Color slueths, help please?

[littlecowfl]

I bred my dun heifer via AI to a homozygous red bull and here is the calf that was born in the wee hours of the morning. She looks dun, right?



Here is the bull:

www.dextercattle.org/pedigreedb/ponyweb.cgi?horse=4882&HorseName=thomas&Page=10&Sort=0

Here is the cow:

www.dextercattle.org/pedigreedb/ponyweb.cgi?horse=023428&HorseName=moonlit%20oaks%20bonny&Page=1&Sort=0

Do I need to send tail hairs in to determine color? Thank you.

[kansasdexters]

You need to check the straw to make sure what bull you used. Thomas' Prides Red Baron doesn't carry dun, so he can't sire a dun calf. You have a dun calf out of a dun cow and thus, the sire has to at least carry dun. Any chance you used a straw of Briarwood Blaze O'Glory? He is another AI bull that Sandi Thomas sells semen for and he is red and carries dun. Another bull that Sandi Thomas sells semen for, Thomas' Reu Grande, is black and carries dun. The straws should have the name of the bull on them, so you'll first want to verify that you got what you thought you got. (I always save the empty semen straw along with the AI service report in a plastic sleeve protector.)

Semen storage facilities sometimes make mistakes and send out the wrong straws. It's really important to double-check and verify what is received. At the time of AI service, both the AI tech and the cow's owner should verify the name of the bull on the straw that is used -- then both of them sign and date the AI service record.

Patti

[cddexter]

Hi Alicia. Right!!!
I think before you do a color test, you might like to do a paternity test or maybe do both, but definitely do a sire verification. ;D The bull does not carry dun and unless your film color values are WAAAAAY off, that's not a red calf. c.

[littlecowfl]

Hmm, I remember the straw actually said Red Baron on it with the right number from the lab. The tech and I both verified it. I'd better do paternity check because I do have more straws. I do know it was the only Dexter bull the AI tech had in his stock.

Any chance she'll change color? I had two calves change to black before.

[littlecowfl]

The good news is that all of her AI bulls are non chondro and non PHA carriers. Now, to figure out who the daddy is....

[kansasdexters]

Here is a photo of Wakarusa BRR Nina, as a newborn:


She was the lightest colored black calf that we ever had. She is now completely black!

Patti

[marion]

Alicia's calf appears to have the 'cafe au lait'/lavendar nose of a dun, rather than the darker nose of a calf that will turn black..
Any chance of a fertile and ambitious young bull on the place, rather than questioning the semen? ..marion

[littlecowfl]

No chance of another bull. I have spoken with Sandi and Red Baron was tested as E+/E+ before there was a dun test. She is researching it.

[marion]

At least you knew what Nina would be patti, 'cause BRR doesnt carry dun

[littlecowfl]

Well, anyway I like her color. Isn't it true if milk a chocolate colored cow you get chocolate milk? ;D

[goldshaftdexters]

Definately looks dun to me. (to the extent that I'd put money on it!)
Regarding the flavoured milk - I think you'd have a better chance of getting coffee or caramel flaovoured milk from your heifer. ;D

[ctownson]

I agree - definitely dun.

[rhonda]

I think the color looks dun but is the nose a little too pink? My dun calves have had eyes that were strange colored.

[littlecowfl]

She has brownish eyes, actually.

[cddexter]

morning, alicia...
you can have black(ish) or brown eyes, or pink or blue or a combo. Eye color doesn't seem to be tied to coat color. Nose and hoof color are usually pretty good indicators, as they seem to be. If she were going to turn black (other than knowing in advance what the genetics were), she'd have a black nose like BRR Nina did, and black hairs around the eyes.
Even tho' I consider myself a color guru I checked with John Potter before I posted. He was pretty sure Sandi had said Baron was checked and did not carry dun. I also took a quick gander through the pedigree, and there is dun there, but waaaay back.
So, no other culprit in mind, and a beige nose, Sandi may be able to enlighten you. cheers, c.