Our chocolate boy - relationship between genetic colour gene

[Deleted]

Some pics of our "chocolate" boy.
A blackie who is a carrier of dun and red.





So just wondering if others have noticed a possible relationship between the colour genes calves are carrying and their calf coat colour?


We have two black girls who are not carriers of red or dun coloured genes (tested), and they were as black as night right from the day they were born.
Actually Branna was so black her baby blue eyes had us a little concerned as they were very distinctive and appeared very light indeed.

One of our girls was also black in colour but she carries dun only and while she didn’t have any ‘reddish’ tinges, she wasn’t as black as the first two mentioned girls.

One of our little men is a red carrier (tested) and at 6 months of age he still has a mahogany type browny tinge around the edge of his ears and on the ‘fluff’ on the top of his tail head. He also wasn’t as black as the first two mentioned black only girls above.

And now we have Bailey (pictured). He is a blackie, but he is a carrier of dun and red – and he is a chocolate as can be – I love the colour – but is there a relationship

[ctownson]

I love that dark chocolate dun color!

[rhonda]

With the black around his eyes and the black nose is he not black? My chocolate bull had/has a liver nose from birth.

[Deleted]

He wont be a dark dun - he will be black. But he is a dun and red carrier.

Dad is not a dun carrier: it was a 50 / 50 on black or red calf colour

Whoops re read the post and will make an edit - it does read as if he is dun in colour - sorry about that

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2013 19:02:07 GMT -5 rhonda said:

View AttachmentWith the black around his eyes and the black nose is he not black? My chocolate bull had/has a liver nose from birth.

Wow that is a really pretty colour - but he would be a dun colour because of his "liver coloured nose - yes?

[tarsallat]

Hey Lindon, you must have missed where I wrote on my post to Ladena about her black calf that its my belief that black calves that carry red are born that black with red tinge. No proof, just anecdotal from my experience of black carrying red calves born on our farm. Also sometimes they seem to have grayish black hair up through their back legs and under their belly.
Black calves carrying dun in my experience tend to have funny coloured eyes, similar to what a dun has.

[Morning Star Farm]

I have a heifer that was born chocolate this year....her dam can only throw black and sire is black and carries dun. She looked just like your "chocolate boy".

[wvdexters]

What a beautiful calf!

We had 2 black heifer calves born here this year. One from black cow the other from a red cow. The Black cow's calf was born black. The red cow's calf is more of a very dark brown with black around the eyes and almost reddish highlights in the sun. It's only because of the thread on color I read here that I know she will eventually turn black. I've been wondering if the mother's coloring makes a difference too in how they appear when young. I'll have to get some pics.

[Deleted]

Jun 26, 2013 6:37:22 GMT -5 tarsallat said:

Hey Lindon, you must have missed where I wrote on my post to Ladena about her black calf that its my belief that black calves that carry red are born that black with red tinge. No proof, just anecdotal from my experience of black carrying red calves born on our farm. Also sometimes they seem to have grayish black hair up through their back legs and under their belly.
Black calves carrying dun in my experience tend to have funny coloured eyes, similar to what a dun has.

Oh really the eyes can be of a different shade too - how interesting? !

Yes I did miss your post on the calf colours. I did do a bit of a search on the forum but I will stand by my [pathetic] excuse that I scan and dont read while surfing here inbetween work projects

[Deleted]

Jun 26, 2013 8:42:23 GMT -5 Morning Star Farm said:

I have a heifer that was born chocolate this year....her dam can only throw black and sire is black and carries dun. She looked just like your "chocolate boy".

It is gorgeous colouring isnt it.

How old is your little man now and is he still as chocolate in colour?

[Deleted]

Jun 26, 2013 12:35:02 GMT -5 wvdexters said:

What a beautiful calf!

We had 2 black heifer calves born here this year. One from black cow the other from a red cow. The Black cow's calf was born black. The red cow's calf is more of a very dark brown with black around the eyes and almost reddish highlights in the sun. It's only because of the thread on color I read here that I know she will eventually turn black. I've been wondering if the mother's coloring makes a difference too in how they appear when young. I'll have to get some pics.

Yes please that will be great if you can post some pics. I am finding this calf colouring really interesting.

Bailey's mum is Dun in colour - yep thats them in my avatar.

[rhonda]

Mine is 4 now and still a rich brown--chocolate.




Changed to a newer picture..hasn't shed off completely in this one though.

[Deleted]

Genebo yes, Im sure they will eventually - but boy its fun trying to second guess with the coat colours.....

Im not sure if Bailey's appearance / colouring makes him look cheeky - or whether he actually is

[wvdexters]

Here's some pictures of our calves.

This is Knobley Lydia. She was born on Mother's Day! Best gift ever!!! (Mother red, sire dun)



This is Knobley Esther Lynn with her. (Mother black, father dun) (Mother carries dun and red)

[Deleted]

How gorgeous is she! The colour shades are just lovely.
Go the Dexters!