.htm
When you go to that web page, click on the "Genotype" button for the proper test application form.

If your bull is very calm and tame, you can probably pull his tail hairs without bothering him too much. I usually wait until mid-morning, when the cattle are lounging in the sun and chewing their cud. They are used to me brushing them and picking burrs out of their tails, so I can handle their tails without protest. I put a ziploc bag with a folded paper towel, and a marker pen in my pocket. I carry a clean, mane comb in my hand. While the bull is laying down and resting, I pick up his tail and run my hand down to the tassel end. I use the mane comb to detangle a clean section (no manure or mud should be on the hairs). Then, I wrap about 20 hairs around my index finger, hold the end of the tail with my free hand, and give a quick jerk upward, towards the tail head and step back away from the bull with the hair sample (that has hair follicles attached) wrapped around my index finger. With my free hand, I take the ziploc bag out of my pocket, place the hair follicle ends into the fold of the paper towel, close the bag, label the bag and take it back to the house. Then I prepare the sample envelope with the information on the animal. I take the hair sample from the folded paper towel, arrange the hairs into a bundle (using clean tweezers and not touching the hair follicles) with all the follicles lined up at one end, place a piece of tape about 1 inch down from the follicles (to hold the bundle together), trim the excess hair on the end opposite of the hair follicles, and put the tail hair sample into the prepared sample envelope. Now it's ready to send, along with the genotype application form and a check for $25.

I've collected tail hair samples while the bull is standing and eating a treat, but had to be careful to step aside quickly because the bull may kick when he feels the pull. We've also used the squeeze chute to restrain the animal while we collected their tail hair sample. This seems to work especially well for young animals because we need to get 40 to 60 tail hairs from each calf in order to have an adequate sample for most genetic tests. (Hair follicles are much smaller on young calves, more hairs are needed for each young animal's sample.) That takes several pulls, so it really helps if the calf is completely restrained in a chute while this is being done.

Hope this helps,


Patti

[Star Creek Dexters]

It really depends on your bull's temperament as to how you will go about doing it. If your bull is tame and handlable you can do it while he's free standing, if he won't let you touch him, then you will need to secure him to pull hairs.

The switch of the tail is the very end, where the long tail hairs are. You can either pull them with pliers, or do it like we did, which is wash you hands real good and wrap 20-40 tail hairs around you hand and give a hard yank to pull the out. You need to be sure you get the hair folicle as this is where the DNA is that will be tested. Do not touch the folicle. Our bull didn't even flinch when we pulled them. I've seen more tail hairs caught in a wire barb than we pull at one time

Good luck!

[Star Creek Dexters]

Patti, we posted at the same time