How to Determine Genotype of Black-Haired Cattle

Understanding Genotype Determination in Cattle Breeding

Cattle breeders often need to determine the genotype of animals to make informed breeding decisions. In cattle, hair color is one of the traits that can be used to understand the genetic makeup of the animals.

When it comes to hair color in cattle, black hair color is dominant to red hair color. This means that a cattle with the genotype of BB (homozygous black) or Bb (heterozygous black) will display black hair color. On the other hand, a cattle with the genotype of bb (homozygous red) will have red hair color.

To determine the genotype of a black-haired cow in cattle breeding, a farmer would use a process called test mating. In the given scenario, the farmer would mate the black-haired cow with a homozygous black-haired cow.

By mating the black-haired cow with a homozygous black-haired cow (genotype BB), the farmer can observe the outcomes of the offspring to determine the genotype of the black-haired cow. If the black-haired cow is homozygous (BB), all offspring will display black hair color. If the black-haired cow is heterozygous (Bb), the offspring will show a mix of black and red hair color based on genetic probability.

Through this breeding process and observation of offspring, the farmer can accurately determine whether the black-haired cow is homozygous or heterozygous for black hair color, helping in making informed breeding decisions and understanding the genetic traits at play.