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What am I missing here? Eliminating carrier sires doesn't eliminate entire bloodlines. These are heterozygous genes. There are lots of clean descendants from improver 57 and other carrier lines to work with. You can have 5 flushmates..... 2 are carriers and 3 are clean. Work with the clean ones...

Oakview.....if very few breeders are using defect carrier sires then the final step to eliminate them from eligibility as breeding sires won't be impactful to the industry?? Eliminate all carrier sires and the simple arithmetic tells us that these carrier genes will, over time, become very...

Librarian....I think we are basically on the same page here. Perhaps where we actually differ is that I believe there needs to be some central control and governance over this issue; I don't believe individual breeders should be left in control of it. The Association leaders need to implement...

Librarian......I hear your point of view. Where I disagree is that I do not believe that "managing" these defect genes should include retaining them in the gene pool. Not without a thoughtful plan to eventually eradicate them. One day, some day, years from now, breeders will look back and judge...

I see your point OSF. I am not exactly certain of the average herd size nationally but I believe it's modest. Every female in your herd has to contribute. If you have bad luck and lose a few calves it can really impact the bottom line and your overall calf crop offering. You can't absorb the...

Interesting comment OFS and I agree.  We experienced a similar situation in my own area. There may indeed be geographical areas in which the commercial industry supports the Shorthorn breed but not around here. We sent good quality, easy fleshing stockers to market every year and have always...

The Waukaru program is exceptional. There probably isn't a more documented herd in the breed. They don't seem to be show ring focused either. They have identified and developed other markets of more importance to them. But I have to say, in Ontario, Shorthorn stockers are discounted; that has...

XBAR.....do you believe that the Shorthorn breed is competitive re: steer calves and breeding bulls to the commercial industry? Do you believe it stands up well? Is the breed positioned to compete effectively with Charolais, Simmental and others?

The ASA was given legal counsel and apparently the advice was not to take action to restrict the membership from propagating known defect carriers. Perhaps the ASA attorney felt the risk of losing was too great or, the costs associated with defending the ASA would be prohibitive regardless of...

There are so many different environments in North America alone. A good example would be Alberta. The northern areas around Edmonton versus Calgary and further south represents quite a variation in climate and forage. Maybe it's important to have genetics and phenotypes that equally vary? In...

Okotoks, that's a very interesting and thoughtful formula you present. Implementing a policy that negatively affects individual breeders as little as possible seems like a solution that would work best. The Galloway folks put slash and burn rules in place that practically eliminated the...

AJ....I posted the Galloway breed genetic defect/carrier policies for both Canada and Australia for Oakview on the Frame Score topic. I was actually surprised at how aggressive the rules are. Known carriers of either sex are eliminated from the registry and, they get tough with their progeny...

7. The following cattle shall not be eligible for registration in the Herd Book of the Canadian Galloway Association: (c) animals proven to be carriers of deleterious, genetic abnormalities.

Oakview....this is what the Australian Galloway Assoc policy on TH is: 2.20 Members must notify the Secretary immediately of the birth of any deformed calf, for the purposes of establishing a diagnosis of any genetic deformity. In the event the diagnosis is tibial hemimelia (TH): a) The...

A few decades ago every breed promoted specific advantages, traits and attributes. Simmental was known for maternal traits, WPDA. Steers would go straight from weaning to the feedlot and finish at 14 months which was an attractive option for feedlot operators and producers previously accustomed...

I searched the ASA site and could only locate a regulation clause stating that all donor dams and A.I. sires must be tested for these 3 known defect genes. I suppose that is the policy then? There isn't an official document? Understandably, I am not a spokesperson for the ASA CEO and my...

Has the original question from in this discussion posted by Anst been answered yet? "Are there any experts on this site who can explain what their shorthorn association policy is on managing the growing number of genetic defects within the breed?" I did have a conversation with the ASA...

I wouldn't go as far as the Angus association did. I wouldn't stop people from registering a carrier bull; I would only stop any and all of his progeny from being registered. Let people produce carrier bulls, show them and sell them. Don't take away all of their options. And, I suppose in the...

Simbeef....if he was used on black females what would happen re: color...dilutors?

Thanks Simbeef;  this calf is from the RFG Tosca 1G cow family. I believe she was, through her progeny the greatest revenue generating beef female every imported. Especially if you adjust the $$ to account for inflation. The maternal value (milk, fertility, WPDA) of this bull calf is off the...