collar of a cross bread calf

[bub]

I have a red cow. Both her parents were red and a black cow they are both dexters. I have a bull that is out of a mini jersey cow and a black dexter bull. He is black. What are my chances of getting a calf that isn't black from these.

[cddexter]

Hi bub.

I see three animals.

one cow is red. She will be either ee, E+E+ or eE+. No matter what the actual genetics, she is red.

the second cow is black. You don't say what her parents were so I don't know if she is BB, Be or BE+, but she definitely has at least one black gene.

the bull is black. To be black, he must have at least one black gene. However, he is from a mini jersey, and she will have been E+E+ (taupe in jerseys but red in dexters)

so, calf from cow1 x bull: The calf can only inherit red from its mother. It could be red if the bull's E+ gene gets inherited, giving it two red genes, or it could be black if the bull's B gene gets inherited, giving it one red gene and one black.

calf from cow 2 x bull:
if the cow does NOT carry a red gene, then the calf will be black, genetically either BB or BE+.
if the cow DOES carry a red gene, then your options are--
red: red gene from dam, red gene from sire
black: black gene from dam, black gene from sire OR black gene from dam and red gene from sire OR red gene from dam and black gene from sire

got it? c.

[bub]

Ok thanks I don't know if the black cow has red in her or not she came from an exotic sale and I haven't had ether one tested for color genetics I didn't know that jersey's caried E+thanks again

[cddexter]

I don't remember if you said you had papers? If so, there should be an extended pedigree on whichever assn site she is registered with. That could give you a clue or two. If not registered, then the only way is to test, or cross all your fingers and toes and hope for a red calf which would be a giveaway for sure. ;D c.

[bub]

No nether one is registered