IMPORTANT UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF
CURLY CALF SYNDROME
SUMMARY
On September 5, 2008, the American Angus Association posted a notice on its website
(
www.angus.org) in which it requested the assistance of its members and users of Angus genetics in obtaining reports of any abnormal calves believed to fit the accompanying description of what is currently described as "Curly Calf Syndrome".
The following document includes:
• A notice from Dr. Jon Beever entitled "Likely Presence of Lethal Genetic Defect
in a Specific Line of Angus Cattle"
• An Open Letter to the Membership from the Board of Directors
- An introduction to the scientist, Dr. Beever, with whom the Association is
working at this time
- Primer on the basic science of genetics and how recessive genes are inherited
- Discussion of how a diagnostic test is developed
- Possible timetable for this situation
Between September 6 and September 15, 2008, the Association received written and verbal
reports of 48 calves previously born dead with physical characteristics consistent with the Curly Calf Syndrome. Each report also included the recorded identities of the sire and dam of the abnormal calf. The Association has provided Dr. Beever with this information as it has become available. Based on the reports the Association has received since September 5, the following tentative conclusions appear likely:
• Curly Calf Syndrome appears to most likely be caused by a simple recessive gene,
tentatively traced from the most recent common ancestor, GAR Precision 1680,
Registration 11520398 ("1680"). This tentative conclusion does not preclude other
ancestors of this bull, on either the sire or the dam side, from potentially being identified
as carriers at a later time;
• Forty-seven of those 48 calves identified to the Association contained "1680" genetics on
both sides of the abnormal calves^ pedigrees;
• With the assumption of a simple recessive inheritance pattern, the risk for producing a
calf affected with this syndrome can manifest itself when the recessive gene is found in
both the sire’s and dam’s pedigree.
As of yet, there does not appear to be any other mode of inheritance or reported environmental factors that explains this specific syndrome in these reported calves. As soon as Dr. Beever finds the mutation, he will turn to the important task of developing an accurate diagnostic test that will allow potentially impacted animals to be tested to determine if they are free of or are a carrier of this gene.
The Association urges every member to read this entire document carefully.Download this pdf about Curly Calf Syndrome now!
Review the list of Accelerated Genetics Angus Sires with 1680 Influence. (Word Document)