testing shorthorn cattle

Help Support Steer Planet:

CWshorthorns

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
213
Location
Missouri
One more question for the night. how do we test for th and pha. I asked my vet and he said he had never heard of any test like that. Could anyone tell me were to check on this at?
Thank You Chris and Wendy
 

Show Heifer

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
2,221
Tell your vet to read a magazine every once in awhile. I mean, that is absolutely ridiculous.
Call your assoc and they will get you the paperwork and the address to send the samples (hair, blood) into a lab.

You might want to research TH/PHA and give the info to your vet. For them to not have known how to test is (like I said before) absolutely uncalled before.

 

OH Breeder

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2007
Messages
5,954
Location
Ada, Ohio
CWshorthorns said:
One more question for the night. how do we test for th and pha. I asked my vet and he said he had never heard of any test like that. Could anyone tell me were to check on this at?
Thank You Chris and Wendy

If you have cattle with unknown or suspect pedigree's then testing is something you will want to do if you plan on using unknown bulls or carrier genetics.
Go to www.shorthorn.org they have a section on genetic testing. It list all the sires who are carriers. They also have the proper forms for testing. If your vet office has never done this it can get sticky as the first time my office drew and sent the blood they sent it to the Shorthorn Association. Print off instructions for his office staff and him.
You will need a purple top tube (EDTA) only filled at least half way. That needs to sent with check or money order to the testing site which should be on the forms. You can test for both TH and PH and would suggest it if your heritage is unknown on any cattle in your herd. If you are using clean parents then no testing is necessary. The blood sample if you send it your self needs to sent in bubble wrap with fragile label on it. You can get envelopes at Office Max or Staples that are also lined. Some post offices will not send it if they find out there is blood in it. I would send signature release, Fed Ex or UPS if possible. My vets office now sends mine for me but it took some education on my part.

Feel free to email if you have any questions. [email protected]

PS
If you are comfortable in drawing your own blood - tail vein is easy access- and the vet will give you some purple tubes, you can just follow instructions on the paper work. Once you have done it a couple times it easier. The ASA will charge for DNA parentage. I think its $15 a head.
 

justintime

Well-known member
Joined
May 26, 2007
Messages
4,346
Location
Saskatchewan Canada
I would not be real hard on your vet. There are lots of breeders who have no idea how to test for TH and PHA yet. Just yesterday, I visited a herd with some well known bloodlines and some pretty good cattle, and they did not know how to test or where to send the samples. I have been asked this question twice in the past two weeks by breeders who have been in the business for many years.

In regards to vets, I sometimes wonder if they just skip over some pretty basic stuff when they are in vet college, thinking that they will gather the knowledge once they are working in the field.I took one of my donors to the vet to be infused as she had a minor uterine infection. There were three vets in the clinic, and none of them had any idea how to do this. The only reason I took her to the vet was that I had a waiting list of people wanting to purchase embryos, and I wanted to be sure she was infused properly in each uterine horn. Needless to say, I infused her myself, in the vets chute, and then they charged me for the use of the clinic. I should have sent them an invoice for providing them with knowledge.
 

OH Breeder

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2007
Messages
5,954
Location
Ada, Ohio
justintime said:
I would not be real hard on your vet. There are lots of breeders who have no idea how to test for TH and PHA yet. Just yesterday, I visited a herd with some well known bloodlines and some pretty good cattle, and they did not know how to test or where to send the samples. I have been asked this question twice in the past two weeks by breeders who have been in the business for many years.

In regards to vets, I sometimes wonder if they just skip over some pretty basic stuff when they are in vet college, thinking that they will gather the knowledge once they are working in the field.I took one of my donors to the vet to be infused as she had a minor uterine infection. There were three vets in the clinic, and none of them had any idea how to do this. The only reason I took her to the vet was that I had a waiting list of people wanting to purchase embryos, and I wanted to be sure she was infused properly in each uterine horn. Needless to say, I infused her myself, in the vets chute, and then they charged me for the use of the clinic. I should have sent them an invoice for providing them with knowledge.

My vet works with Ohio State and provides ex-ternship opportunity for students. I know for  fact alot of the stuff they "learn on the job". Just like medical students with humans. Genetic testing is still relatively new.

We have done a couple sections and he had the vet students assist with spinals. One heifer was particularly good at kicking through the squeeze chute. Felt so bad for that kid. Myself and 2 of my sisters are nurses. (one is an OB nurse) We set up a mean surgical suite on the farm.( Shop lights and all) We have helped alot of "kids" in vet school.
 

CWshorthorns

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
213
Location
Missouri
Thanks to all of ya'll there are not many shorthorn cattle around so he had never been asked to test for this but with the help of ya'll i think i can get it done thanks again for helping me as i know i might ask a lot of questions that may seem stupid as we have never had much to due with reg. cattle. Thanks chris
 

Show Heifer

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
2,221
Chris, there is never a stupid question. Never, never, never.  Keep asking!!
 

uluru

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 18, 2007
Messages
541
Location
Oakville, ON. Canada
Chris I didn't ask enough questions when I started with Shorthorns as a retirement activity and I paid the price.
You are never to old to learn!!!!
...............Bob
 

CWshorthorns

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
213
Location
Missouri
well i thank eveyone on here for all the help that they have gaven me. I like to hear all the differant ideas and it gives a person somewere to start and ya'll have been very much helpful in us getting started in the right direction
 
Top