Born Feb 26/11
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Dog Breeding, Mentorship
A good read that was posted on the Alberta Show Dog List.
http://tinyurl.com/4ubkdvn
Bitterly cold out with a raw wind that last few days.
Down to 1 cow to calf.
http://tinyurl.com/4ubkdvn
Bitterly cold out with a raw wind that last few days.
Down to 1 cow to calf.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Article on Bad Bites / Genetics
Please note this article was published in the February issue of
ShowSight Magazine and was written by Diane Klumb.
----------------------------------------------------------
The Mystery of the "Bad Bite"
Elementary, My Dear Watson
by Diane Klumb
Anyone who knows me at all probably also knows how totally excited I am by the ability of molecular genetics to solve the mysteries inherent in the breeding of purebred dogs. In addition to allowing us to actually "breed for improvement" instead of just blithely throwing the term
around, I firmly believe that if used wisely, this new store of knowledge represents our best hope for both preserving the sport of dog breeding for future generations, and for fending off our own personal Professor Moriarty in the guise of Ingred Newkird & Co. But actually using this new knowledge to our benefit, and to the benefit of dogs, often requires us to discard long-held and long-cherished beliefs. Realizing that something we were taught years ago (and in many cases have passed on to the next generation of breeders) was based on an incorrect assumption, and may actually be flat-out WRONG, can be a
difficult mental pill to swallow, and some people just can't seem to do it.
For others, it provides an "Ah-HA!" moment, when the seemingly inexplicable suddenly becomes clear. One such moment for me occurred a few years ago, when I learned that prenatal disruption (via genetics or environment) of a regulatory gene with the delightfully improbable name sonic hedgehog (SHH) often results in asymmetry, where the two sides of a dog don't exactly match. (It's a lot commoner than you'd expect, actually, and occurs in people to varying degrees as well. And symmetry in people has been linked to both beauty and longevity. Probably true in dogs as well.)
More to the point, an asymmetric dog will invariably crab, as he has longer reach and more drive on one side than the other, causing his forward progress to eerily resemble that of a '63 Ford Fairlane with a bent frame. Yet stacked in profile the dog displays flawless balance, which has confounded judges and breeders since time immemorial.
When I shared that discovery in a column a few years back, an amazing number of judges who read it made a point of telling me that it was an "Ah-HA! moment for them, too. (One told me that now whenever she sees a dog crabbing, she checks the elbows on both sides, and one is invariably set higher on the ribcage than the other.) An old dog show mystery solved by molecular genetics. Cool.
I had another of those "Ah-HA! moments recently, when I stumbled upon a fascinating research paper while looking for something else entirely. (Happens to me all the time.) It seems that scientists have discovered that the size and shape of the mammalian mandible (or lower jaw) is controlled by a surprisingly large number of genes - over 15 have been identified to date. A little more digging revealed that an equally large number are involved in the development of the maxillary complex, or what we refer to as the upper jaw. The kicker is......they are different genes, and inherited pretty much independently. Which means, in terms expressed as simply as humanly possible: A DOG CAN INHERIT HIS UPPER JAW FROM ONE PARENT, AND HIS LOWER JAW FROM THE OTHER.
Ah-HaH! Another dog-breeding mystery solved, and a long-cherished belief laid to rest. Putting this into an everyday breeding scenario, here's what too often happens. A young health-screened dog of quality with a magnificent head is widely used by breeders on bitches who's heads could use some improvement--depending on the breed standard, their muzzles could be a little shorter, or a little longer, or maybe a little more or less refined. But rather than the overall improvement in the first generation breeders are hoping for, they get maybe one nice bite (if they're lucky and depending upon what the bitch's parents looked like) and a basketful of "bad" bites. (What constitutes a bad bite varies from breed to breed, of course.) Soon the word goes round that this lovely-headed dog "throws bad bites" and his stock drops faster than Lehman Brothers. Happens all the time.
And now we learn that it wasn't his fault at all, poor guy. Breeders have been laboring for years under the misconception that an off-bite is the result of an AR gene, and that some dogs are carrying a recessive gene that causes them to "throw bad bites." I've heard it said a thousand times over the years, and so have you. But it is simply NOT TRUE. Turns out there is no single AR gene for an undershot bite, or an overshot bite, either. There are literally dozens of genes involved, all inherited more or less independently. So, from this day forward (unless you are one of those people now recognized as incapable of changing a long-held opinion in the face of new evidence due to insufficient activity in the anterior singulate cortex and I'm wasting my time here) we can all stop blaming the poor stud dog.
What is actually happening genetically is this: Given Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment, which is still scientifically valid after all these years, a percentage of the pups from an "unlike-to-unlike" breeding in the head department will inherit a larger percentage of the genes for a longer mandibular (under) jaw from one parent, and a larger percentage of the genes for a shorter upper maxillary (upper) jaw from the other, resulting in bites that are undesirable per a particular breed's standard. NEITHER parent is to blame - malocclusions of the jaw, we now know, are polygenic.
Now, hopefully most of us already understand that there is a huge genetic difference between a MALOCCLUSION OF THE JAW and MISALIGNMENT OF INCISORS, which cause a reverse scissors bite in a dog whose jaws align according to the standard, and whose "puppy bite" is often perfect. Misalignment of incisors is usually caused by no more than the particular timing of the eruption of the individual permanent teeth - if it is off, the upper incisors will force the lower ones out, resulting in a reverse scissors. (That's why it's correctable with mere pressure.) There's no sense blaming this one on either parent, either: Research has shown there are more than FIFTY different genes that influence the development, and timing of eruption, of teeth. Some of these genes, it turns out, are involved in other processes and also code for traits that we've actually selected FOR over the years---the MITF gene, for example, which is involved in pigment development (parti-colored dogs are parti-colored because they carry a mutation on this gene) is also involved in tooth development and timing of eruption, which is likely why the parti-colored pups in a litter often get their teeth later than their solid-colored brethren. The RSPO2 gene is also involved in tooth development, and a mutation on this one is responsible for canine head furnishings. (And that's just two off the top of my head, no doubt there are dozens more, as we now know that genes "multi-task.)
__________________________________________________________ ______
----------------------------------------------------------
Please note this article was published in the February issue of
ShowSight Magazine and was written by Diane Klumb.
----------------------------------------------------------
The Mystery of the "Bad Bite"
Elementary, My Dear Watson
by Diane Klumb
*There is a bit more to this article. I did a google search and found
completely posted on this site. I also copy and pasted it below.*
http://www.addy.com/hicc//badbite.html
ShowSight Magazine and was written by Diane Klumb.
----------------------------------------------------------
The Mystery of the "Bad Bite"
Elementary, My Dear Watson
by Diane Klumb
Anyone who knows me at all probably also knows how totally excited I am by the ability of molecular genetics to solve the mysteries inherent in the breeding of purebred dogs. In addition to allowing us to actually "breed for improvement" instead of just blithely throwing the term
around, I firmly believe that if used wisely, this new store of knowledge represents our best hope for both preserving the sport of dog breeding for future generations, and for fending off our own personal Professor Moriarty in the guise of Ingred Newkird & Co. But actually using this new knowledge to our benefit, and to the benefit of dogs, often requires us to discard long-held and long-cherished beliefs. Realizing that something we were taught years ago (and in many cases have passed on to the next generation of breeders) was based on an incorrect assumption, and may actually be flat-out WRONG, can be a
difficult mental pill to swallow, and some people just can't seem to do it.
For others, it provides an "Ah-HA!" moment, when the seemingly inexplicable suddenly becomes clear. One such moment for me occurred a few years ago, when I learned that prenatal disruption (via genetics or environment) of a regulatory gene with the delightfully improbable name sonic hedgehog (SHH) often results in asymmetry, where the two sides of a dog don't exactly match. (It's a lot commoner than you'd expect, actually, and occurs in people to varying degrees as well. And symmetry in people has been linked to both beauty and longevity. Probably true in dogs as well.)
More to the point, an asymmetric dog will invariably crab, as he has longer reach and more drive on one side than the other, causing his forward progress to eerily resemble that of a '63 Ford Fairlane with a bent frame. Yet stacked in profile the dog displays flawless balance, which has confounded judges and breeders since time immemorial.
When I shared that discovery in a column a few years back, an amazing number of judges who read it made a point of telling me that it was an "Ah-HA! moment for them, too. (One told me that now whenever she sees a dog crabbing, she checks the elbows on both sides, and one is invariably set higher on the ribcage than the other.) An old dog show mystery solved by molecular genetics. Cool.
I had another of those "Ah-HA! moments recently, when I stumbled upon a fascinating research paper while looking for something else entirely. (Happens to me all the time.) It seems that scientists have discovered that the size and shape of the mammalian mandible (or lower jaw) is controlled by a surprisingly large number of genes - over 15 have been identified to date. A little more digging revealed that an equally large number are involved in the development of the maxillary complex, or what we refer to as the upper jaw. The kicker is......they are different genes, and inherited pretty much independently. Which means, in terms expressed as simply as humanly possible: A DOG CAN INHERIT HIS UPPER JAW FROM ONE PARENT, AND HIS LOWER JAW FROM THE OTHER.
Ah-HaH! Another dog-breeding mystery solved, and a long-cherished belief laid to rest. Putting this into an everyday breeding scenario, here's what too often happens. A young health-screened dog of quality with a magnificent head is widely used by breeders on bitches who's heads could use some improvement--depending on the breed standard, their muzzles could be a little shorter, or a little longer, or maybe a little more or less refined. But rather than the overall improvement in the first generation breeders are hoping for, they get maybe one nice bite (if they're lucky and depending upon what the bitch's parents looked like) and a basketful of "bad" bites. (What constitutes a bad bite varies from breed to breed, of course.) Soon the word goes round that this lovely-headed dog "throws bad bites" and his stock drops faster than Lehman Brothers. Happens all the time.
And now we learn that it wasn't his fault at all, poor guy. Breeders have been laboring for years under the misconception that an off-bite is the result of an AR gene, and that some dogs are carrying a recessive gene that causes them to "throw bad bites." I've heard it said a thousand times over the years, and so have you. But it is simply NOT TRUE. Turns out there is no single AR gene for an undershot bite, or an overshot bite, either. There are literally dozens of genes involved, all inherited more or less independently. So, from this day forward (unless you are one of those people now recognized as incapable of changing a long-held opinion in the face of new evidence due to insufficient activity in the anterior singulate cortex and I'm wasting my time here) we can all stop blaming the poor stud dog.
What is actually happening genetically is this: Given Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment, which is still scientifically valid after all these years, a percentage of the pups from an "unlike-to-unlike" breeding in the head department will inherit a larger percentage of the genes for a longer mandibular (under) jaw from one parent, and a larger percentage of the genes for a shorter upper maxillary (upper) jaw from the other, resulting in bites that are undesirable per a particular breed's standard. NEITHER parent is to blame - malocclusions of the jaw, we now know, are polygenic.
Now, hopefully most of us already understand that there is a huge genetic difference between a MALOCCLUSION OF THE JAW and MISALIGNMENT OF INCISORS, which cause a reverse scissors bite in a dog whose jaws align according to the standard, and whose "puppy bite" is often perfect. Misalignment of incisors is usually caused by no more than the particular timing of the eruption of the individual permanent teeth - if it is off, the upper incisors will force the lower ones out, resulting in a reverse scissors. (That's why it's correctable with mere pressure.) There's no sense blaming this one on either parent, either: Research has shown there are more than FIFTY different genes that influence the development, and timing of eruption, of teeth. Some of these genes, it turns out, are involved in other processes and also code for traits that we've actually selected FOR over the years---the MITF gene, for example, which is involved in pigment development (parti-colored dogs are parti-colored because they carry a mutation on this gene) is also involved in tooth development and timing of eruption, which is likely why the parti-colored pups in a litter often get their teeth later than their solid-colored brethren. The RSPO2 gene is also involved in tooth development, and a mutation on this one is responsible for canine head furnishings. (And that's just two off the top of my head, no doubt there are dozens more, as we now know that genes "multi-task.)
__________________________________________________________ ______
----------------------------------------------------------
Please note this article was published in the February issue of
ShowSight Magazine and was written by Diane Klumb.
----------------------------------------------------------
The Mystery of the "Bad Bite"
Elementary, My Dear Watson
by Diane Klumb
*There is a bit more to this article. I did a google search and found
completely posted on this site. I also copy and pasted it below.*
http://www.addy.com/hicc//badbite.html
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Sometimes interventions are needed...
Two sets of twins born last wk and moved to the barn. Was able to move out the one family unit, unable to move out the other group as having problems with mothering one of the lambs which resulted in some intervention. With work I missed seeing that one lamb was not being allowed to nurse which resulted in getting behind the 8 ball. Ended up having to put corn syrup under the tongue/cheeks to be absorbed through the mucosa membrane while I thawed out some cow colostrum I had in the freezer...I needed some quick calories in her to 'pick her up' enough to suck a bottle of colostrum ( cattle source works in a pinch ) I find lambs more of a challenge than calves that dont get off to a proper start. Took several days of substitute bottle feeding, and making the ewe stand for nursing ( mentally have marked her ear tag down as first to go when I down size the flock ) ...nursing having it's own challenges with lamb not understanding the process of using her tongue / tipping etc...just stood there bunting which didnt gain her any brownie points with dear 'ole mom. Had to bring Quade in to the pen one day as the ewe was being just plain miserable in standing and setting her foot to allow nursing....the dog just has to enter the pen to 'hold' the mom in one spot ...also kicked her maternal instincts up a notch.
Finally turned the family unit today as weather giving us a bit of a break from the raw cold we've had...still have to keep on eye on things. Rest of the lambs weathering the winter in good shape...have had to up the grain for moms. The older lambs have added grain and hay to their diet.
2 ewes and 2 cows left for the farm babies. Sting due beginning of March and looking thicker as the days go by.
Finally turned the family unit today as weather giving us a bit of a break from the raw cold we've had...still have to keep on eye on things. Rest of the lambs weathering the winter in good shape...have had to up the grain for moms. The older lambs have added grain and hay to their diet.
2 ewes and 2 cows left for the farm babies. Sting due beginning of March and looking thicker as the days go by.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
I'm touched....Thank you to the Board of CNASA
Hello Cathy:
How can we ever thank you for having the "vision" of a National club for our breed? How can we ever thank you for all the years of "blood, sweat and tears" you've put into CNASA turning that vision into a reality?
Saying thank you doesn't seem to be enough, but we do offer our sincere and heartfelt thanks, and a promise that we will work hard to carry on with the CNASA to keep your dream alive and hopefully, to watch the club grow.
We surely can understand that after all those years of effort you really do need, and deserve, a break from the chore of being involved with running the club.
But your experience and your knowledge are invaluable, so we also dare to hope that we might be able to call on you from time to time if we find ourselves in need of advice.
We wish you every success with your Aussies and your future endeavours, and thank you sincerely for all your work, over all those years, on behalf of the CNASA.
Sincerely,
Clare Park - President
Debbie Markowski - Vice-president
Gail Stephens - Secretary
Kelly St-Jacques - Treasurer
Jessie Dare - Director Zone 1
Kim Schmidt - Director Zone 2
Rhonda Shewchuk - Director Zone 3
Marney Cook - Director Zone 4
Caroline Carrier - Director Zone 5
Angela Slauenwhite - Director Zone 6
How can we ever thank you for having the "vision" of a National club for our breed? How can we ever thank you for all the years of "blood, sweat and tears" you've put into CNASA turning that vision into a reality?
Saying thank you doesn't seem to be enough, but we do offer our sincere and heartfelt thanks, and a promise that we will work hard to carry on with the CNASA to keep your dream alive and hopefully, to watch the club grow.
We surely can understand that after all those years of effort you really do need, and deserve, a break from the chore of being involved with running the club.
But your experience and your knowledge are invaluable, so we also dare to hope that we might be able to call on you from time to time if we find ourselves in need of advice.
We wish you every success with your Aussies and your future endeavours, and thank you sincerely for all your work, over all those years, on behalf of the CNASA.
Sincerely,
Clare Park - President
Debbie Markowski - Vice-president
Gail Stephens - Secretary
Kelly St-Jacques - Treasurer
Jessie Dare - Director Zone 1
Kim Schmidt - Director Zone 2
Rhonda Shewchuk - Director Zone 3
Marney Cook - Director Zone 4
Caroline Carrier - Director Zone 5
Angela Slauenwhite - Director Zone 6
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Signed up for a few herding clinics...
Brutally cold out with the wind chill...Haven't been able to move my sheep out of the barn yet. No one home to watch them for lambing since I was on another stretch of nights and the rest took off to watch youngest son Wyatt's boxing match in S'toon on the wkend. ( he won....I hope to catch his next match in March )
Amateur boxing is much like fencing for points under a Three judge system....three rounds and all judges have to see the 'point'
for it to be earned. Started out 2-2 first round and ended with the last round 15-4 for Wyatt....the other guy had the height/longer reach
advantage which makes for abit of different strategy in the ring.
Signed up for some herding clinics this spring and summer, as those spots fill quickly. Not sure which dog I'll take to each one but know
that my chore work with Quade makes for some sloppy trial work ( finese' always seems to go out the door )
Need to work on those square flanks as well get him off the farm and working in different locations/stock so we can get over an ongoing issue of 'red zoning' anytime we go any place 'new'. It's like I packed up a green dog full of adreneline with deaf ears.... 'red zoning' aka ' higher than a kite' not the dog I use day in and day out....frustrating ...yep. However , I couldnt ask for a better chore dog for 'me'.
Both Reba and Fly want to work cattle so I'm pleased to find that out , even tho' it wasnt planned to discover that tidbit during chores one day.
Sting looking thick in the waist and was off food several wks ago.
Amateur boxing is much like fencing for points under a Three judge system....three rounds and all judges have to see the 'point'
for it to be earned. Started out 2-2 first round and ended with the last round 15-4 for Wyatt....the other guy had the height/longer reach
advantage which makes for abit of different strategy in the ring.
Signed up for some herding clinics this spring and summer, as those spots fill quickly. Not sure which dog I'll take to each one but know
that my chore work with Quade makes for some sloppy trial work ( finese' always seems to go out the door )
Need to work on those square flanks as well get him off the farm and working in different locations/stock so we can get over an ongoing issue of 'red zoning' anytime we go any place 'new'. It's like I packed up a green dog full of adreneline with deaf ears.... 'red zoning' aka ' higher than a kite' not the dog I use day in and day out....frustrating ...yep. However , I couldnt ask for a better chore dog for 'me'.
Both Reba and Fly want to work cattle so I'm pleased to find that out , even tho' it wasnt planned to discover that tidbit during chores one day.
Sting looking thick in the waist and was off food several wks ago.
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