How to Test and Register Your Dexter Cattle

A good breeding program is one that focuses on improving conformation, productivity, longevity, and temperament without losing the original breed characteristics, history, and purpose. Genetic testing and registration are two tools every breeder should use to their advantage to move ever closer to creating the perfect Dexter cow or bull.

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There are currently three separate Dexter cattle registries that exist within the USA; the American Dexter Cattle Association (ADCA), the Purebred Dexter Cattle Association (PDCA), and the Legacy Dexter Cattle Registry. Of these three, the ADCA is currently the only Dexter cattle registry in the USA that is universally recognized. For that reason, the ADCA registration process will be the focus of this article.

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To be eligible for registration with the ADCA, the following requirements must be met:

• You must be a member of the ADCA with your membership fee paid.

• You must be the First Owner of the animal you want to register (the person owning the animal’s dam when the animal was born is designated as the First Owner).

• Both animal’s parents must already be registered with the ADCA or with an ADCA-approved association.

• The animal and its parents must meet all ADCA genotyping requirements.

• You, the First Owner, must pay the registration fee and process the registration.

• If you want color, PHA status, and Chondrodysplasia status of non-obligate animals to be listed on your certificate and pedigree page, the genetic tests for these characteristics must be attached to the Registration Application

 

There are currently two genetic testing labs recognized by the ADCA; Texas A&M University/Juras Lab (TAMU) and The University of California, Davis/Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (UCD).

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The registration process begins with genetic testing for parent verification to ensure that the animal was in fact birthed and sired by a purebred Dexter. This is done by sending in a sample of 20-30 tail hairs (pulled, not cut) with hair root intact to one of the two labs listed above. The best method for pulling tail hairs is to grip a portion of tail hairs with hemostats, and allow the animal to walk away. This keeps the animal calm so that the process can be repeated if necessary until you have enough hairs to send in for testing. These hairs can be stored in a plastic bag or envelope at room temperature, and you must take care not to touch/contaminate the root end of the hairs.

 

PRO TIP #1: We highly recommend that you ear tag the animal before or immediately after pulling tail hairs to prevent any possible mix-up with ID numbers since this step will be required when submitting your ADCA registration application. We prefer to use USDA 840 RFID ear tags as they guarantee a unique identification number and are required for import/export of cattle in some jurisdictions. You can obtain a Premise ID Number through your state Animal Health Agency, and the RFID tags can be ordered through any authorized distributor.

 

Both TAMU and UCD offer a variety of other tests including PHA, chondrodysplasia, polled/horned status, coat color genetics, milk protein status, and others. TAMU offers many of these tests as "packages" (with optional add-ons), while UCD requires you to check mark the desired tests individually. Both online processes are intuitive, though we have found the UCD website to be easier to navigate and is our primary lab for testing our Dexter cattle. Once the test has been ordered, the hair sample can be taped to the test form in the designated area and sent through any standard mailing service.

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PRO TIP #2: You will be required to assign a name to the animal when you submit your genetic test. This name MUST match the registered name that will be submitted to the ADCA and that name MUST include the correct farm prefix. The farm prefix is determined by owner the dam AT TIME OF BREEDING. For example, if you purchased a bred cow/heifer from Hog Lake Homestead, the registered name of that calf MUST include the prefix "HOG LAKE'S" followed by (calf name). If the name submitted to the ADCA does not match the name on the genetic test or if the correct farm prefix is not used (as evidenced by calf date of birth and dam's transfer of ownership), the registration will be denied and you will be required to submit a Change Request Form through the genetic lab.

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PRO TIP #3: Genetics can be complicated, but understanding some of the basics can help you decide what an animal should be tested for. Here are a few basic guidelines:

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• If both parents are confirmed PHA negative, all offspring will be "obligate negative" and don't require testing.

• If both parents are confirmed chondro negative, all offspring will be "obligate negative" and don't require testing.

• If both parents are homozygous polled, all offspring will be homozygous polled.

• If both parents are A2/A2, all offspring will be A2/A2

• If either parent is red, all offspring will CARRY red regardless of coat color.

• If either parent is dun, all offspring will CARRY dun regardless of coat color.

• A complete guide to Dexter color genetics can be found here.

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In order to verify parentage, the lab you choose must have the genetic markers for the dam and sire on file. If the dam/sire were tested through the same lab, their genetic markers will already be on file, and all you will need is to reference the Case Number or Registration Number (even if the dam/sire do not belong to you). If the dam/sire were tested through a different lab, you will need to import/transfer the genetic markers for the dam/sire, and both labs offer this service for a small fee. If you do not have a PDF copy of these genetic markers, you should reach out to the original owner of the animal to request a copy.

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Once you have received the results of your genetic testing (which may take several weeks), you are ready to submit your registration with the ADCA through the "Registration Application with Payment" page. This page will guide you through all the required information and give you the option to include PHA and chondro status on the pedigree. Once the application is submitted and the payment has been received, the animal will be added to the ADCA database and you will receive a hard copy of the pedigree in the mail (this too may take several weeks).

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Congratulations on registering your Dexter with the ADCA!

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If you have questions at any point during the registration process, we would encourage you to email us at info@hoglakehomestead.com or reach out to your Regional ADCA Director.