Advances in dairy Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-888X
ISSN: 2329-888X
Department of Genetics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA
Review Article
Polled Genetic Inherence in Bos indicus Cattle
Author(s): Larissa Bordin Temp*, Ludmilla Costa Brunes, Letícia Silva Pereira, Sabrina Thaise Amorim, Cláudio Ulhôa Magnabosco, Raysildo Barbosa Lobo, Ovidio Carlos de Brito, Ricardo Viacava and Fernando Baldi
In nature, cattle horns served as a defense mechanism against predators, territorial fights and sexual selection. In modern beef cattle farming, there is a growing effort to reduce the presence of horns to avoid handling-related accidents and economic losses due to leather and muscle tissue damage. Dehorning, a common practice, is not without its drawbacks. It is painful and stressful for the animals, potentially causing economic losses. However, there is hope. Another option is to invest in the selection of naturally polled animals, increasing the incidence of alleles for the polled gene, especially in the Nellore breed. This alternative holds the promise of a more humane and sustainable future for cattle farming. The most accepted model for polled inheritance describes three loci: The first with a dominant polled allele (P) and a recessive horned allele (p); the second, scurs, with .. View More»