Bulls for Hire - Who breed what colour

Nikola Thompson · Post by **Nikola Thompson** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:41 am

Does anyone have a non short non polled gene dun bull for hire?

I have looked on the list of people who hire bulls on the website which only gives names and addresses. I think it would really help if at least the colour of bulls could be put along side the names of breeders. This would be beneficial to people like me who are relatively new to Dexters. I am not yet that sure who breeds what colour unless I telephone everyone on the list to find out. Can anyone please point me in the right direction?

forestblaze · Post by **forestblaze** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 2:09 pm

This is an unusual request,as you cannot guarantee a dun calf even if both parents are dun.I am sure Woodmagic will be able to give you more information than I can. Best wishes Sue Osborne Castlemears Dexters [ all colours]

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:41 pm

I may be wrong but I thought that Dun is caused by a recessive gene which affects black, so will only show if the calf is homozygous for Dun and has at least one black gene. If that is correct the only way two Duns could produce a calf which is not Dun is if both parents were also carrying red. Then 50% of the offspring could be expected to be red and 50% Dun. Such circumstances will not arise too frequently, so by and large two Dun Dexters should only produce Dun calves.

Duncan, getting skelfs from scratching my head.

forestblaze · Post by **forestblaze** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:03 pm

Nikola If you would like to tell us something about the pedigree of your girls and the colour of their parents we may be able to prevent Duncans skelfs and advise you which direction to go .I am assuming that like me ten years ago you have a couple of beautiful Dexters and need some advice .I now have 22 Dexters and I still welcome advice from such as Duncan and the Guru of the Dun Dexter at the Woodmagic herd Regards Sue

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:22 am

Nikola.

It may help any potential suppliers if you gave a rough idea of where in the country you are located.

Someone local may have one, without realising that you are local, or you may be at the opposite ends of the country.

Nikola Thompson · Post by **Nikola Thompson** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:28 am

Thank you for your comments, they all help.

We are on the Shropshire, South Staffordshire, Worcestershire borders.

Woodmagic · Post by **Woodmagic** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:40 am

The second World Congress included a paper by two Americans demonstrating that the dun was due to a gene confined solely to the Dexter breed. Certainly I have occasional experience of animals that have bred all three colours. My own herd is confined to dun and black, at the moment I have several dun cows who have produced black calves this year sired by a black bull, and one dun calf from a black cow. Dun is recessive to black If you obtain the services of a dun bull, and use it only on dun cows you will achieve your dun herd. Although my own herd had the red, it is sadly, many years since I managed to breed a red., the dun is as unpredictable in my herd as sex., since most of my black animals carry the dun.