dwarf cattle

[sheliacasto]

On October 1, I had a hereford/angus cow deliver a bull calf that weighed 30 pounds. He is nursing, appears normal and the vet says he is a dwarf. His father was an angus. Does this make him worth more or less on the market? I was advised to halter him and keep as a pet. Any info would be appreciated. I can't find any internet info that is helpful. The vet also said that herefords were notorius for having dwarfs.

 

[la4angus]

The vet also said that herefords were notorius for having dwarfs.

Back in the 40's and early 50's both herefords and angus were notorious for having dwarfs.

 

[memanpa]

la4angus
they were locker beef then!!! nothing has changed!!
imo plan on making hamburger out of him!!!

 

[msscamp]

On October 1, I had a hereford/angus cow deliver a bull calf that weighed 30 pounds. He is nursing, appears normal and the vet says he is a dwarf. His father was an angus. Does this make him worth more or less on the market? I was advised to halter him and keep as a pet. Any info would be appreciated. I can't find any internet info that is helpful. The vet also said that herefords were notorius for having dwarfs.

Less. Dwarfism is a genetic defect (edited by poster when she remembered the correct term) and this calf should be castrated or banded. As far as I know any breed can produce dwarf calves, it is hereditary, and is one of the reasons inbreeding (otherwise known as linebreeding if the results are not a wreck) should not be part of your management plan. If you do a google search for 'Dwarfism in Cattle', you will find a lot of information.

 

[preston39]

sheli...,
What info are you looking for or what questions do you have?

 

[MoGal]

at a regular cattle auction, he's worth less... I had a bottle calf that was a dwarf, 9 months old, weighed 335 pounds, brought 71.5 cents a pound last month. So overall, he was a loss.

 

[kaneranch]

Should you think about selling your bull? If it is hereditary doesn't that mean that it can happen again and again if a calf gets that particular gene. If you type in a search for "punnet square" one of those web site will tell you how that all work. I think I remember someone telling me that you can get there seman tested to see if they have dominant or recessive genes for certain traits. I am certainly no expert but this is just something to look into. Are dwarf cattle the same thing as miniature cattle. If so are there any miniature ranches that you could sell him to. Thanks Kaneranch

 

[msscamp]

Are dwarf cattle the same thing as miniature cattle. If so are there any miniature ranches that you could sell him to. Thanks Kaneranch

No, dwarfism is not the same thing as miniature cattle. Miniature cattle were selectively bred to reduce their size, just like Red Angus were selectively bred from Black Angus cattle who carried the red gene. Dwarfism is a genetic flaw, and it's hereditary. I believe it's a recessive gene and typically only shows up when 2 animals who both possess the gene are bred (hence the drawback to linebreeding, but not 100% sure on that as it's been a while) and it is an undesirable trait. The bull needs to be castrated or banded to make sure the gene is not passed on.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

My money would be on the hereford being the carrier of the gene if i had to bet.

 

[txag]

My money would be on the hereford being the carrier of the gene if i had to bet.

most cases of dwarfism are simple autosomal recessives which means if an animal expresses the trait, it must have two copies of the gene and must have received one from BOTH parents.

 

[preston39]

Some info posted from another board FWIW.

"The dwarfism gene is always there.

Because dwarfism is a recessive gene it can hide itself for generations.

When a carrier is mated to a carrier, they will have 25% calves that are clean of the gene, 50% calves that are carriers, and 25% calves that are dwarfs.

When a carrier is mated to an animal that is clean, 50% of the calves will be clean and 50% of the calves will be carriers. This is how dwarfism can hide for generations, thus carriers can go along producing more carriers in succeeding generations without dwarfism ever showing up unless a carrier is mated to a carrier.

Dwarfism is hard to detect because it only presents itself when a carrier is mated to a carrier, and then only 25% of the time.

That is why Dr. Reecy's DNA test is so important in eliminating this disease. Apparently it appears there are more than one dwarfism gene."

 

[preston39]

On October 1, I had a hereford/angus cow deliver a bull calf that weighed 30 pounds. He is nursing, appears normal and the vet says he is a dwarf. His father was an angus. Does this make him worth more or less on the market? I was advised to halter him and keep as a pet. Any info would be appreciated. I can't find any internet info that is helpful. The vet also said that herefords were notorius for having dwarfs.

==============

Less. Dwarfism is a genetic defect (edited by poster when she remembered the correct term) and this calf should be castrated or banded. As far as I know any breed can produce dwarf calves, it is hereditary, and is one of the reasons inbreeding (otherwise known as linebreeding if the results are not a wreck) should not be part of your management plan. If you do a google search for 'Dwarfism in Cattle', you will find a lot of information.

==========
msscamp,
Are you suggesting dwarfism is caused by linebreeding?

 

[preston39]

at a regular cattle auction, he's worth less... I had a bottle calf that was a dwarf, 9 months old, weighed 335 pounds, brought 71.5 cents a pound last month. So overall, he was a loss.

============
Mogal,
Do you know the sire/mom of the dwarf calf? Was this a recent experience?

 

[kaneranch]

So if you were to keep a bull that has had a dwarf calf does that mean that chances are that 25% of the calves that that bull has will be dwarfs. Or is it that you have a 25% chance if both parents have that gene. Thanks Kaneranch

 

[msscamp]

On October 1, I had a hereford/angus cow deliver a bull calf that weighed 30 pounds. He is nursing, appears normal and the vet says he is a dwarf. His father was an angus. Does this make him worth more or less on the market? I was advised to halter him and keep as a pet. Any info would be appreciated. I can't find any internet info that is helpful. The vet also said that herefords were notorius for having dwarfs.

==============

Less. Dwarfism is a genetic defect (edited by poster when she remembered the correct term) and this calf should be castrated or banded. As far as I know any breed can produce dwarf calves, it is hereditary, and is one of the reasons inbreeding (otherwise known as linebreeding if the results are not a wreck) should not be part of your management plan. If you do a google search for 'Dwarfism in Cattle', you will find a lot of information.

==========
msscamp,
Are you suggesting dwarfism is caused by linebreeding?

I'm not saying it's caused by linebreeding, I'm saying it can be a result of linebreeding.

 

[msscamp]

So if you were to keep a bull that has had a dwarf calf does that mean that chances are that 25% of the calves that that bull has will be dwarfs. Or is it that you have a 25% chance if both parents have that gene. Thanks Kaneranch

For a calf to be a dwarf both parents have to be a carrier of the gene. As already stated, it is a recessive gene - which, if I remember my animal husbandry classes correctly, means it does not always express. If a carrier bull is bred to a carrier cow, there is a 25% chance the calf will be a dwarf.

 

[preston39]

On October 1, I had a hereford/angus cow deliver a bull calf that weighed 30 pounds. He is nursing, appears normal and the vet says he is a dwarf. His father was an angus. Does this make him worth more or less on the market? I was advised to halter him and keep as a pet. Any info would be appreciated. I can't find any internet info that is helpful. The vet also said that herefords were notorius for having dwarfs.

==============

Less. Dwarfism is a genetic defect (edited by poster when she remembered the correct term) and this calf should be castrated or banded. As far as I know any breed can produce dwarf calves, it is hereditary, and is one of the reasons inbreeding (otherwise known as linebreeding if the results are not a wreck) should not be part of your management plan. If you do a google search for 'Dwarfism in Cattle', you will find a lot of information.

==========
msscamp,
Are you suggesting dwarfism is caused by linebreeding?

I'm not saying it's caused by linebreeding, I'm saying it can be a result of linebreeding.

msscamp,

Dwarfism can be a result of any breeding where the genes are in place. So, why do you try to tie it to..... linebreeding only...... in your orgional post?

Linebreeding is a very prominant practice in genetic selection and refinement with excellent results.

 

[msscamp]

On October 1, I had a hereford/angus cow deliver a bull calf that weighed 30 pounds. He is nursing, appears normal and the vet says he is a dwarf. His father was an angus. Does this make him worth more or less on the market? I was advised to halter him and keep as a pet. Any info would be appreciated. I can't find any internet info that is helpful. The vet also said that herefords were notorius for having dwarfs.

==============

Less. Dwarfism is a genetic defect (edited by poster when she remembered the correct term) and this calf should be castrated or banded. As far as I know any breed can produce dwarf calves, it is hereditary, and is one of the reasons inbreeding (otherwise known as linebreeding if the results are not a wreck) should not be part of your management plan. If you do a google search for 'Dwarfism in Cattle', you will find a lot of information.

==========
msscamp,
Are you suggesting dwarfism is caused by linebreeding?

I'm not saying it's caused by linebreeding, I'm saying it can be a result of linebreeding.

msscamp,

Dwarfism can be a result of any breeding where the genes are in place. So, why do you try to tie it to..... linebreeding only...... in your orgional post?

Linebreeding is a very prominant practice in genetic selection and refinement with excellent results.

Preston, I would suggest you re-read your genetics book. Inbreeding/linebreeding is playing with fire under the best of circumstances.

 

[preston39]

Which book?

 

[msscamp]

Which book?

Any reputable book on genetics will bear out the fact that linebreeding increases the chances that each parent will carry the gene (it is, afterall, hereditary), thereby increasing the chances that the genes will line up (otherwise know as homozygosity), which increases the chances of getting a dwarf calf.