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pamijc88

19 Posts
Pamela
Pierson FL
United States
Posted - Aug 27 2014 :  09:21:43 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I had my cow's tested at www.vgl.ucdavis.edu
For 65.00 they do dna/a2/ 1 diognostic test
I test for chondrodysplasia
It is so easy you just need tail hair.
Also before I dry my cows up I order test kit from Animart and send in milk sample and they test for Johnes , blv, bvd and pregnancy. Mail on Monday or Tuesday and you have results by the end of the week and it's very affordable and easy.
Loving farm life with my hubby of 35 years
My Mid size Jersey Bessie my just above mini Jersey Bit of Honey our two dogs Dora and Tilly and a yard full of chickens ...

maryjane

7074 Posts
Posted - Aug 27 2014 :  10:39:20 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I use VGL also for parentage, A2, polled, Kappa Casein, and Beta Lactoglobulin. (I have had them do dwarfism in the past but I phased out any Dexter in my herd.)

I think Animart probably sends the sample to the lab we are lucky enough to have right here in Moscow, Idaho! I'm dropping 3 blood draws off later today and I'll get the results (pregnancy) via email first thing tomorrow. They also do the other tests you mention when I need them. Because I'm part of Idaho's raw milk program, all my TB tests are due Sept. 16. I better get crackin'!

Ooops, I just re-read what you said. You send in milk samples! I like that idea better than blood. I'm going to check it out. Thanks!

MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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pamijc88

19 Posts
Pamela
Pierson FL
United States
Posted - Aug 29 2014 :  4:58:34 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yes, I like the fact that is is just a squirt of milk They send prepaid shipping box and vials with milk preserver tablet, no need to refrigerate. Very quick and easy way to test each cow without blood draw and very affordable. It is called the pre- dry off program and I do believe it is their own lab.

What is the purpose of the Kappa Casein and Beta Lactoglobulin Maryjane ? Honey is A2/A2 and my Bessie is A1/A2
The Miniature Jersey Herd Book and Registry requires the Vgl testing for registry and the test for chondro is required because there can be Dexter genes far back in your line that you are not aware of. If they do test positive it is not a problem as long as they are not bred to another Chondro carrier. Mine were negative
Loving farm life with my hubby of 35 years
My Mid size Jersey Bessie my just above mini Jersey Bit of Honey our two dogs Dora and Tilly and a yard full of chickens ...
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maryjane

7074 Posts
Posted - Sep 01 2014 :  8:11:05 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Kappa Casein is protein yield and percentage. The A variants are associated with higher milk production. The B variants are associated with better cheese yield.

Beta Lactoglobulin is milk yield and whey protein content. The A variants are associated with increased milk yield and whey protein content. The B variant has increased casein and fat and is favorable for cheese production.

I did have three of my miniature bulls tested for dwarfism and they were negative ("N/N Normal, does not have the Dexter BD1 Bulldog mutation"). Since then I've done more reading about it and won't continue to test for it. Here's a bit of background on it. In some cases, people breed "around it" (knowing they have carriers) in order to produce miniatures. http://calfology.com/library/wiki/dwarfism-condrodysplasia

The cool thing about getting genetic markers on your animals is that any time you want more genetic testing of any kind, VGL will always have your animals "genes" on file. All you have to do is call for the test without having to send in a hair sample again.

Genetic testing sure does eliminate any doubt about parentage!
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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Andrea0509

155 Posts
Posted - Nov 08 2015 :  3:23:48 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Today I went out and gathered some tail hairs from Miss Persimmon for the VGL sample. Can't say plucking a cow's tail hair was something I'd ever imagined myself doing. ;) It went quick and easy, and I made sure to give her some scratches afterwards and lots of apologies! Haha, she's a trooper :) Will be interesting to see how the test comes back!
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