Genetic Defect?

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nkotb

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Joined
Oct 23, 2008
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321
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Quinter, KS
What is causing this?  Same cow, different bull, two calves in two years.  I realize you can't tell a whole lot from the pics, but their back legs are terribly straight, almost like they are attached backwards.  Is this a recessive genetic trait being expressed or does this cow just throw that bad of rear wheels?  The cow is a little straight legged, neither bull is bad at all for straight back legs.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.  I also know this cow is a good candidate for the sale barn, however, if she would just throw one without the straight legs, imagine how thick they would be.  But if it's a genetic defect shes headed for the killer.
 

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Jenny

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Jun 20, 2007
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south dakota
ya gotta tell us about the sires of the calves also;
no fair the cow has to bear all the burden....
 

nkotb

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Oct 23, 2008
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Quinter, KS
One of the sires is a Sonny son, the other I can't remember the breeding, he is from K-Kim
 

Telos

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Feb 4, 2007
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Dallas, Texas
This is not a genetic defect but a result of selection. If that cow is able to walk and produce a calf then breed her to something that is very loose structured.
 

nkotb

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Oct 23, 2008
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321
Location
Quinter, KS
The cow walks fine, as do both of these bulls.  The steer calf out of Sonny seems to be worse the the Ka'Ba heifer.  Any suggestions on bulls would be greatly appreciated as these two calves were by far the thickest we had and would have shown very well if not for their back legs.
 
J

JTM

Guest
I have to ask, what are the genetics on the cow? Is she purebred?

I am thinking that CF Star Bucks is going to give some good curve to the back legs but I haven't had enough calves out of him yet to say for sure. The heifer we have at the house has a lot of curve in the back legs but I know that a lot of it comes from the cow she is out of too. I agree that this is not a "defect" but is just a result of selection and chance. The cow is probably a little dominant on that trait and may continue to throw them that way, it's hard to say. Good luck.
 

Jacob B

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Dec 31, 2008
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542
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Ithaca, Michigan
from the sounds of the little bit of info you gave us on the breeding of the sires, could very well be a genetic defect...that's a long shot though.  The cow would have to be a carrier as well if it is the defect i'm thinking.  The calves are usualy stouter, but awfuly straight, or they become realy straight.  Do they ten to swing their legs as they get older while standing on the other???  Could just be selection of the cow with those bulls.  Need to know more about what is going on. 
 

rarebirdz

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Apr 7, 2011
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345
I would call it a genetic defect as the structure being produced is seriously compermised it may not be fatal but as a beef producer I would cull the dam (slighly harsh but it's just my opinon)
 

mark tenenbaum

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Mar 23, 2009
Messages
5,765
Location
Virginia Sometimes Iowa and Kansas
Is she a Shorthorn-and if so what is her breeding.? The easiest way to breed it out is something conventional without trump etc,and with some Irish blood back there. Arsulu Osage,or some of the proud jazz sons, or HC Touchdown,or Gb Daybreak Express (cattle visions-low BW epd-makes real showy hiefers, or Lazy D Ultimate Type (Wayne Temple-Waymar Semen,Ill)JSF Guage-Select Sires,TM Gus etc O0
 
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