Potential genetic defect in Shorthorn cattle

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DL

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A number of cases (>5 and <10) of abnormalities of the distal leg/foot and dew claws in Shorthorn calves have been reported. These cases are not "classic" mule foot as the claws (toes) are not fused, typically the calf has inappropriately placed dew claws and may have some other slight curvature or deformity at the base of the leg that makes it somewhat difficult for them to mobilize. It is my understanding that the ASA is aware of these cases.

All cases have similar ancestors on one side of the pedigree. The DNA from these cases has been 50K genotyped and there is information to suspect that this abnormality has a genetic component. However there have been insufficient samples submitted to clearly determine if the abnormality is genetic or if there is another cause.

If you have a calf born with an abnormality of the distal leg/foot/dew claw contact the ASA and submit samples to Dr Beever. The attached pictures of newborn calves show what this abnormality may look like
 

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DL

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Additional pictures of potential genetic defects in Shorthorn cattle, again note this is a calf
 

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DL

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Mostly born alive, severe calves put down, less severe can grow into it and eventually be marketed via sale barn, etc....

Cases over the last little bit (couple of years) and from various geographic regions

Seems to be bilateral but severity can be variable, so one leg could be obviously affected and the other more subtle  - affects joints below the hock

Hind limbs only affected

aj - send samples and pictures to Dr B

It is important to remember that to determine if this is genetic or something else you must provide samples - the gene gurus cannot do this work without breeder cooperation


 

aj

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I think someone said that the calves 5-10 of them were sired by brothers or related if I remember right. The calf I had had a bad right foot and he walks ok. He's 10 months old. I don't even know if the cow has to be a carrier or not. My calf had a bad back leg defect. I just assumed that the cow was the problem as she had club calf blood in her background.
 

DL

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simmyman67 said:
Are the calves that have had the defect all from different sires?

to date calves have been sired by one bull or sons of that bull
 

cattlefarmer

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DL have you sent these photos to the ASA? I bet they would like to see them.  I would think that would be the first the first place to go not steerplanet!
 

DL

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cattlefarmer said:
DL have sent these photos to the ASA? I bet they would like to see them.  I would think that would be the first the first place to go not steerplanet!

It is my understanding that the ASA is organizing sample submission etc they should have photos and pedigrees and all the important information. What remains to be seen is if they approach this issue aggressively or passively - overtly or covertly. IMHO with calving season approaching it would be useful to alert all ASA members to be on the look out for this potential genetic defect - providing this info in their email blast and Shorthorn Country would be a good idea - then sufficient samples could be obtained to determine if this is a genetic defect of not. Not alerting the membership will let a calving season go by and questions to remain

The dams of the affected calves were generally not related to the sire 
 
J

JTM

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DL said:
cattlefarmer said:
DL have sent these photos to the ASA? I bet they would like to see them.  I would think that would be the first the first place to go not steerplanet!

It is my understanding that the ASA is organizing sample submission etc they should have photos and pedigrees and all the important information. What remains to be seen is if they approach this issue aggressively or passively - overtly or covertly. IMHO with calving season approaching it would be useful to alert all ASA members to be on the look out for this potential genetic defect - providing this info in their email blast and Shorthorn Country would be a good idea - then sufficient samples could be obtained to determine if this is a genetic defect of not. Not alerting the membership will let a calving season go by and questions to remain

The dams of the affected calves were generally not related to the sire 
As an ASA member I would like to second that notion and call on the ASA to be proactive with this issue. Especially if there is substantial evidence of a genetic defect. So by stating that the dams of these calves are not related closely with the sire would tell me that the defect, IF it is a genetic defect, may not work the same way as TH or PHA where both have to be carriers in order to have a defective calf. Therefore, if this theory of mine is true, then I would think there would be a number of people out there that would know something about this issue, IF it is genetic. Sending out a notice to all ASA members would be a proactive way to head this off before things blow up and damage the commercial viability of the Shorthorn breed. At a time when I think we are making major headway...
 

knabe

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JTM said:
head this off before things blow up and damage the commercial viability of the Shorthorn breed. At a time when I think we are making major headway...

in my opinion, the shorthorns were way more proactive with TH than the angus were with dwarfism.  herefords told the angus people about them decades ago, but the angus association ignored them and advertised themselves as the defect free breed.
 

DL

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JTM said:
DL said:
cattlefarmer said:
DL have sent these photos to the ASA? I bet they would like to see them.  I would think that would be the first the first place to go not steerplanet!

It is my understanding that the ASA is organizing sample submission etc they should have photos and pedigrees and all the important information. What remains to be seen is if they approach this issue aggressively or passively - overtly or covertly. IMHO with calving season approaching it would be useful to alert all ASA members to be on the look out for this potential genetic defect - providing this info in their email blast and Shorthorn Country would be a good idea - then sufficient samples could be obtained to determine if this is a genetic defect of not. Not alerting the membership will let a calving season go by and questions to remain

The dams of the affected calves were generally not related to the sire 
As an ASA member I would like to second that notion and call on the ASA to be proactive with this issue. Especially if there is substantial evidence of a genetic defect. So by stating that the dams of these calves are not related closely with the sire would tell me that the defect, IF it is a genetic defect, may not work the same way as TH or PHA where both have to be carriers in order to have a defective calf. Therefore, if this theory of mine is true, then I would think there would be a number of people out there that would know something about this issue, IF it is genetic. Sending out a notice to all ASA members would be a proactive way to head this off before things blow up and damage the commercial viability of the Shorthorn breed. At a time when I think we are making major headway...

JTM - while I certainly agree with you that informing the membership is the way for the association to go to get at this issue, I think it is important to note several things
1) Although there is some evidence to suggest that this is a genetic problem, it has not yet been confirmed - therefore we need more samples
2) Although it is generally believed that 39 sire daughter matings will rule out that the sire carries a recessive genetic defect, there are other types of genetic abnormalities that are not eliminated by sire daughter matings
3)  Although it is generally believed that 39 sire daughter matings will rule out that the sire carries a recessive genetic defect, line breeding not involving sire-daughter matings will not rule out recessive genetic defects
4) While the dams may not be closely related up close the Shorthorn breed is very old - for example Improver was born in 1972 - with many offspring there were many ways to get to him,  so again this does not rule out the defect being recessive

So the bottom line in my mind - evidence to suggest this is a genetic issue, how it is inherited is not clear at this time - NEED MORE SAMPLES 
 
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