ASA Genetic Defect Protocol

PROTOCOL STEPS

1)        Shorthorn breeder reports defective calf to ASA immediately at (402) 393-7200, prior to destruction (preferably day of birth or first business day thereafter).

FOR PARENTAL VERIFICATION

2)        A. CALF (at ASA expense).

• Attending veterinarian and/or owner collects calf tissue sample.
• Calf sample consists of a 1 square-inch ear sample cut from calf ear.
• Calf ear sample frozen inside zip lock plastic bag.
• Calf ear sample labeled as “Calf Sample” sired by “_______.” Sample further identified with breeder’s name, address and phone number(s). Use ASA Calf Sample Label.
• SHIPPING: Tissue sample and identification sent overnight in a cold pack to Igenity Testing (see below).            

B. COW – if not on file (at ASA expense).

• Attending veterinarian and/or owner collects cow switch hair sample.
• Cow hair sample consists of 20–30 switch hairs (not tail head hairs) pulled (not cut) from the switch.
• Cow hair sample placed in zip lock plastic bag.
• Cow hair sample labeled as “Cow Sample” with tag #, tattoo #, registration name and registration number. Cow hair sample further identified with breeder’s name, address and phone number(s). Use ASA Cow Sample Label.
• SHIPPING: Cow hair sample and identification sent to Igenity Testing (see below).    

C. SIRE – if not on file (at ASA expense).

• A.I. Sire: ASA contacts owner(s) of reported sire and requests semen, hair or blood sample (only one kind needed). Contact consists of initial phone call, followed by written request. Sire owner(s) has two weeks to provide semen, hair or blood sample.

- If no sire sample is submitted in two weeks, commercially available semen will be used to complete parental verification. (A.I. sires require DNA test – See ASA Rule 2, Sec. 4.)

• Herd Sire: Sire semen, hair or blood sample identified registration name/number with breeder’s name, address, and phone number(s). Use ASA Sire Sample Label.

- If hair sample, attending veterinarian and/or owner collects sire switch hair sample following guidelines outlined for cow above.

- If blood sample, attending veterinarian collects blood sample using “purple topped” tube with anticoagulant.

- If semen sample, send straw thawed inside empty plastic ink pen casing or similar protection. (Note: If semen, DNA should be on file – See ASA Rule 2, Sec. 4.)

• SHIPPING: Sire sample and identification sent to Igenity Testing (see below).    

            SHIPPING:          Igenity Testing Service

                                          4701 Innovation Dr., Ste. 101

                                    Lincoln, NE 68521

3)        a. Tibial Hemimelia Diagnosis (at ASA expense)

• Attending veterinarian makes definitive diagnosis and provides written documentation on letterhead describing the calf’s symptoms diagnosed as Tibial Hemimelia. 

Written documentation sent to:        American Shorthorn Association

                                                            8288 Hascall Street

                                                            Omaha, NE 68124

- If the attending veterinarian is NOT ABLE to make a diagnosis, calf radiographs (dorsal image of pelvis and lateral image of rear legs) should be taken and mailed.

-If radiographs are not possible, the calf’s rear quarters (pelvis with rear legs attached) should be collected and shipped frozen overnight in cold pack.

Radiograph or animal samples sent to:  

                Dr. David Steffen

                Veterinary Diagnostic Center

                University of Nebraska

                Fair Street and East Campus Loop

                Lincoln, NE 68583-0907

                Office: (402) 472-1434

-In the case of diagnosis by Dr. Steffen, a detailed necropsy report listing the disorders will be sent to the breeder of the calf and the ASA, along with photographic and/or radiographic evidence.

4)      After the second parentally verified Class 1 genetically defective calf by any individual is identified, the individual (sire and/or dam) shall be considered a carrier.

5)      ASA contacts, by registered letter, the owner(s) of the carrier parent and provides the owner(s) with a copy of the diagnostic report(s), parental verification result(s) and/or specific laboratory test(s) which lead to the Class 1 (lethal) genetic defect classification.

6)      Owner(s) can accept the findings upon initial notification. If not accepted, owner(s) have 60 days from receipt of information/notification to appeal. Failure to respond within 60 days will constitute acceptance of the carrier classification.

7)      The ASA Board of Directors will decide whether or not to have a formal hearing (arbitration) procedure in the rare event of a disagreement.

8)      Carriers will be listed in the next available issue of Shorthorn Country as a means to distribute information to the Shorthorn membership in a timely and expedient manner.

         Revised by the ASA Board of Directors (4/2/2004)     Edited by ASA staff for clarification (8/20/05)

American Shorthorn Association

8288 Hascall St.

Omaha, NE 68124

Tel: (402) 393-7200 – Fax: (402) 393-7203 – Web: www.shorthorn.org

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