I have had my own personal theory on genetic defects ever since TH became publicized in the Shorthorn breed. I believe that there is some sort of genetic defect hidden in every breed, it is just a matter of finding it.Much like the Arthrogryposis Multiplex, Curly Calf, in 1991 Gardiner's Ranch had a stillborn with a bent and twisted spine, and rigid legs...this was considered a "fluke" and basically igonored. By April 2008, there were noted to be over 50 calves born with the exact same symptoms, and low and behold they were out of the same lineage as the 1991 mystery calf. It is easy to have a "fluke" of a calf and blow it off, but later on down the road when people start noticing several more with the same issue, it is no longer a fluke, but now a genetic defect. With Shorthorns, Maines, and now Angus being added to the list, where do you think the next one will pop up? Has anyone who raises another breed of cattle noticed anything "fishy" with any of their calves, and been able to find others with the same issue?
Where will we find the next genetic defect?
- Thread starter ShowmanQ
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red
Well-known member
I think w/ the progress made by people like Dr Beever we'll see a lot more defects down the road. Since it's easier to identify potential defects & carriers it can hit any breed. I suspect there are a lot of dead defective calves out there hidden under the wood pile than we'd ever believe.
Red
Red
oakbar
Well-known member
As we've said many times on SP. There are all kinds of genetic problems out there--I'm sure every breed has at least one. Its only when the frequency of those genes increases that a problem really occurs. This usually happens when a bull becomes popular enough to use as an AI sire or a specific line is linebred and becomes purified for that particular gene. Before genetic testing most people just thought they had a calf with birth defects and chalked it up to bad luck. Oh yeah, and over the centuries of raising livestock most people tried not to use Linebreeding too much--in fact most people called it inbreeding until just a few years ago.
I'd get out my marbles to give you an example but, as everyone knows--I've lost my marbles yet again.
I'd get out my marbles to give you an example but, as everyone knows--I've lost my marbles yet again.
ELBEE
Well-known member
What I'm afraid has happening; and I'll use Hydrocephalus as an example. What are the number of potentail\probable defects that also can be linked to environmental\disease issues, and how many are the Veterinarians that blow them off as flukes? In the not so distant past we had no way of knowing the difference.
40 years ago I remember a neighbor having several cleft palate calves. Gentic or disease? My Dad advised him to use a different bull, and he did, no more problems. Genetic or disease?
Aborted calves! Gentic or Lepto?
How about parasite vulnerability? Genetic defect?
And the list goes on and on!
40 years ago I remember a neighbor having several cleft palate calves. Gentic or disease? My Dad advised him to use a different bull, and he did, no more problems. Genetic or disease?
Aborted calves! Gentic or Lepto?
How about parasite vulnerability? Genetic defect?
And the list goes on and on!
knabe
Well-known member
i'll venture to say more damage has been caused by breeders breeding cattle without defects than there has been with cattle propogating defects.
kfacres
Well-known member
I agree with clintdog.. he read my mind.. IMO to much lining up on that bull.... for most people who don't know anything about him other than he makes mama cows... who work...
Seriously, look at Meyer Meyer - you've got a triple bred 734 there, if anything is going to start displaying genetic oddities, he'd be a good candidate. With clubby genetics not being the most well documented at times, I could see someone throwing him a female with who knows what in the pedigree and some goofy stuff being displayed. Originally my post was meant as a joke, but the more I think about it, I might be on the money here.
inthebarnagain
Well-known member
SSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!!! Meyer is what 95% of our herd is two to three generations deep of!! I would hate to have our entire herd wiped out in the one fell swoop!
simtal
Well-known member
there are lethal defects out there but people won't know it because only the ones worth using are indentified
kfacres
Well-known member
Just becuase that bull has 3 shots of 734 in there, doesn't mean is by default not carrying a "gene" Also, that doesn't mean that somewhere a lethel gene is.. and it's waiting to pop up!! I like simtal post, it is true.... When/ IF a defect in the Meyer bred cattle is found, and some breeder somewhere thinks it is helping him/her out to win a show, they are going to publicize it... and whol-la we have ourselves a new "Carrier" trait... Then everyone is going to chase it, because one calf somewhere had it and he was a world beater, and it is going to be the next greatest thing to the show cattle industry since sliced bread... JMO...
red
Well-known member
I look at how many pedigrees have double or triple stacks of Draft Pick as well as Cunia. I think we just create problems for future generations.
Red
Red
knabe
Well-known member
red said:
but if they don't have the defects, they are ok. personally, i seem to be gravitating towards something inbetween dp and cunia pheno and size wise while minimzing their genetics.
i personally don't like the look of draft picks, they are too coarse/leathery,stiff for me balanced against their thickness. my neighbor has a nice heavily bred cunia cow who is 13 and is sound as all get out. this is her first year of sloughing a calf.
