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Post by ssrdex on Apr 15, 2014 0:25:57 GMT -5
Hi Patti
Thanks for sharing her results. Are you surprised at all? I'm sure you're probably right in that testing will be a valuable tool to quickly assess who will produce the fattest calves without having to wait for 2-3 lactations to gather weaning data and make your choices based on that data. I understand this is not just a fad, but something the numbers will likely prove out. Well done you for your choices!
Edited: forgot to add my name
Joel
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Post by carragheendexters on Apr 15, 2014 6:36:14 GMT -5
Hey Joel,
your name always comes up at the end of your posts, did you forget you put it there, you silly duffer LOL
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Post by carragheendexters on Apr 15, 2014 6:40:35 GMT -5
Hi Patti,
so having those results and with her being such a good producer, have you considered flushing her? It seems it really would be worth it back to your best bull available. Do you consider Ace of Clove Brook your best bull?
Can you imagine having more heifers with those good productive genetics. I'd be in second heaven.
Congratulations on such a great result with her.
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Post by kansasdexters on Apr 15, 2014 11:39:53 GMT -5
Hi Louise,
I do consider Ace of Clove Brook to be one of best all-around Dexter bulls that I've ever used. We have high hopes for Fina's grand-daughter, Wakarusa ACB Falon. Falon has tested as homozygous A2 Beta Casein (A2/A2), homozygous "B" variant Kappa Casein (B/B), and homozygous "B" variant Beta Lactoglobulin (B/B). She is a PHA non-carrier, Chondro non-carrier, Black (ED/ED), carries Dun (B/b), and she is a beauty to behold. Falon is only a weanling heifer at this point, and time will tell if she is a worthy candidate for flushing.
What the new test results are telling me is that I need to look more closely at certain family lines in our herd.
Patti
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2014 23:31:23 GMT -5
Knowledge is a tool; hopefully people will use it wisely. Very true Susan, I couldn't have said it better myself. |
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zephyrhillsusan
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Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502 
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Post by zephyrhillsusan on Jun 16, 2014 17:27:05 GMT -5
We have all of Wellie's test results back from UCD. Here they are: A2 (Beta Casein) Result: A1/A2 - 1 copy of A2 present. If bred to A2/A2 animals, 50% of offspring will be A2/A2 Kappa Casein Result: A/A (better for milk powder; BB is better for cheese) Beta Lactoglobulin Result: B/B (best for cheese) I'm satisfied. Could have been better, could have been worse.  He's the only one I've tested. I'll get around to adding those tests for some of our animals, especially the A2 ones. But since we don't have that many and I enjoy genetics, I'll eventually do them all. |
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Post by dexterbovinefan on Jun 4, 2015 11:17:14 GMT -5
Ugh. Why is so much emphasis placed on these tests? We, as a community of dexter breeders, can put a stop to this nonsense by simply saying I'm not going to test for all these silly traits. If a buyer's operation depends so heavily on A2 milk, then let them pay for the tests. But, as it goes, everyone jumps and starts testing for this garbage and the market turns into the ridiculous mess we're dealing with now. A market where no one wants a perfect bull who is A1/A1. A market where people ask only about milk proteins, coat colors, and horn bearing, but never about whether or not he has two large testes. This mess is self started, and self perpetuating. Please stop talking about this stuff when our breed is suffering so much, being nearly devoid of quality herds with serious breeding programs.
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Post by emgiger on Jun 4, 2015 13:58:24 GMT -5
For what it's worth dexterbovinefan, I would buy an A1/A1 cow or bull in a heartbeat if the animal had outstanding temperament and conformation. I have plenty of A1/A1 stock that won't be going anywhere because their genetics are what I consider excellent. I kept only two bull calves in tact this year to sell and one was A1/A1. He was purchased prior to weaning at a few months old. I really think the market and the A2 mentality differentiates across the country. As a responsible breeder I try to ensure that my animals are soundly constructed (udder, feet, width, depth, etc.) before I move on to traits (A2, color, polled, etc). Last year I used straws from a Canadian black, horned bull to enhance milking traits in my breeding program. I am quite excited to see what these offspring will bring. As of now I am not on the A2 bandwagon. I have done immense research on the subject and have found no factual proof. Furthermore, I am greatly concerned about throwing the baby out with the bath water. There may be some positive undiscovered traits lurking in A1. For me personally, there has not been enough research on the topic to make any conclusive decisions on the subject. :-)
Eileen
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Post by dexterbovinefan on Jun 8, 2015 13:58:47 GMT -5
Eileen and others, I hope I didn't sound too combative. Its just a little frustrating when one tries to find good animals, but everywhere you go you're met with bad legs, horrific udders and slim lanky cattle (unless they have a certain genetic lethal masking poor muscling). All the while, owners are guaranteeing they are homozygous for A2 milk. I simply can't imagine hearing about more milk tests. The devil is not in the milk: he lives under a pile of ignorance. Also, I hadn't realized when I posted (new here) that the thread was basically stale. I thought I was entering a fresh conversation. Oops.  |
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Midhill Dexters? Not signed in
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Post by Midhill Dexters? Not signed in on Jun 8, 2015 17:19:22 GMT -5
Hey welcome to you. Combative is ok at times lol. I agree with you, hard to see good animals thrown away because of A2. I do believe there is way too much emphasis placed on it rather than it just being the Icing so to speak. So much more we could improve on as breeders.
Carol K
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Post by Pinevalleydexters on Jun 8, 2015 17:35:18 GMT -5
Just for the record I am not throwing out my A/1 animals, I agree it hasn't had enough research done to warrant changing my herd over fast. However our next bull is going to be A/2A/2, but that's not the only reason I choosing him. Also I am not testing every calf born right now. I don't feel like giving A/2 corporation more money. I will keep them because of other Good traits. And I agree the devil is not in the milk. You have to look at all the other factors that could cause autism, etc. What about the sprays that are on store bought foods? What about soda drinking?? Air pollution. Etc. I don't think we can just blame A/1A/1 milk. Also our A/1A/1 cows calf is gaining weight and growing faster than our A/2A/2 cows calf. Just my opinion what it's worth, not trying to start a fight. Thank you dexterbovinefan for your opinion. |
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Post by Dahdo on Jun 10, 2015 9:29:39 GMT -5
Just for the record, I agree with you about the over emphasis on this trait. And I love your suggestion on where the devil really lives. Of course I thought that before A2 milk came along Oh and we bought our new bull (Brightlea Calum) without knowing his A2 status. We fell in love with his feet, length, and dam's udder background. Turns out the breeder threw in one copy of A2 as a bonus! Cheers,Dave |
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hoperefuge
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Milking our Dexters in the mountains of KY since 2007
Posts: 101
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Post by hoperefuge on Feb 6, 2016 12:24:08 GMT -5
Hi Louise, We have milked several of our cows over the past few years, but we only do it on a daily basis for a few weeks early in their lactation. What we have observed is that some cows produce creamier milk than others do, and that there is significant individual variation in milk quality and quantity. Until now, we haven't had a simple test to identify which cows have the genetic potential to produce better milk quality (in terms of higher protein and fat levels). By testing and identifying the individuals within our herd that have the genetic potential for better milk quality, we can now follow this group of females through their lactations and observe what benefits (if any) they may have to offer, compared with their herd mates that aren't homozygous for "B" variant Kappa Casein and "B" variant Beta Lactoglobulin. These two new tests are simply additional tools in the selection toolbox, that we can now utilize when choosing and comparing the animals that will be used for breeding stock in the herd in the coming years. But there are many other factors that are also considered when choosing replacements to retain, or add to the herd. I view these new tests as a way of "fine-tuning", an additional means of differentiating between two similar animals. We have just started to do these two tests in our herd, so I'm reluctant to draw many conclusions about our preliminary data at this point. It may take us awhile to determine what positive/negative correlations (if any) can be made. Patti I was reading back through things & know I'm pulling up an old thread here, but... I'm really curious Patti, if you've pursued this & what conclusions you may be reaching at this point? I'd love to be able to identify girls who are going to raise a better calf! Kim |
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Post by kansasdexters on Feb 6, 2016 19:14:19 GMT -5
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hoperefuge
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Milking our Dexters in the mountains of KY since 2007
Posts: 101
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Post by hoperefuge on Feb 7, 2016 12:20:54 GMT -5
Thanks kansasdexters! Those are some interesting articles. Jeff is going to get the full PubMed study to look over. In the first one you listed, they found the A/A Kappa Casein was a bit better than B/B for calf growth rate/weaning weight, which is curious. Which are you finding to be better in your own herd? I only just tested some of my girls recently, so am interested to start keeping track of some data myself. Kim |
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He's the only one I've tested. I'll get around to adding those tests for some of our animals, especially the A2 ones. But since we don't have that many and I enjoy genetics, I'll eventually do them all.
