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Post by Cascade Meadows Farm - Kirk on Nov 25, 2012 21:12:52 GMT -5
Lethal genes and other negative genes regularly arise in all animals via spontaneous mutations. For Dexters, it won't stop with PHA and Chondrodysplasia. Over time, via the accidental mutations that occur in all breeds, more lethal/harmful genes will be found in dexters (and in all other breeds too). If we don't have plans as a breed, to work toward identifying and eliminating these defective genes, in another 100 years, we'll have a very long list of genetic defect genes and the Dexter owners of that generation will look back at us and wonder what the heck we were thinking in letting all these defects accumulate. The Canadians are getting serious about eliminating genetic defects from their herds in the long term. They do NOT require culling of existing carriers and they give you all the room you need to breed from existing carriers in order to pass their good genes to the next generation, but they will NOT register any new calves carrying lethal and/or harmful genes. Here are some key excerpts of their policy in the Angus registry: Genetic Defect PolicyCalves that have known carriers of a genetic defect in the first two generations (parental and grandparental) of their pedigree, without an intervening free result, will need to be tested free of the causative gene to be eligible for registration. Alternatively, the intervening parent can be tested free. The Association will maintain a list of known carrier animals and animals that test free of causative genes for monitored defects on the Association website. Members are required to submit genetic defect test results to the Association within 30 days of the test result being reported to them. Failure to comply may subject the member to disciplinary action, suspension, or expulsion. Reporting an Abnormal CalfMembers of the Canadian Angus Association are required to report abnormalities in their herds. If an abnormality is observed: Complete and submit a Calf Abnormality Report to the Canadian Angus Association office. Collect DNA samples (hair from calf, dam and sire) to keep on record for future reference. Verify parentage (DNA) of abnormal calf to both sire and dam. Collect photographs for future reference. Conduct a pedigree search for common ancestors. Complete a veterinary inspection, DNA analysis and/or pathology exam if required. Here's a link to the full policy: www.cdnangus.ca/breed/Genetic_Defects.htmOur Dexter registries could easily implement policies like this example. The new policies could be announced in 2013, with a delayed effective date of 2018 to give folks plenty of time to prepare. Without a policy like this, you can expect Dexters to keep adding and accumulating new lethal/defect genes to the national herds until it becomes a nightmare.
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Post by Cascade Meadows Farm - Kirk on Nov 26, 2012 18:15:03 GMT -5
Additionally, the largest registry in all of North America (American Angus Association) also has a policy of NO registration allowed for calves that carry genetic diseases.
In 15 years, the registered Angus herds in all of North America will mostly be scrubbed free of serious genetic defects...
Meanwhile other breeds (like Dexters) without a good genetic defect elimination policy, will continue to find and accumulate more and more genetic defects.
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Post by kansasdexters on Nov 26, 2012 20:55:37 GMT -5
Hi Kirk,
I must say that I disagree with some of your conclusions. I don't think that Dexter cattle are going to "accumulate more and more genetic defects". I believe that the major breeders are very aware of what we are currently dealing with, already testing, and already culling their herds (I know that I am) to remove animals that are not suitable for use as registered breeding stock. We don't have the number of animals produced each year that the Angus Association does and we probably never will. We can only test for "known" genetic defects, so there are probably plenty of "unknowns" out there that we can't test for and perhaps never will be able to test for. The Angus Association is in a similar boat, just magnitudes greater in numbers. They won't ever be able to completely "scrub" their breed of undesirable genes, because new ones will keep cropping up all the time.
There is no such thing as "homozygous perfect", and even if there was, it would be fleeting. Heterozygous polled animals don't "breed true", black animals that carry red don't "breed true", dun animals that carry red don't "breed true", A1/A2 animals don't "breed true", and the list goes on. The only animals that actually "breed true" all of the time are homozygous for the specified trait. Since there aren't any two animal that are homozygous perfect, perfection can't "breed true".
We just do the best with what we have, and we love the Dexters that we have.
Patti
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Post by Cascade Meadows Farm - Kirk on Nov 26, 2012 23:35:54 GMT -5
I don't think that Dexter cattle are going to "accumulate more and more genetic defects". new ones will keep cropping up all the time. With all due respect (and much is due), and with a friendly smile on my face, I believe those two above statements are in direct conflict with each other. Yes, new recessive genetic diseases will keep cropping up all the time, AND that means THEY WILL ACCUMULATE AND SPREAD IN A BREED unless there is a policy and procedure to try to reduce and contain them (and hopefully eliminate them). If you don't attempt to eliminate the known ones, then the list will just continue to grow longer and longer as new ones come along and they accumulate. We're not talking about genetic imperfections like an imperfect udder, or A1/A2, or ugly color, or crooked horns, or even imperfect leg shape, we're talking about LETHAL and DISFIGURING genes like PHA, lethal dwarfism, and other potentially lethal and dangerous genetic diseases. I believe that the major breeders are very aware of what we are currently dealing with, already testing, and already culling their herds (I know that I am) to remove animals that are not suitable for use as registered breeding stock. This isn't about culling poor-looking animals with poor features or poor genetics, this is about ridding a breed of serious genetic diseases that can hide and spread and cause SERIOUS problems in their homozygous state in future generations. Yet, we still allow the registration of new calves that carry serious genetic disease genes. If all the major breeders are already on board, then a policy to prohibit registration of carrier calves (as the Angus breed has done) should be easy to implement. I'm on board. They won't ever be able to completely "scrub" their breed of undesirable genes, because new ones will keep cropping up all the time. That's sorta like saying "No use in doing the dishes since new dirty dishes just keep cropping up all the time" If you don't do the dishes, they'll pile up into a nasty mess. The Angus Genetic Disease Policy takes two approaches. 1. They are gradually eliminating the already identified serious genetic disease genes by prohibiting the registration of carrier calves. 2. They have a process to find and identify NEW genetic diseases It's a forever process - Find the serious genetic diseases one at a time, and attempt to eliminate them. If you don't try to eliminate the already known ones, then the list will just keep growing longer and longer. We don't have the number of animals produced each year that the Angus Association does and we probably never will. That actually allows our genetic defects to hide longer and spread farther before they are found. In larger numbers, genetic diseases usually have a stronger chance of exhibiting sooner than later. In smaller numbers, they can hide longer. We can only test for "known" genetic defects, so there are probably plenty of "unknowns" out there that we can't test for and perhaps never will be able to test for. The #1 worst (most dangerously effective) way to spread unknown genetic diseases is via AI bulls. The infected AI bull is used widely and spreads his hidden genetic disease gene into many herds where it is spread further until it is accidentally found. There is a VERY easy way to "test" a bull for hidden and unidentified serious genetic diseases before he is used widely. You breed the bull on 20 of his own daughters. If you get 20 healthy calves, then you are over 99.9% certain that he carries no hidden genetic diseases of any kind. Even breeding him back on a mere 10 of his own daughters will make you 96% certain he is problem free. I recommend that associations should NOT advertise any AI bulls that have not been well tested in breeding back on at least 10-20 of their own daughters with published results. Any AI bulls that have NOT been tested on a good number of their own daughters are potentially risky and should be considered experimental. Here's a list of the kinds of SERIOUS genetic diseases that the Angus breed is trying to eliminate. We'll almost certainly find some more of these popping up in dexters sooner or later via mutations, Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM) (Curly Calf Syndrome) Double Muscling (DM) Dwarfism (DW) Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA) (Fawn Calf Syndrome) Heterochromia Irides (HI) (White Eye) Hypotrichosis (HY) Mannosidosis (MA) Neuropathic Hydrocephalous (NH) Osteopetrosis (OS) Protoporphyria (PR) Pulmonary Hypoplasia (PH) Syndactyly (SN) Tibial Hemimelia (TH) PS. I hold Patti in the highest regard and respect, so everyone please read the above discussion through the filter of a VERY respectful (and light) conversation. PPS. Don't be too quick to pooh-pooh the genetic disease policies of the LARGEST cattle registries on the planet... They we're likely well thought out and well debated before being approved and implemented, and they've likely been well tested.
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Post by kansasdexters on Nov 27, 2012 8:01:55 GMT -5
Hi Kirk,
I'm not pooh-poohing the genetic disease policies of the LARGEST cattle registries on the planet. I'm sure that they are doing the best that they know how to do with what they've got to deal with. The question that comes to my mind is how did they get to this point? Why do they have so many genetic issues to deal with? They've had the numbers of animals where they can breed 20 daughters back to the sire to "prove" a bull is free of undesirable genetics. They've had numerous government-funded research projects, university research projects, bull trials, progeny tests, EPDs, etc. and where has that gotten them?
Do you think that if I tested all my Dexters for all of the genetic diseases that you listed that I would find these genetic problems in Dexters also? Should we require that all Dexter AI bulls be tested for a litany of genetic diseases that are found in other cattle breeds, on the chance that we might find something? Most Dexter AI bulls were (and still are) collected prior to even having 20 registered offspring. Not many Dexter breeders (even the major breeders) ever have 20 daughters to breed back to their bull! Because our situation is very different from what the major commercial cattle breeds have, our approach to dealing with this issue successfully will likely be different from what their approach is.
Please keep in mind that the Angus Association hasn't successfully implemented and proved their approach to their own problem yet. Right now, it's a strategy and a plan, but it may not achieve what they hope to achieve and the costs involved may far exceed the perceived benefits. Give it time, watch how they modify what they do, learn from their mistakes, and let's come up with a better plan.
Patti
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Post by lakeportfarms on Nov 27, 2012 8:52:23 GMT -5
I really want to just ignore this thread because I just see it as an attack from the flank toward chondrodysplasia and PHA. At some point in time these threads go from being informative and helpful to becoming a witch hunt, as is the case here.
Are you seriously proposing limiting the advertising of AI bulls to only those who have 10-20 father/daughter breedings registered and fully tested and published results? How many existing AI bulls meet this criteria? Weren't you just proposing in the other thread the heavy use of a couple of AI bulls in order to create a "true short" herd? I don't need to point out the contradiction any further.
So now we're going to decrease in importance other faults that a particular bull may carry but as long as he has 10 of his daughters calves on the ground he's a good bull?
Don't we have enough influence on our breed by just a dozen or so bulls like Outlaw, Saltaire Platinum, Lucifer, etc...? When you have hundreds of thousands of calves a year like the Angus breed, many of whom are terminal, that's one thing. But the Dexter breed is but a fraction of a fraction of those numbers. Limiting the choices of AI bulls will accomplish two things, a lot of future herds with similar pedigrees, and the use of whatever nearby bull the small herd owner (that doesn't keep a bull) can find without regard to his qualities. Neither option is a good thing.
Who is going to pay for researching the DNA of "lethal genetics" that might show up in the future, given the limited number of registrations per year of Dexters?
If you are as certain as you are that there are hidden "lethal" genes lurking in some of our Dexters, then I hope you are committed to genotyping not just your bulls but also your cows and calves, and preserving the DNA of them so that if it happens to be a mutation that originates from YOUR herd the source can be pinpointed and all of the offspring of those animals can be identified. Some of us are doing that, at considerable expense.
Like I said, witch hunt. So we've now progressed from not allowing chondro of PHA Dexters to compete for overall honors at the shows (from the other thread), to not allowing them to be registered at all? Are you going to compensate me for all my carriers and their offspring that are carriers, or do you just like changing the rules (in your favor) as you play the game because you happened to make a different choice in the direction of your herd? If it ever did come to that, me and my herd, along with many others who appreciate and enjoy our carriers, would leave the ADCA (although in truth it would be the association that left me), and I'm sure a more tolerant association and registry would grow from others who are like-minded.
Perhaps rather than trying to limit the enthusiasm and opportunities for present and future owners of Dexters, you can embrace what we have, rather than trying to force others to "improve" them in your image of what you alone think they should be.
Let's meet in a few years with our best efforts of a non-carrier cow or bull, to see who has made the best progress toward a "true short" animal. I'll be doing mine by using the best genetics I can find to create it without regard to their carrier status (which gives me a larger pool to choose from).
I promise not to comment again on this thread. ;D
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Post by cddexter on Nov 27, 2012 11:46:47 GMT -5
oh, hans. Outlaw, Platinum, Lucifer..... now why pick on these few bulls.
Outlaw comes from a line that in 1998 at the Congress, Andrew Sheppy, who sees himself as an educated Judy, claimed he'd exhaustively examined the pedigrees and Outlaw's was one of only six he considered 'pure'. Then four years later, he changed his mind. Why? Because he picked up some unsubstantiated gossip that was 40 years old and decided it had more validity. In his 'paper' at the Congress, Andrew trashed pretty well every single major breeder, and their bloodlines, again mostly based on gossip. Luckily for him, most breeders were already dead so he couldn't be sued. The only one still around was Beryl, who vigorously defended herself.
Lucifer's background includes a known, documented Appendix animal. North America is the only place you can't upgrade. This is or could be a good or bad thing. No judgment here. The Appendix info was never hidden, and Lucifer qualified for registration in the US. At 1023/1024th pure, just how anal do you want to get? Maybe his foot angle or his tail hair thickness is left over from some other breed, but is this going to make him less of a Dexter?
Poor old Platinum is so buried by all the bs that's been bandied about, it's hard to find the animal inthe pile. Supposedly there was a misregistration way back. All the documentation disproves this. There was also a re-registration of a grade animal into a purebred way back. Since the animal in question turned out to have horns from an angus just maybe the correction was more accurate than the original assumption? All we know for sure is P didn't get his polled gene from that source, despite certain comments to the contrary by those who really, really want to do their best to discredit anything that doesn't suit their agenda.
Now, let's talk bulls that have had a big influence, too. What about Jamie O'Callen, or some of the Peerless bulls, or Mertwis Howard. And since your list only comments on bulls the Legacy people have tried to belittle, what about parndon Bullfinch. Why isn't he on your list? His pedigree is far more suspect and unknown than Lucifer's.
With the best intentions in the world, piffle. cheers, c.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Nov 27, 2012 11:59:57 GMT -5
Carol, I'm violating my pledge, but I think you misunderstand what I was trying to say. If we only have a limited number of bulls to choose from through AI, virtually all pedigrees will begin to resemble each other after a while. Where is the fun in that? I'm pretty sure every one of the bulls you've mentioned is somewhere in our herd of all 40 of our Dexters. I'd like to see something a little different for a change.
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Post by dexterfarm on Nov 27, 2012 12:29:40 GMT -5
Kirk I was not going to respond to this tread because for a few days no one responded and it looked like the thread would just die but it hasn't. If you some how got your agenda pushed through. It would be a huge boost to the pdca as everyone jumped ship. I agree with part of your ides breeding short non chondro but not at the expense of the chondro animals. Not sure why you want them eliminated. I have some pha and will continue to breed and register heifers out of them. I choose not to register any pha bulls. If and when I sell a carrier she will be noted in the registry that she is a carrier. I only had one pha calf this year and it was steered after the test came back. It is a shame to because I suspect it may also be chondro If it was I would have sold him.
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Post by Cascade Meadows Farm - Kirk on Nov 27, 2012 18:08:05 GMT -5
I'm not pooh-poohing the genetic disease policies of the LARGEST cattle registries on the planet. I'm sure that they are doing the best that they know how to do with what they've got to deal with. The question that comes to my mind is how did they get to this point? Why do they have so many genetic issues to deal with? 1. They got to this point the same way we will get to the very same point.... by waiting too long to implement an effective policy. Without a good policy and procedure, we'll eventually arrive at the same point (with a very long list of serious defects). If we continue to delay implementing a genetic defect policy, then we'll continue to accumulate defects, with no hope of eliminating any of them. 2. They also got to this point by folks making the FALSE assumption that inbreeding causes defects (it doesn't cause defects, it just allows existing defects to exhibit).... So folks avoided inbreeding to avoid the defects. But inbreeding is the MOST important tool to FIND the existing defect genes. Avoiding inbreeding HIDES defects. 3. They have a lot of KNOWN genetic issues because they've put in a lot of effort to catalog their issues including implementing a policy requiring members to send in photos and DNA samples on ALL calves born with defects. If we do that in Dexters, would might easily find another handful of new recessive defective/disease genes. Do you think that if I tested all my Dexters for all of the genetic diseases that you listed that I would find these genetic problems in Dexters also? Should we require that all Dexter AI bulls be tested for a litany of genetic diseases that are found in other cattle breeds, on the chance that we might find something? The Association(s) might want to discuss such testing with the Genetics Lab testing experts. It might make sense for the Association(s) to test some of the most widely used AI bulls and a sample of cows in a planned approach (funded and directed by the Association(s) Perhaps testing the top 20 animals most often found in recent pedigrees. The problem with this approach is that any defective alleles in Dexters, might be different versions than the defect alleles in other breeds and the tests may not find anything. But it might be a worthwhile exercise on a small sample of Dexters. Still, the best test to find unknown genetic diseases in a bull, is to breed him on a number of his daughters. Most Dexter AI bulls were (and still are) collected prior to even having 20 registered offspring. Not many Dexter breeders (even the major breeders) ever have 20 daughters to breed back to their bull! I actually said 10-20 daughters, but I could live with as few as 8. Breeding a bull on 20 daughters gives you 99.9% certainty of NO genetic defect genes (we don't necessarily need to be that certain). Breeding a bull on 14 Daughters gives you 99.22% certainty Breeding a bull on 10 daughters gives you 96.88% certainty Breeding a bull on 8 daughters gives you 93.75% certainty of no defects (I can live with that much certainty). Breeding a bull on 6 Daughters (and finding no defects) gives you 87.5% certainty of no defects. That's not bad. Maybe the Association(s) should require ALL AI bulls to list the number of daughter-breedings and the results. Maybe any AI bulls with fewer than 8 daughter breedings, should be listed as "Experimental and Risky" Why are folks in a rush to throw an untested bull into the AI catalogs? Why are the Associations so quick to "endorse" them by listing them? Breeding a bull back on daughters does more than find defects, it also helps to prove whether the bull has some great genes. If you breed a bull on eight daughters and get 8 superstar calves with no defects, that's a sign of true greatness in a bull. If you get poor results, he's probably a crappy bull and shouldn't be in an AI catalog. Please keep in mind that the Angus Association hasn't successfully implemented and proved their approach to their own problem yet. Right now, it's a strategy and a plan, but it may not achieve what they hope to achieve and the costs involved may far exceed the perceived benefits. Give it time, watch how they modify what they do, learn from their mistakes, and let's come up with a better plan. I wouldn't propose that we rush into anything and I agree with watching for a while. But there are some parts of the Angus plan that make absolute good sense. 1. At some point in the future, registries should STOP registering calves that carry genetic diseases (otherwise our list of diseases will grow VERY large as we accumulate more and more of them). 2. Registries should have a policy requiring breeders to take certain actions if they have a calf born with defects. Photo's should be taken, hair samples should be pulled, and should be sent to the appropriate association representatives. This should be implemented IMMEDIATELY. Perhaps associations should have a goal of implementing an Angus-like policy by 2018... putting everyone on notice now to start preparing. We're not talking about just the ADCA. All world-wide dexter associations should be considering something like this unless they want to have a VERY long list of defects accumulating unchecked.
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dexterlady
member
Wife, mother of two daughters and five grand children
Posts: 647
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Post by dexterlady on Nov 27, 2012 22:02:32 GMT -5
Kirk, I think your idea has merit....All the calls I get for Dexters, the first thing they ask is "Are they PHA & Chrondo free".....I think it will take years for what you are wanting to do, toeven get it started.....2018 may still be too soon....Dexterlady
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Post by lakeportfarms on Nov 28, 2012 5:49:09 GMT -5
Dexterlady, you and I have the opposite experiences. Most everybody who comes to our farm to select a cow or several for their mall herd prefers the chondro carriers, even following our thorough description of the added steps necessary to take to avoid bulldog calves.
People should be allowed to breed, own, and register what they prefer and what works for them. But the anti-chondro folks such as Kirk are mounting a campaign that hints of some threat to OFFICIALLY strip the ability to register carriers and therefore cause people to lose their investments and ability to freely pursue their choices.
DNA testing is both a blessing and a curse as it allows to identify the carriers to successfully breed and avoid bulldog calves, but it also allows the targeting of carriers for elimination from the registry.
Would any of you chondro haters support such a thing for humans? I'm sure one day it will be possible to identify many genetics that are considered by a lot of people to be less than desirable. The other day we had some straw delivered, and a father and his son (who has Down's) spent an hour afterward hanging around the herd. He had never seen a chondro Dexter, and fell in love with them. A great kid too that I would be proud to have as a son.
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Post by Cascade Meadows Farm - Kirk on Nov 28, 2012 11:48:18 GMT -5
It's not just PHA and it's not just Chondrodysplasia Dwarfism It's all of these Genetic Diseases and more: Arthrogryposis Multiplex (AM) (Curly Calf Syndrome) Double Muscling (DM) Dwarfism (DW) (many different deadly forms) Contractural Arachnodactyly (CA) (Fawn Calf Syndrome) Heterochromia Irides (HI) (White Eye) Hypotrichosis (HY) Mannosidosis (MA) Neuropathic Hydrocephalous (NH) Osteopetrosis (OS) Protoporphyria (PR) Pulmonary Hypoplasia (PH) Syndactyly (SN) Tibial Hemimelia (TH) These and other genetic diseases will continue to arise and be found in Dexters as they are being found in other breeds. There are only two choices: 1. Embrace all of the genetic diseases as they come along (and the list will grow very long). 2. Attempt to find the genetic diseases and eliminate them before they spread widely. It's hard to fathom anyone embracing PHA and ALL of the genetic diseases that we'll find. Now as said before, there are slow and gentle ways to approach the elimination of genetic diseases one at a time. The largest registries in the world, have found that prohibiting registration of known disease carrying calves is the best approach. Existing carriers are fine, but adding more carriers to the registry is not (unless you embrace All Genetic Diseases). Here is a link that has more information about some of the common genetic diseases found in cattle that we'll likely find in Dexters someday. www.cdnangus.ca/breed/Genetic_Defects.htmPS. I don't think we should compare Dexters to humans since we kill and eat Dexters (unless you're a PETA member).
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Post by Cascade Meadows Farm - Kirk on Nov 28, 2012 14:34:33 GMT -5
You listed a bunch of conditions that trouble other breeds and then say they will "continue to arise and be found in Dexters Three of the genetic diseases on the list have already been found in dexters. There are 2 different lethal dwarfism alleles found in dexters and also Pulminary Hypoplasia. All three diseased alleles would be easy to eliminate. We'll find more in dexters (and in all breeds of animals) over time. Show us evidence of these conditions arising or being found in Dexters or drop it. Pulminary Hypoplasia (PHA) which is on the list, arose in Dexters fairly recently. Neither the LDCR nor the ADCA nor the PDCA allow the registration of outcrossed cattle, and none of these conditions are transmittable any other way. Diseased genes are simply genes that have copy errors. Bulls make 5 billion sperm per day and they use a dna copy process call meiosis to produce all those sperm. In producing those 5 billion sperm each day, there are occasional copying errors that "misspell" important genetic code. If the DNA code that gets misspelled is an important function and if that sperm fertilizes the egg, then the calf is born with a single hidden copy of the defective gene, and the calf can then pass the defective gene down to future generations where it HIDES and spreads until it happens to pair up in a homozygous state (two copies of the bad gene) and exhibits its terrible effects. PHA is thought to have arisen recently in a legacy cow named WheatEar, I believe. It was likely from a defective copy of sperm from her sire. Genetics 101 tells us that genetic defect mutations (misspellings) occur regularly in ALL plants and animals. They are acts of science. You've actually listed a ton of reasons why people should select our Dexters as their breed of choice, simply because WE DON'T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS! Please don't continue to knock Dexters. They're the best breed of cattle available to the small landholder in the US. Your scaremongering is doing our breed a grievous harm. Dexters have already been found to carry three of the problem genes on the list and the dexter registries still allow new calves carrying those problem genes to be registered. Dexter registries lack effective policies to search for hidden/new genetic diseases, so there are likely more hidden problems yet to be found. Dexters are an amazing breed for folks wanting small, friendly, easy-to-raise, dual-purpose cattle (with great personalities too). But in ANY BREED OF CATTLE, genetic diseases can arise and hide and spread, unless associations and breeders have policies and procedures to identify and eliminate these diseases. We can "knock" the diseases (and take efforts to reduce/eliminate them), while promoting our amazing, small, friendly, and productive cattle at the same time.
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Post by wdd on Nov 28, 2012 14:43:28 GMT -5
Gene is correct. If these genetic issues start showing up in Dexters then that indicates someone hasn't been truthful and registered crossbred animals. We would then need to track down the culprits and take corrective measures.
P.S. I think this thread is a waste of time and effort. It can only lead to contention as it continues. I can never see the ADCA taking any action to bar registration of carriers of Chondro or PHA nor will they relegate them to a sub-class of Dexter. Carriers only have a 50% chance of passing on the mutated gene, so how can you condemn 100% of the animals? If a parent can't or won't be registered no offspring can, thus you have terminated that genetic pool. Very bad choice in my book.
P.S.S. As I think about it the only animals that could/should possibly carry any of these genetic mutations found in the Angus Breed would be imported semen/animals with appendix animals in their pedigree (that contain Angus ancestry, assuming these genetic disorders are also in the English Herds). Locate a sample of their semen or genetic material and have it tested for these issues. I could see the ADCA possibly setting up safeguards to not allow these carrier animals genetics into the U.S. herd in order to protect the Dexter Breed. Of course any genetics already allowed into the registry would be grandfathered, but would put breeders on notice to genetically test decendants. Contact Monica Dexter your Regional Director to see if she will help you put together a protocal for the ADCA to use for any future imported genetics.
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