Post by Cascade Meadows Farm - Kirk on Dec 11, 2012 17:16:56 GMT -5
The polled mutation occurs regularly in all horned cattle including Texas Longhorns and Scottish Highlands
Texas Longhorn Bulls and Scottish Highlanders (and all bulls) produce about 5 billion sperm per day, and a typical sperm count in a typical mating is often about 10 billion sperm.
In producing the Texas Longhorn and Scottish Highlander sperm, the dna copying process (meiosis) makes about one mistake (mutation) per 10,000 copies (on average). Since the polled gene is simply a copying mistake, then 1 in 10,000 sperm from a horned bull are likely "Polled Sperm".
In the race to fertilize the egg, a polled sperm from a horned bull wins the contest in about 1 in 10,000 fertilizations.
Now, in the case of Texas Longhorns, what is their #1 most important identifying trait?.... It's their HUGE (intimidating) horns. It's NOT a Texas Longhorn without the big intimidating horns.
What do you think a breeder does with a Texas Longhorn calf that won't grow horns?
They QUIETLY cull it before anyone finds out.
Now in Dexters, what are the highest priority traits?
1. Small
2. Un-intimidating
3. Friendly
4. Relatively safe
5. Dual Purpose (great meat and adequate milk).
and then AFTER that, you have easy mothering, and easy keeping, and trouble-free, and interesting personalities, etc, etc...
In the case of Dexters, horns are intimidating to many people (and to other cows too) and that's why many folks de-horn their "horned" Dexters. While some folks enjoy the look of horns as an optional feature, they aren't a high-priority feature in most Dexters.
In Dexters, a polled calf is considered a very good thing by many folks because it means they don't have to dehorn, and it makes the calf less intimidating to many people (a key trait for Dexters).
In Longhorns, a polled calf is an embarrassment. So don't expect any Texas Longhorn breeders to announce the finding of a polled calf. But even if a polled Longhorn calf is never announced, the science of DNA tells us that the polled mutation occurs in the sperm of all horned bulls including Texas Longhorns and Scottish Highlands, (and Dexters), millions of times every day.
PS. Years ago, on our farm, we debated starting with Scottish Highlands vs. Dexters and we chose Dexters because they are less intimidating and are easy to manage and they feel safer than Highlands. We're still 100% thrilled with our decision. We aim for polled (mostly) but we're happy that some people choose horns. We enjoy seeing photos of horned Dexters, especially the bulls.
Texas Longhorn Bulls and Scottish Highlanders (and all bulls) produce about 5 billion sperm per day, and a typical sperm count in a typical mating is often about 10 billion sperm.
In producing the Texas Longhorn and Scottish Highlander sperm, the dna copying process (meiosis) makes about one mistake (mutation) per 10,000 copies (on average). Since the polled gene is simply a copying mistake, then 1 in 10,000 sperm from a horned bull are likely "Polled Sperm".
In the race to fertilize the egg, a polled sperm from a horned bull wins the contest in about 1 in 10,000 fertilizations.
Now, in the case of Texas Longhorns, what is their #1 most important identifying trait?.... It's their HUGE (intimidating) horns. It's NOT a Texas Longhorn without the big intimidating horns.
What do you think a breeder does with a Texas Longhorn calf that won't grow horns?
They QUIETLY cull it before anyone finds out.Now in Dexters, what are the highest priority traits?
1. Small
2. Un-intimidating
3. Friendly
4. Relatively safe
5. Dual Purpose (great meat and adequate milk).
and then AFTER that, you have easy mothering, and easy keeping, and trouble-free, and interesting personalities, etc, etc...
In the case of Dexters, horns are intimidating to many people (and to other cows too) and that's why many folks de-horn their "horned" Dexters. While some folks enjoy the look of horns as an optional feature, they aren't a high-priority feature in most Dexters.
In Dexters, a polled calf is considered a very good thing by many folks because it means they don't have to dehorn, and it makes the calf less intimidating to many people (a key trait for Dexters).
In Longhorns, a polled calf is an embarrassment. So don't expect any Texas Longhorn breeders to announce the finding of a polled calf. But even if a polled Longhorn calf is never announced, the science of DNA tells us that the polled mutation occurs in the sperm of all horned bulls including Texas Longhorns and Scottish Highlands, (and Dexters), millions of times every day.
PS. Years ago, on our farm, we debated starting with Scottish Highlands vs. Dexters and we chose Dexters because they are less intimidating and are easy to manage and they feel safer than Highlands. We're still 100% thrilled with our decision. We aim for polled (mostly) but we're happy that some people choose horns. We enjoy seeing photos of horned Dexters, especially the bulls.