Black noses on Shorthorn

XBar's point to seven generations to stabilize a genetic population is I believe a standard recogonized by geneticists.I will be the first to admit that over the years there have been errors both honest and dishonest made in the registering of purebred livestock. The fact that this has happened does not justify the argument that “don’t worry about it there have always been impure cattle”. In today’s industry with DNA and EPD’s we have added to our tool box as breeder’s the ability to know more about what we are dealing with. I know there are historical mistakes in the pedigrees of my cattle. Some of these are documented facts, others are speculation but moving forward with my breeding program I cannot change the past but only the future. I am not about to discard my current breeding stock because they may not be pure but I will continue to try to use pure animals. At the same time I am not about to use a low percentage bull because there have been errors in the past. I like the bulls I use to be in the closed herd book even if they have appendix in the background. This is my preference but some will say they are not pure enough and others will say I should use lower percentage animals because the ones I am using are not 100%. I have animals in my herd that we have spent 47 years developing, I am not about to discard some because they are not pure since with DNA parentage verification of my sires I can ensure they stay at 99.6 % (255/256) purity. The Shorthorn herdbook allows breeders to introduce new outside blood if that is what a breeder wishes. The upgrading to closed herdbook status in the CSA is a long process so it does not please either purists or breeders wishing to show low percentage cattle but it does allow both an avenue to pursue their goals. If one studies the breed, different bloodlines dominate during different eras and when change occurs the good ones are discarded along with the bad as breeders jump on the new popular lines. I would hope with parentage verification, DNA testing, EPD’s, carcass results and breeder evaluation our breed can set a course that will make them the choice of many commercial programs. I think you will find animals from both sections of the herd book will fill this commercial demand but the higher the level of purity the more consistent will be the offspring when outcrossed and the greater the heterosis .

Okotoks....what you are doing is exemplary and has contributed greatly to the breed in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Amost 50 years dedicated to breed improvement is very impressive.
Perhaps one day the DNA process will be somehow simplified and made easy enough to the extent that every documented individual will be required to be parentage verified? If and when that happens it would be huge.
I think it is the responsibility of every breed association to do all they can to preserve and enhance the accuracy of their respective herd books and registry's.
We have appendix and non appendix animals here and we value them all. I certainly don't have all the answers but I do hope one day some common show ring standards will be developed between the USA and Canada.

JIT.....those were the days!......John Draper was a terrific promoter and a very interesting man to sit and talk with. I spent some time with Wilf Davis back then and learned so much.
That whole story around the original importation in the late 60's.... Grose Ille, Parisien, Travers Smith, Dr. Kenneth Wells DVM, Bob Gordon, Rodney James....and so on....some great history there to explore!

Interesting comments there XBar and Okotoks.

Interesting discussion here, I can relate to alot of posts. I had a black nosed heifer by Deerpark Improver but I always thought the black nose came from Clark her MGS.  I thought she was really great, when my Grandpa saw her all he could say was she had a black nose. When I pressed the issue his final words were " we'll take care of it in the morning" meaning she need a hot potatoe to the nose! SHe didn't get the treatment of course.