Go 4 the Gold!
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Mini Jersey bulls at the age of 3 or older, that aren't dwarfism carriers, have a BBR of 94+, and a verified height of 42" or less, qualify for a FREE Gold Registration into the PMJS open Purebred Herd Book. These bulls are very valuable to the goal of purity for Mini Jerseys. We need to identify them and can sometimes help you with the expense of testing, collection for AI, or finding an appreciative buyer.
The Select test used to determine Breed Based Representation (BBR) is managed by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB). They have a fee schedule that's higher for bulls but drastically reduced for cows and heifers. There are more female than male cows in dairy herds so the pricing reflects that. Testing a bull will run $147 on average for the DNA hair sample test. An alternative way is to test one of his heifer calves and her dam to find his assumed BBR. Follow these steps to see if your bull meets the requirements for FREE Gold Registration. |
Step 1.
Order dwarfism/Chondro test on your bull.
Order proof of negative Dexter Cattle Bulldog Dwarfism/Chondro status on your bull. UC Davis offers the Chondro/BD1 DNA test for $25 and requires a tail hair sample. Results are returned in about two weeks. This test requires a hair root sample that can easily be collected. You can also test for A2, Kappa Casein and Beta Lactoglobulin milk proteins, Polled, PHA, and DNA verify him to his sire and dam if they're genetic markers are on file at UC Davis-VGL.
Dexter cattle have been used by some breeders to downsize Jerseys and its important that we ensure the Chondro defect isn't carried into Mini Jerseys. Per UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, "Inheritance of a form of chondrodysplasia known as bulldog dwarfism has been documented in Dexter cattle since the early 1900s. Among other defects, affected fetuses have severe disproportionate dwarfism, a short vertebral column, and a large head, and are naturally aborted around the seventh month of gestation. The defect is a major problem for Dexter breeders, as one copy of the defective allele produces the short-legged phenotype of Dexter cattle. Thus, selection for this phenotype maintains a lethal allele in high frequency in the population. Breeding carrier animals together will produce 25% affected fetuses."
Dexter cattle have been used by some breeders to downsize Jerseys and its important that we ensure the Chondro defect isn't carried into Mini Jerseys. Per UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, "Inheritance of a form of chondrodysplasia known as bulldog dwarfism has been documented in Dexter cattle since the early 1900s. Among other defects, affected fetuses have severe disproportionate dwarfism, a short vertebral column, and a large head, and are naturally aborted around the seventh month of gestation. The defect is a major problem for Dexter breeders, as one copy of the defective allele produces the short-legged phenotype of Dexter cattle. Thus, selection for this phenotype maintains a lethal allele in high frequency in the population. Breeding carrier animals together will produce 25% affected fetuses."
STEP 2. A or B
A. Obtain DNA genomic profile with BBR on your bull.
Despite the higher fees for bulls, you may wish to pursue BBR results using the same testing for your Mini Jersey bull as we use to test cows or heifers. The streamlined DNA profile Select trait test arms you with over 50 traits that are a peek into genetic potential and includes BBR. The SELECT Results Key further explains this. It allows you to make breeding choices to maintain, enhance, or correct traits in offspring. Its a powerful tool once you learn how to utilize it!
The Select traits test includes BBR but requires a federally recognized identification number, such as National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) stud code for bulls collected for Artificial Insemination (AI). A semen sample, instead of hair or blood, will add more fees, potentially as much as $1,600 on top of the test price. Let us help with navigating this to save you time and money. Please, reach out to Admin@PurebredMiniJerseys.com.
Once we know a bull's BBR we can register him if he's BBR85+ and on track to be 45" or less at maturity. A Gold bull registers for FREE if over 3 years old, BBR94+ and verified 42" or less by a third party.
The Select traits test includes BBR but requires a federally recognized identification number, such as National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) stud code for bulls collected for Artificial Insemination (AI). A semen sample, instead of hair or blood, will add more fees, potentially as much as $1,600 on top of the test price. Let us help with navigating this to save you time and money. Please, reach out to Admin@PurebredMiniJerseys.com.
Once we know a bull's BBR we can register him if he's BBR85+ and on track to be 45" or less at maturity. A Gold bull registers for FREE if over 3 years old, BBR94+ and verified 42" or less by a third party.
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Yield Traits
Key Traits
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Type Traits
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Fertility Traits
Health Traits
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Genetic Conditions
* Traits available for Holstein animals, but may not be available for all breeds.
† Traits available for Brown Swiss animals only. |
B. Obtain Basic traits test on your bull.
Optionally, to avoid the high fees but access some of the genetic traits you can instead order the Basic traits test. The CDCB fees are NOT attached to the simplified Basic traits test but it doesn't discover BBR. Basic Results Key explains the 1 to 10 scale of fourteen important genetic traits for dairy cattle and lethal alleles. Lethals, like Chondro, are fatal to the fetus when both parents pass them on. This test is $25 and easy to obtain because it doesn't require a federally recognized identification number.
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And, Obtain DNA profile Select trait test with BBR on his daughters and their dams.
D - C = X
Do you remember the math problems that looked like this in school? If we know D and C we can determine X. D is his Daughter. C is the Cow that is her dam. When we compare the heifer to her dam we can assume the difference is the bull's influence to a large degree. If the dam is BBR90 and the offspring is BBR92, we typically know the bull is around BBR94 (his daughter gets half the difference between the bull and cow). This scenario can be thrown off if either the sire or dam have crossbreeding and a broad variance of genetics. We're happy to help you interpret the results. This test is $47 each and requires a federally recognized identification number.
Do you remember the math problems that looked like this in school? If we know D and C we can determine X. D is his Daughter. C is the Cow that is her dam. When we compare the heifer to her dam we can assume the difference is the bull's influence to a large degree. If the dam is BBR90 and the offspring is BBR92, we typically know the bull is around BBR94 (his daughter gets half the difference between the bull and cow). This scenario can be thrown off if either the sire or dam have crossbreeding and a broad variance of genetics. We're happy to help you interpret the results. This test is $47 each and requires a federally recognized identification number.
STEP 3.
Get his height verified by a third party.
STEP 4.
Order the PMJS registration.
If your bull is 3 years old or older, a BBR of 94+ has been determined by either testing him or assumed from his daughters and their dams, and he has a verified height of 42" or less, he qualifies for a FREE Gold Registration and entry into the PMJS open Herd Book. These bulls are very valuable for the goal of purity within Mini Jerseys. We can help you have him collected for Artificial Insemination (AI) and market the straws within PMJS.
If he is BBR85-93 and 45" or less at maturity he can be registered Silver or Bronze. If he's under 3 years old, BBR85+ and on track to be 45" or less at maturity he can be registered Black until he turns three. Silver, Bronze and Black registrations are $20 (Currently on SALE for $5 with Dual Registration).
Email us at Admin@PurebredMiniJerseys.com with questions or for additional help.
If he is BBR85-93 and 45" or less at maturity he can be registered Silver or Bronze. If he's under 3 years old, BBR85+ and on track to be 45" or less at maturity he can be registered Black until he turns three. Silver, Bronze and Black registrations are $20 (Currently on SALE for $5 with Dual Registration).
Email us at Admin@PurebredMiniJerseys.com with questions or for additional help.
