Nations cowherd-defects

[aj]

I got to wondering about genetic defect carrying cows in say the USA. I would assume there would be some of the old herford dwarfism genes floating around from say the 1940 herford deal. Alot of these cattle could be be black now.....because of the black hided popularity. If one could test every cow.......what would be the breakdown.....in %'s of curly calf,fawn calf,th,pha,ds, on and on. One guy told me pha was really bleeding into the nations cow herds thorough one big breeder and Irish Whiskey. I think it would be fascinating to know what a breakdown would show. Could the old Herford dwarfism gene be floating around in say solid black.......from 60 years ago. Is the tha and pha getting into the nations cowherds as much as heavily used Angus breed lethal defects. Would say th last forever or would say 5,000 years from now...enough genetic drift would occur to morph out of say a th condition. I'm sure I will be accused of bashing the Shorthorn breed.....but this stuff fascinates me.

 

[Gargan]

Has any of these defects drifted in to the eared cow hers with the gerts(horns) and the brangus ( Angus curly)? I'm sure its probably there but ive just never heard for sure.

 

[BTDT]

Probably higher than most want to admit, but one tool the commercial cattleman has that the purebred and clubbie does not, is the fact they are not attached to their cows. She doesn't produce a live calf, she is gone.  So her defective line is "eliminated".  Those that abort, maybe due to a defective fetus, is also eliminated. No excuses.

If I was going to take a stab at a number, and if you are going to include EVERY defect, I would guess 10-13%.

 

[ejoe326]

How many cattle are in the US as of today?  What is the 10-13% based on specifically?    The people who went through the blizzard aren't sure how many cows are even dead so coming up with some percentage of cattle carrying a genetic defect would seem rather challenging.

Commercial guys are not immune to management decisions that might not make sense to the next guy. 

 

[knabe]

Rank these problems

Brd
Defects
Consumer preference
Cost of production
Show cattle
Regulation
Non vets doing ET and preg checks

 

[BTDT]

How many cattle are in the US as of today?  What is the 10-13% based on specifically?    The people who went through the blizzard aren't sure how many cows are even dead so coming up with some percentage of cattle carrying a genetic defect would seem rather challenging.

Commercial guys are not immune to management decisions that might not make sense to the next guy.

Specifically speaking it was a guess, but based on percentage of commercial buyers of "clubbie bulls", and commercial buyers who are unaware of defects, and bull sellers who are less than honest about defect status of bulls they are selling (on that account, maybe my guess was too low?).
And it doesn't matter how many are dead in the Dakotas, as it is a percentage, and percentages never change unless you are taking a select group out of the total number. In this case, is was a random kill, so therefore, the percentage would not change, abiet the actual numbers might.

Commercial guys are not immune of bad decisions, true.  But, I have yet to hear a commercial cattleman say "She hasn't had a live calf in 3 years, but she has the best pedigree in my herd, and she is a grand champion, and she is my best cow."
I have heard a commercial guy say "She is a good cow, and just because her calf drowned doesn't mean I am going to sell her."


knabe:  Regulation
            Consumer Preference
            Cost of production
            Defects
            (A million other issues not listed here)
            Finally: Non vets doing ET and preg checks

BRD = Breed? BVD? Bovine Respitory Disease?  I was unsure so therefore did not rank it, but if it is a disease, the it would be tied with defects.

How close am I?? <beer>
           

 

[trevorgreycattleco]

Rank these problems

Brd 6
Defects 4
Consumer preference 3
Cost of production 1
Show cattle 7
Regulation 2
Non vets doing ET and preg checks 5

 

[knabe]

Brd is bovine respitory disease.

Many cattle out west seem to be having trouble with this.

Not sure how it is verified.