For the record, I'm not really the "breed purist" that some are. A couple of prominent Hereford breeders advised me, when I was getting back into the Hereford business in 2002, to stay away from any cattle that had Titan 23D blood in them, and more specifically Tex Prime Time breeding, because of the diluter gene and the fact that there are breeders that ARE breed purists. And the 23D breeding in a herd will taint that breeder's reputation in these breed purist's eyes.
I've tried to follow that advice.
I try to trace the pedigree of any animal that I buy back to 1973 to avoid any 23D influence.
I messed up once by buying a heifer at a consignment sale that I hadn't checked the pedigree beforehand. She traced back to 23D in 7 generations. She's a good cow but I have reservations about keeping any progeny.
A LOT of registered cattle in the Hereford breed trace back to 23D. Assuming the rumor is true, Feltons Legend 242 would still be 99%+ Hereford, if my math is correct. That's well within the parameters of many breed associations to qualify as being "purebred".
One of the prominent Hereford breeders, whose advice I sought, had this to say in reference to my possibly buying semen in a bull that traced back to 23D:
"I am very prejudiced in regard to breed purity. I equate breed purity with personal integrity. We must maintain it without any question marks. Registered Hereford cattle are the purest beef breed available today and we need to maintain this purity. Don't use that semen on your registered cows.
People have to make up their own mind what is important. To me, it is one of those hurdles that I could easily go around and avoid, since I was starting out. To those that have these genetics already inbedded in their herd, and especially in their best cows, their decision is not nearly as easy to make.
George