roach backed heifer

[lightnin4]

I've got a heifer that we bought last year that roaches over her back.  She was straightbacked as a calf and has done this as she has gotten older. She was 17-18 months old before she started roaching.  She is bred now and due to calve in 2 months.  Is this condition heritable?  Could it cause problems when she calves? 

 

[shortii]

Honestly it could probably go either way. I had a show heifer that looked pretty awesome as a young calf and as she got older the more she roached in her top but she never shows any signs of her in pain. As a cow she looks pretty bad but she has been producing some pretty exceptional calves. 

 

[OH Breeder]

I've got a heifer that we bought last year that roaches over her back.  She was straightbacked as a calf and has done this as she has gotten older. She was 17-18 months old before she started roaching.   She is bred now and due to calve in 2 months.  Is this condition heritable?  Could it cause problems when she calves? 

Sometimes as cows run out of room with a calf they will walk much different. If I understand what you are describing it is only seen with movement. Have you ever watched a preg lady full term walk. I feel sorry for some of them. See what happens after the calf is on the ground. Just remember if the structural defect is still present her off spring will have a 50% chance of inheriting that trait. But cut her a break she is in her last trimester.

 

[lightnin4]

I've got a heifer that we bought last year that roaches over her back.  She was straightbacked as a calf and has done this as she has gotten older. She was 17-18 months old before she started roaching.   She is bred now and due to calve in 2 months.  Is this condition heritable?  Could it cause problems when she calves? 

Sometimes as cows run out of room with a calf they will walk much different. If I understand what you are describing it is only seen with movement. Have you ever watched a preg lady full term walk. I feel sorry for some of them. See what happens after the calf is on the ground. Just remember if the structural defect is still present her off spring will have a 50% chance of inheriting that trait. But cut her a break she is in her last trimester.

I plan on calving her out and seeing how it goes.  She actually does roach when she's just standing though.  I've got another cow that just roaches slightly at the walk and she's never had a problem.  Just looking for opinions (or scientific facts ) on the subject.  I am visiting the farm she came from today.  I'll probably ask about her dam.