Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a couple of excerpts that gives the just of the Chondro gene and why is sought out by miniature cattle breeders. 

 

The Chondro gene came from dexter cattle. Although rare now some dexter cattle carry the dominant chondro gene, which is a dwarf gene. We love the chondro gene. This gene was introduced into the purebred Highlands and other miniature cattle and miniature cattle crosses then bred throughout the years to increase traits while retaining the dwarf gene. Most breeders goal is to have the smallest miniature cattle (micro miniature). 

It is important to note that you do not breed carriers together. Rather you breed a carrier to a non carrier (I use Chondro bulls and non Chondro cows). Breeding cows that are both chondro postitive needs to be avoided to prevent lethal bulldog calf defects. All of our cross cows are tested for the gene. 

 

The advantage of introducing the chondro gene is that, when done correctly, an educated breeding program can produce much smaller, more docile, and well conformed cattle. It is truly unfortunate that there are many cattle traders and producers that have not taken the time to introduce the gene correctly to their herd. These uninformed farmers have given a bad name to the breeders who have taken the right steps to bring the beauty of the chondro positive miniature cattle to the rest of the world. We adore our chondro carriers and know that there is no love like a chondro love.

 

Chondro carriers live as long as their non-carrier family with no side effects. Joint issues, poor hoof conformation, and other skeletal problems are not a result of the chondro gene, but a result of poor genes. A good breeding program will cull (get rid of) any cows with these characteristics so these genes are not transferred to the next generation. The chondro gene may amplify poor genes but it will not create poor genes.

 

More information on it can be found on http://miniature-cattle.com/bd.htm