charangusman08
Well-known member
I've heard the term "rat tail" on here quite often and was wondering what is it and why is it bad? Thank you.
The Rat-tail Riddle
A question at a loading chute last fall elicited some digging into why "rat-tail" calves are discounted by buyers.
Rat-tail calves have short, curly, malformed, sometimes sparse hair and lack tail switch development. They're usually a mouse-gray color. Research shows ranch and feedlot performance are usually lower for rat-tail cattle.
The syndrome is caused by crossing some Continental breeds that have the diluter gene (yellow in color) with cattle that are black in color, says Ron Torell, Nevada Extension livestock specialist.
Simmental × Angus and Simmental × Holstein are the most common crosses producing this congenital defect. To a lesser extent, there is also incidence in Gelbvieh and Charolais crosses.
In one study by Kansas State University and the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, the rat-tail condition had no effect on birth weight, weaning weight or gain from birth to weaning. However, rat-tail calves had significantly lower rates of gain during the winter months from weaning to yearling, resulting in significantly lighter yearling weight.
Steer gains from yearling to slaughter weren't significantly different, but rat-tail steers were lighter and older at slaughter than non-rat-tail steers.
To prevent rat-tails in a cross breeding program, identify and cull cows that have or have had rat-tail calves. Buy only bulls without the gene. Breed associations have worked hard to identify bulls that are diluter gene free.
"RAT-TAIL" IN CATTLE
There is in cattle a genetic condition called "rat-tail syndrome", which can occur when crossing black cattle with some Continental breeds. Such cattle have short, curly, often sparse hair and poorly developed tail switches. There may be price discount for this condition, based on supposed poor health and performance. Kansas State Univ. and USDA researchers studied a group of spring-born calves identical in background and management, some of which were rat-tail. There was essentially no difference in birth or weaning weight. But rat-tail calves gained 0.22 lb/day less from weaning to 12-months of age, 0.24 lb/day less from 12 months to slaughter at about 16 months, and were 79 lb lighter at slaughter, though they were fed for 13 more days . So some price discount may be justified, though not as much as is often seen.
Jeanne - Simme Valley":13m9z5xf said:Because of all the bad mouthing about rat-tail cattle, I googled it and could only come up with the above articles & some research papers. Basicly, they have LESS HAIR which makes them less hardy in cold climates.
With all the greys/silvers/chocolates I've had over 40 years, I think I may have had a couple that would be considered "rat-tailed". Never noticed any difference in performance. But, never had enough of them to really give an opinion one way or other. Haven't even had a diluted calf for several years, not that there's anything wrong with them either. Feedlot buyers like any excuse to "discount" their purchases.
eewww - yuk! I never had anything that looked like mange. I've had short kinky hair more like frizz - but it was always thick. Maybe I never had one. More like a BAD PERM.alacattleman":3hfxw8iy said:draw a mental picture in your head of a calf......now remove the hair coat and tail switch and stain the hide grey........ too me the best way too describe they look like the got the mange
your breeding strait simm and homozygous black simm....yours may not even be true rats...if i can ill take a picture of mine..she's bonafiedJeanne - Simme Valley":3g3e1c79 said:eewww - yuk! I never had anything that looked like mange. I've had short kinky hair more like frizz - but it was always thick. Maybe I never had one. More like a BAD PERM.alacattleman":3g3e1c79 said:draw a mental picture in your head of a calf......now remove the hair coat and tail switch and stain the hide grey........ too me the best way too describe they look like the got the mange
DUH! You're right. Not very likely we could have ever produced any, except maybe back 30-40 years ago when we were upgrading. Seems like most of the true greys were kinky haired.alacattleman":194dtnv3 said:your breeding strait simm and homozygous black simm....yours may not even be true rats...if i can ill take a picture of mine..she's bonafiedJeanne - Simme Valley":194dtnv3 said:eewww - yuk! I never had anything that looked like mange. I've had short kinky hair more like frizz - but it was always thick. Maybe I never had one. More like a BAD PERM.alacattleman":194dtnv3 said:draw a mental picture in your head of a calf......now remove the hair coat and tail switch and stain the hide grey........ too me the best way too describe they look like the got the mange
Three are listed in your top five breeds. not 2 & 3 . They are cattle from continental Europe.charangusman08":2zutcvoa said:What are continental breeds?
charangusman08":3l1d0u1d said:Around here in Southern Wisconsin, people cross simmental x angus and call them SimAngus and sell them for bulls. Are these bulls bad then?
that's bull shtredpoll52":126bobo2 said:Rat Tail ???? haha. (bad do'ers ? or bad breeding ? )
Sorry to laugh, but it reminds me of "supergene" assessed cattle !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ??????????????????????