Dexter colors

[MisFitFarm]

Ok, I know that Dexters are black, with some Reds and Duns. I can't remember the genetics ins and outs, it's been too long. So, if I prefer Reds, and I breed two Reds together, how much does that increase my chances? Or, are the black genes so dominant, like brown eyes, that it's still going to be a game of chance?

[cowkeeper]

Red Dexter bred to red Dexter equals 100% red Dexter calves

[MisFitFarm]

YAY!!!!

[Dexter_Cattle]

Yes, Red to Red is 100% Red.

Dun to Dun is also Dun - EXCEPT when the Red Gene is involved.

So a Dun cow that carries Red, and a Dun Bull that carries Red, can produce a Red calf.

All other combinations depend on the recessive colors involved in the cow and in the bull.

[darbyfamily]

somewhere online I ran across a genetics chart someone had done on Dexters and the colors, horns vs polled etc... If I find it again I'll post it, though I'll admit, it meant very little to me. I never really took any of the classes in school that covered such topics.

[randiliana]

Originally Posted by Dexter_Cattle

Yes, Red to Red is 100% Red.

Dun to Dun is also Dun - EXCEPT when the Red Gene is involved.

So a Dun cow that carries Red, and a Dun Bull that carries Red, can produce a Red calf.

All other combinations depend on the recessive colors involved in the cow and in the bull.

There are 3 genes for base color, Black, Red and Wild type (brown).
Black is dominant to Wild type which is dominant to red. Both black and wild type can hide red. Red is ALWAYS homozygous for red, which means that if you breed red to red you will always get red.

Every other color is a result of some other gene/s working on those 3 base colors.

Spots cause areas of white, roan causes colored and white intermixed hairs. Dun is a dilution, which means it lightens the base coat color.

There are a few different genes that cause dilution, and I am not sure which one the Dexters have. But most of them work the same way.

There is the Char dilution which will result in a white or very, very light tan or gray(depending on the base color) when Homozygous. When Heterozygous you get a gray or a tan.

There is the Simm dilution, which results in a light tan or gray, when homozygous, and a darker gray or light red when heterozygous.

There are others that cause the dilutions in brown Swiss, Limousin (lightens the underside, around the eyes, etc) and a couple others, I think. But the most common ones are the Char and simm types.

Hope this helps, and I do have a more indepth discussion/explanation on my blog which is in my signature line.

[MisFitFarm]

Thanks for all the responses, they have really helped. Randiliana, I appreciate your in depth response, but I'm afraid the with my Fibromyalgia, if you went anymore in depth, my poor old foggy brain would explode!!

I guess I have my answer then, if I want reds, I have to start with reds and stay with reds! Thanks everybody!

[Slev]

I, I, .....I just like cows, ...any color

[darbyfamily]

Originally Posted by Slev

I, I, .....I just like cows, ...any color

ROFL!!!!

[Timberline]

I agree with Slev. I like my Dexters, don't care what color they are as it does not effect the things I do like about them: milk, beef, size and disposition.

If you want reds, you are better off to buy reds and stick with them. They will almost certainly be more expensive, but you'll know that your calves will be red.

[MisFitFarm]

What can I say, I'm a red head. I like red! Except for my chickens, they're Black Stars. So I'm a wierd individual, I can't help it, I just like the red Dexters!

[Dexter_Cattle]

Oh, no need to appologize, I am a dun head and red head. Much prefer dun and red.

I have no problem with black, just like the colors. That is one thing that attracted me to the breed was that they were not all black.

[Timberline]

Hey, go for it! Red Dexters are beautiful.

[Dexter_Cattle]

There are a huge number of new listings on www.DexterCattle4Sale.net and like 12 of them are Red. I will try to get that info posted later today.