A possible dominant white gene in Jersey cattle

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Animal Breeding
• Dermatology

Background:

• A white Jersey heifer,
• Snow
• was born in 1991 to colored Jersey parents, indicating a potential genetic anomaly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic basis of the spontaneous white phenotype observed in a Jersey cow and her offspring.
• To determine the inheritance pattern of the white coat color mutation.

Main Methods:

• Pedigree analysis of a Jersey cow (
• Snow
• ) and her progeny.
• Breeding experiments involving a white Jersey bull calf and Hereford x Friesian heifers.
• Phenotypic observation and recording of coat color in offspring.

Main Results:

• Snow produced six calves, with three white bull calves and two white heifer calves.
• A white bull calf sired 16 white calves out of 38 offspring from Hereford x Friesian heifers.
• The white phenotype exhibited an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, with some white calves showing residual red or black spotting.

Conclusions:

• The white phenotype in this Jersey cattle lineage is attributed to a spontaneous autosomal dominant mutation.
• The mutation arose in
• Snow
• and was transmitted to her white offspring and grand-offspring.
• The observed white spotting patterns differ from previously reported cattle white spotting mutations.