Question..

[rhonda]

Well, got my email test results back..A2N..carries 1 copy A2 and 1 non-A2. Is that A2/A1? Good or bad? Rhonda (I already knew he non-pha from testing..I did test for color--ED/ED and non-chondro)

[zephyrhillsusan]

Yes, he's A1/A2. Good or bad? Depends! It's better than homozygous A1 IF buyers care about A2. If they breed him to a heterozygous (A1/A2) cow, they will have a 50% chance of A1/A2 offspring, 25% chance of homozygous A1 and 25% chance of homozygous A2.

If they breed to a homozygous A2 cow, they have a 50% chance of A1/A2 offspring and 50% chance of homozygous A2. Those are pretty good odds. If they like your bull for his other qualities, why not get him? They can wait till they get a homozygous A2 bull calf from him with all of his other qualities and replace him with his son.

For people who are raising animals for beef, they shouldn't care, but him being heterozygous will give them a certain number of homozygous A2 offspring if some of their cows are heterozygous. That could be a plus for them if someone comes looking for an A2 cow or bull.

Also I think that the fact that you tested is a plus. It shows that you want to know as much about your bull's genetics as possible and make that information available to buyers. It takes the guesswork out for them. Good luck finding a buyer for him!

[copperhead]

Rhonda, I know what you mean, I have a polled dun bull that would have sold easily by now, except, he's N/N. I have said this before, but I'll repeat myself, a lot of good bulls are going to go to slaughter over this stupid thing. This is one study done by one man and people have jumped on the bandwagon, it's the buzz word for all uninformed buyers, they want polled, non chondro, A2A2, non PHA, and on and on. Most of the people I talk to don't know what any of that means, they've just heard the words and that's what they want !!!
Sorry, I'm on a rant, I hate seeing good bull prospects and heifers, go to slaughter over something that don't mean squat, except the few people who milk. I'm looking at a bull now, awesome specimen, but, he hasn't been tested for the casin and I'm wanting to get a test, because it will help me sell heifers,n . Some of the best bloodlines in the breed, are not A2 animals, should we kill them all?
P.J.

[Deleted]

I agree Rhonda, Unless your going to milk, it shouldn't be an issue. I haven't heard of it being a deal breaker up in our area. And a lot of new to Dexter people probably have no idea what it means.

[hollydzie]

This breed in particular needs so much improvement in structural things such as feet, good udders, proper hook to pin to name just a few. It is a crime that such a thing as A2 status would make an other wise outstanding animal less desirable. I just don't get it. I would much rather have an animal that was A1/A1 but sound in other areas, than an A2/A2 animal that had an udder so bad that you couldn't get milk out of it. It makes no sense.

I completely agree with you copperhead!

[midhilldexters]

I agree with you Holly. I just steered 3 polled bull calves a red a dun and a black, all A2/A2. One was borderline and would have made a nice bull, but the others had minor issues that the breed didn't need. I watched them grow until they were 6 months old to decide then banded, but the breed needs more culling and I'm not afraid to start with my herd.
A2, color, polled are not main factors to keep a bull. People need to look at feet,legs,how their animals walk and many other things at a bare minimum before they worry about A2.

Carol K