the cost of the test is way cheaper than a mistake on assessing phenotype.
in the past, one could tell who the carriers were by how much the semen costs, threats of a lawsuit revealing the identity of carriers, inverse correlation between who said it doesn't matter and if they used them. interestingly, there also seems to be a slight inverse correlation between people who advocate for using carriers and understanding of genetics.
really, the only way to deal with the defects is to test, breed carriers to non-carriers, or breed carriers to carriers and deal with dead calves and cows. the other way, is obviously, though maybe not, is to not use carriers.
the supposed "look" of PHA carrier females is a thicker appearance in the chine and a more masculine look to females.
the paper describing PHA in cattle has never come out and what it supposedly does in a hetero state and which allele is activated. not sure why the paper has never come out.
using carriers, one can be proud to release untested carrier culls into the commercial population as most people, again, don't have the decency to make sure they are sent to slaughter as they don't want to test the culls but get the highest price possible saying they are out of carrier genetics.
it's really pathetic.
I guess i'm curious why you want to guess and not test, though you do say you want to test.
