• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Curly calf syndrome - how will it affect the angus breed?

Q

QUESTION

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
621
Location
EARTH
Just read about the curly calf syndrome in angus gar precision 1680 is supposedly where it started. The AAA must be commended for the what is planned - any animal found to be a carrier will not be allowed to have progeny registered. Some numbers indicate that closed to 30% bulls in AI studs have this bull somewhere in the pedigree. I wonder what effect this will have on some of the intense line breeding going on in the pure bred business. Surely this will rock the angus breed. Any thoughts?
 
PureCountry said:
Pardon my unworldliness, but what is it? A true disease or just a trait?
Click to expand...

Its caused by a genetic mutation that has been showing up in double bred (top and bottom of pedigree) cattle with Precision 1680 in their pedigree...

I have a thread going on it...I'll bump it up...

http://ranchers.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=300823#300823
 
I read about it last night on the North American Red Devon site

http://www.northamericandevon.com/info.html#angus

cc.jpg
 
QUESTION said:
Just read about the curly calf syndrome in angus gar precision 1680 is supposedly where it started. The AAA must be commended for the what is planned - any animal found to be a carrier will not be allowed to have progeny registered. Some numbers indicate that closed to 30% bulls in AI studs have this bull somewhere in the pedigree. I wonder what effect this will have on some of the intense line breeding going on in the pure bred business. Surely this will rock the angus breed. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Guidelines Relating to the Registration Status
of Potential and Known Carriers of the
Curly Calf Syndrome
As a part of its ongoing efforts to protect our members and their customers and to provide
future guidance for our membership, the Board sets forth below the following concepts it intends
to follow in formalizing a policy to deal with the registration status of potential and known
carriers of the Curly Calf Syndrome ("CCS") gene. The following is based on the assumption
that a specific test will be developed and made available to members that can distinguish animals
with the recessive gene from ones free of it. What follows must therefore be considered
hypothetical in the absence of a confirmed test.
The Board's primary purposes are to remove the CCS problem from our breed as soon as
practicable, utilizing the best science available as an ally in the effort, and to protect our valued
customers.
Currently Registered Females and Bulls
• As used in this document, the word "currently" in the phrase "currently registered" means
as of the date that the American Angus Association makes an approved DNA test for the
CCS gene available to the membership.
• All currently registered females and bulls with Precision genetics in their pedigrees will
remain registered. Their registrations will not be revoked, cancelled or suspended.
• With respect to currently registered females and bulls that are subsequently tested or
otherwise identified as carriers of the CCS gene, their registrations will not be revoked,
cancelled or suspended.
- 2 -
Resulting Progeny of Currently Registered CCS-Carrier Females and Bulls
• All resulting calves of currently registered CCS-carrier females and bulls, born on or
before December 31, 2009, must be DNA-tested for the CCS gene (the results of which
must be provided to the Association by the testing lab) in order to be eligible for
registration. The results of that test (denoting whether the animal is free of the gene or a
carrier) will be reflected on their registration and performance pedigree certificates, as set
out below.
• All resulting calves of currently registered CCS-carrier females and bulls, born on or after
January 1, 2010, must be DNA-tested for the CCS gene (the results of which must be
provided to the Association by the testing lab) and found to be free of that gene in order
to be eligible for registration.
A.I. Sires Carrying the CCS Gene
All calves born of an A.I. sire will not be eligible for registration if conceived after sixty
(60) days following the date on which that sire is publicly announced by the Association as being
a carrier of the CCS gene.
Registration of Clones
No clones of animals identified as a carrier of the CCS gene shall be eligible for
registration.
Notice on Registration and Performance Pedigree Certificates
The registration and performance pedigree certificates of registered females and bulls
with Precision genetics in their pedigrees will be amended to reflect the results of the DNA tests
to be conducted on these animals. Carriers of the CCS gene will be denoted by the letters
"CCS." Animals found to be free of the gene will be denoted by the letters "FCCS."
- 3 -
8146507.1
Notice Concerning Suspect Animals
In the absence of presenting proof to the Association that an animal or an ancestor of that
animal, previously registered or to be registered, has been tested free of the CCS gene, the
following notification shall be placed or displayed on or in connection with the pedigree of the
suspect animal:
This animal has one or more ancestors known to carry a recessive gene that can
result in the conception of calves with a lethal defect known as Curly Calf
Syndrome. The American Angus Association recommends testing to confirm the
absence or the presence of this gene.
All animals tested for the CCS gene, upon receipt of this information by the Association from the
testing lab, shall have such notification deleted. Carriers of the CCS gene will be denoted by the
letters "CCS." Animals found to be free of the gene will be denoted by the letters "FCCS."
 
Yep- It will get cleaned up- and as soon as they get the DNA test developed they can test any of those possible carriers....
Best thing is to stay away from anything with Precision in the pedigree..
Luckily I never liked Precision or any of his progeny- and don't have any in either the registered or the commercial cows....
Theirs been rumors circulating in the industry about Future Direction having a genetic problem for several years- but nothing ever has been released solid...May still be just that- rumor...
 
I wouldn't worry about 1680 in the pedigree, but I would if they are double bred to him. Wasn't there one calf that wasn't double bred 1680 that had it or didn't? I can't remember.

1680 is definitely one of the best carcass bulls of his day, and people tried breeding him too tight and that made the mutation come out. The thing I have noticed with Future Direction is they tend to be a bit infertile. But there are some real good sons and daughters out there.

So far there is only data from one ranch with heavy 1680 breeding. I don't really see it as any reason to start screaming epidemic. It could be caused by some other factor also. I am not trying to protect 1680, as I am not a huge fan of his, but I think everyone needs to wait for ALL the info to come out before they start getting too nervous. Just stay away from the pedigree if your that nervous.

Here is the list of sires at Accelerated Genetics with 1680 in the pedigree:
http://www.agteamdirect.com/docs/pdf/AG.1680influence.doc

Info from Accelerated:
http://agteamdirect.com/htm/news/curlycalfsyndrome.html
 
Yeah, that's the way to really solve the problem. Let it stay in the woodpile, but just outcross, so it doesn't show up.
 
The problem is that this is a recessive genetic defect so you could have it show up years down the road if all animals carrying 1680 in the pedigree are not tested. It is a small price to pay to test all cattle with 1680 in the pedigree afterall it is a recessive defect and there will be cattle with 1680 in the pedigree that will be non carriers. But being sure and testing them all is the way to get rid of it. As for the thinking that it has only showed up on one ranch and could be caused by another factor. I have heard that before with proto in limos. And the fact was that it was a dirty little secret being kept by less than honest purebred breeders with big money invested. So i wonder just how long CCS has been known about, after all the bull was born in 1990 so by the mid 90's tight line breeding was going on and this hasn't shown up until now. Let us see how long until someone takes this into the courts.
 
There's not much you can do until they figure out who and what causes it. Once they figure out which lines cause it, they will test for it and those cattle will have their registrations revoked most likely. Just because 1680 is in the pedigree, it does not necessarily make them a carrier of the recessive gene. At least the association is working on it.
 
sic 'em reds said:
I wouldn't worry about 1680 in the pedigree, but I would if they are double bred to him. Wasn't there one calf that wasn't double bred 1680 that had it or didn't? I can't remember.
Click to expand...

Its being reported on several of the other sites that that calf while not having 1680 on both sides- did have his mgs Rito 9J9 on both top and bottom....Some of the indication is that may be the first source for the mutation....
We will know a whole lot more once the test is developed and they can trace it back- but 1680 was the heavy used bull that brought it out in the open...
 
A similar problem is showing up in Charolais cattle...This from the Canadian Charolais Assn:

http://www.charolais.com/pdf/Quality%20Control.pdf

Sounds like the Aussies are further ahead on working on some of this and the Fawn Calf Syndrome than has been done here in the states...

Theirs several threads about both on this site:

http://www.advantagecattle.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=5&TOPIC_ID=3215&#37887
 
As i have stated before the article i came across stated it is the result of a genetic mutation and is a recessive gene is the cause. If there is other possible explanations could you send me a link. What caused the mutation nobody will ever know, just like what ever caused the polled mutation. Most breeds have thier own specific mutations like in chars- fawn calf syndrome, athrogryposis , RT 1-29, limos with proto, maines with pha, shorty's with Th, herefords with dwarfism i could go on and on but the fact is it is how a breed association deals with a genetic defect that may have a effect on the commercial cattleman is the important thing. It seems the AAA seems to be going about it the right way. But any way you slice it angus with 1680 blood will be devalued until they can be confirmed negative by a test. As for the test if it is a true mutation and scientists find on which gene the defect is on it will be as simple a taking a blood sample and sending to a lab and the lab will be able to tell you with in days if an animal carries the defect or not.
 
I have some Shoshone Viking GD60 semen in my tank and in some cows.He's one of about a dozen bulls who is Genetic Defect Free I guess I will stick with these bloodlines.Old but Good..
 

Latest posts

Back
Top