Goat Color Genetics 102
Let me start with the caveat that our goat herd is really small. Small as in, at the moment we own one nigerian dwarf - and she doesn't have papers and is only expecting her first kids in March. We also board a few additional goats for some other kids in our 4H club, and we can talk a bit about those too. Gotta start somewhere!
Mist (aka DumDum)
I decided to add this one to the top of the page. Not because she is ours and not because she delivered first, but because I think her genetics are the simplest!
The nubian doe in our club herd belongs to my daughter's best friend Sam. Unlike the rest of the flock, she's a purebred, registered nubian and was bred to a purebred registered nubian buck. So no weird crossbreeding to worry about. Her former owner called her Mist, and that's what Sam usually calls her - but we had an alpine named Mist in the herd last year, so some of us struggle with Mist 2. The name on her pedigree is Apricot - but that doesn't fit either. After she stole a lollipop at the goat clinic this spring, Sam's sister started calling her DumDum. The name is in danger of sticking.
Anyway, pretty sure she is a genetic black mask (Abm_) as her only black color is on her face and a bit on the front of her spine. Unlike the classic black mask, she does have a little bit of black striping on the front of her legs - this could indicate that she is a lightly marked caramel (Aca) rather than blackmask. She is roaned (Rnrn) with moonspotting in her background. She was bred to a moonspotted (Mm) black (aa).
Emily (left in photo) is the darkest kid. Her phaeomelanin is redder in tone than her moms, and she has some black in her face and along her spine. I would still call her base pattern gene Abm. She has a large moonspot on the side you can see and a smaller one on the opposite side - Mm with the moonspotting gene from her sire. She also has a white spot on the other side and a white star on her head -- I assume those are dominant white spots from her spotted sire.
Quinn (right in photo) is the lightest kid. Her phaeomelanin is paler than her mother's and she is roaned as well (Rnrn). She has a hint of a darker color along her spine and in her mask, but it looks more red-chocolate to me than black. Wondering if mom and dad are both hiding the recessive 'liver red' gene - making her bb. She has a few tiny spots of lighter color that may be moonspots.
Ed (laying center in photo) - gives the first impression of a two-tone chamoisee. His front half has the paler red color of his littler sister (doeling 2) and his back half is a darker red. He also doesn't appear to have true black markings, but rather very dark red. I think he may be Apka bb. This would mean that mom is hidingthe Apk gene. He has a white patch on one side, and also has a few tiny paler spots that may be moonspots.
In summary,
Mist = AbmApk b+b Rnrn mm stst (with modifiers for good moonspotting)
Dad = aa b+b rnrn Mm Stst
Emily = Abma b+_ rnrn Mm Stst
Quinn = Abma bb Rnrn mm stst
Ed = Apka bb rnrn mm Stst
The nubian doe in our club herd belongs to my daughter's best friend Sam. Unlike the rest of the flock, she's a purebred, registered nubian and was bred to a purebred registered nubian buck. So no weird crossbreeding to worry about. Her former owner called her Mist, and that's what Sam usually calls her - but we had an alpine named Mist in the herd last year, so some of us struggle with Mist 2. The name on her pedigree is Apricot - but that doesn't fit either. After she stole a lollipop at the goat clinic this spring, Sam's sister started calling her DumDum. The name is in danger of sticking.
Anyway, pretty sure she is a genetic black mask (Abm_) as her only black color is on her face and a bit on the front of her spine. Unlike the classic black mask, she does have a little bit of black striping on the front of her legs - this could indicate that she is a lightly marked caramel (Aca) rather than blackmask. She is roaned (Rnrn) with moonspotting in her background. She was bred to a moonspotted (Mm) black (aa).
Emily (left in photo) is the darkest kid. Her phaeomelanin is redder in tone than her moms, and she has some black in her face and along her spine. I would still call her base pattern gene Abm. She has a large moonspot on the side you can see and a smaller one on the opposite side - Mm with the moonspotting gene from her sire. She also has a white spot on the other side and a white star on her head -- I assume those are dominant white spots from her spotted sire.
Quinn (right in photo) is the lightest kid. Her phaeomelanin is paler than her mother's and she is roaned as well (Rnrn). She has a hint of a darker color along her spine and in her mask, but it looks more red-chocolate to me than black. Wondering if mom and dad are both hiding the recessive 'liver red' gene - making her bb. She has a few tiny spots of lighter color that may be moonspots.
Ed (laying center in photo) - gives the first impression of a two-tone chamoisee. His front half has the paler red color of his littler sister (doeling 2) and his back half is a darker red. He also doesn't appear to have true black markings, but rather very dark red. I think he may be Apka bb. This would mean that mom is hidingthe Apk gene. He has a white patch on one side, and also has a few tiny paler spots that may be moonspots.
In summary,
Mist = AbmApk b+b Rnrn mm stst (with modifiers for good moonspotting)
Dad = aa b+b rnrn Mm Stst
Emily = Abma b+_ rnrn Mm Stst
Quinn = Abma bb Rnrn mm stst
Ed = Apka bb rnrn mm Stst
Sparkle
Sparkle is a really cute (and really smart and really really stubborn) Nigerian dwarf doe. When we got Sparkle she looked like this...
At almost two she looks like this...
Hard to see in the top photo, she originally had a gray line along her spine running about half way back - with tiny spots (her sparkles) of grey to either side of her upper back. And that isn't just dirt on her knees, she had a lot of grey there too. But otherwise, she was pretty much white. Sparkle has changed a lot. She no longer comes across as mostly white -- she's ticked and at two years old now looks much, much more colored. And that color isn't mostly blue -- it's mostly red! One thing that's recently become obvious on Sparkle is a partial belt where the ticking is much much lighter.
So what color genes does Sparkle have?
1) Sparkle has the ticked gene. That's the only gene that could cause the dramatic color shift and adult pattern she has grown into. The gene is a dominant. Sparkle likely only has one copy of the ticked gene because as best as we can recall, her mother was not ticked (we never saw her father).
2) Sparkle is light dalmatian. This gene is very common in Nigerians and is a perfect match to her 'baby' pattern. Since the gene is recessive, we know she has two copies.
3) Sparkle hides the belted gene - which is causing the ticking to be lighter in the 'belt' area of her adult coat. This gene is dominant - so she has at least one copy. We don't remember her mother being belted, so likely she only has one copy.
4) Sparkle shows a pattern including both eumelanin (grey) and phaeomelanin (red) so she is E+. Recessive red is rare in Nigerians, so I'm assuming E+E+
5) Sparkle's underlying color/pattern is grey along her spine and back, grey on her lower legs, grey on her ears. She has both grey and red in her face and red on her sides. Now, grey could be a result of the intermixed white from the dalmatian white 'diluting' the eumelanin. But we remember Sparkles mom being agouti grey -- so chances are very good that she's hiding Aga for one of her A-genes. But agouti grey doesn't have ANY red to them at all. The phaeomelanin red in her face and along her sides has to be coming from an A-gene that puts phaeomelanin in those locations. My 'best candidate' for Sparkle's second A-gene is badgerface (Ab). This gene is fairly common in Nigerians and would 'restore' her phaeomelanin in all the right places. There are several other options that would come close (e.g., caramel), but badgerface seems closest.
6) Sparkles eumelanin is grey consistent with the Aga expression of black. Her color doesn't have any chocolate to it. I'm assuming her eumelanin is black B+. She could possible be hiding liver (b), but that's a fairly rare gene in Nigerians, so I'm going to assume she is B+B+
7) Sparkle's ticking is pretty red, so I'm going to call her 'high rufus'.
So what color genes does Sparkle have?
1) Sparkle has the ticked gene. That's the only gene that could cause the dramatic color shift and adult pattern she has grown into. The gene is a dominant. Sparkle likely only has one copy of the ticked gene because as best as we can recall, her mother was not ticked (we never saw her father).
2) Sparkle is light dalmatian. This gene is very common in Nigerians and is a perfect match to her 'baby' pattern. Since the gene is recessive, we know she has two copies.
3) Sparkle hides the belted gene - which is causing the ticking to be lighter in the 'belt' area of her adult coat. This gene is dominant - so she has at least one copy. We don't remember her mother being belted, so likely she only has one copy.
4) Sparkle shows a pattern including both eumelanin (grey) and phaeomelanin (red) so she is E+. Recessive red is rare in Nigerians, so I'm assuming E+E+
5) Sparkle's underlying color/pattern is grey along her spine and back, grey on her lower legs, grey on her ears. She has both grey and red in her face and red on her sides. Now, grey could be a result of the intermixed white from the dalmatian white 'diluting' the eumelanin. But we remember Sparkles mom being agouti grey -- so chances are very good that she's hiding Aga for one of her A-genes. But agouti grey doesn't have ANY red to them at all. The phaeomelanin red in her face and along her sides has to be coming from an A-gene that puts phaeomelanin in those locations. My 'best candidate' for Sparkle's second A-gene is badgerface (Ab). This gene is fairly common in Nigerians and would 'restore' her phaeomelanin in all the right places. There are several other options that would come close (e.g., caramel), but badgerface seems closest.
6) Sparkles eumelanin is grey consistent with the Aga expression of black. Her color doesn't have any chocolate to it. I'm assuming her eumelanin is black B+. She could possible be hiding liver (b), but that's a fairly rare gene in Nigerians, so I'm going to assume she is B+B+
7) Sparkle's ticking is pretty red, so I'm going to call her 'high rufus'.
Slade
Slade is our friend Allison's angora buck (far left in photo below). Slade is registered and his papers say light chocolate. But he doesn't look like the pictures I've seen of light chocolate angora goats. Those all look like chocolate milk color in the face (and not the version of chocolate milk my kids do, where they pour in half a bottle of syrup). Slade's face is very very red. His fleece is much more faded and I guess it does have a pale brown tint. We also have Slade's color pedigree!
1) I started by looking up some of the color names I didn't immediately recognize. Going to the websites for many different angora breeders I find that those animals called taupe/silver brown are always a very pale shade that looks identical to me to what other sites call 'light chocolate' -- just on the angora the fleece is fading to a more silvery color (with the face remaining a very pale brown). This would make taupe/silver brown genotype aabl-E+-. This color is significantly lighter than the shade I see in Slade. [note - I have had someone suggest the presence of a 'silvering' modifier gene in angora and alpine goats as an explanation for the taupe/silver brown color - as well as one kid below - if anyone has references for what that would be, please send them our way as I haven't been able to find any info on it!]
2) Chocolate brown in this pedigree is acting as a dominant gene - every chocolate brown animal has at least one chocolate brown parent. This would be consistent with the dark chocolate brown genotype aaBd-E+-. Alternatively, this could be a dominant black gene (common in colored angoras) combined with a chocolate gene - Bd-ED-
3) The red cheek pattern appears 3 times in this pedigree. Red cheek is a high eumelanin pattern - only the a allele is recessive to it. Therefore, although other patterns may come behind it in the pedigree (e.g., bezoar) those genes cannot have carried past the red cheek. I would conclude that all the goats identified here as solids are aa -- though it is possible that an Arc gene is hiding behind ED.
4) There are three goats in this pedigree identified as cream. All three are from a red cheek (Arc-) and taupe/silver brown (aa) cross. Therefore, the creams must have a genotype with aa and CANNOT be Awht -- this is backed up by the fact that the creams in Slade's pedigree appear to act as recessives, rather than as dominant. Yet cream is normally due to phaeomelanin. Several options for the creams - (1) cream is actually a very pale version of a phaeomelanin-based recessive red (ErEr), (2) it is a version of eumelanin-based light chocolate (aaBl- or ED-Bl-) perhaps modified by the mysterious 'silvering' gene. (3) it is a eumelanin-based recessive red (bb) also modified by silvering or other modifiers. Creams based on eumelanin are considered rare (even in angoras where the coat fades) while phaeomelanin is considered highly variable and frequently produces creams. So I lean toward the interpretation that the creams here are ErEr.
5) Every copper red in this pedigree has either a copper red parent OR a cream parent. Yet the gene cannot be dominant red (because the cream cannot be Awht). Copper red therefore HAS to be either ErEr or bb. Given that they all have cream parents, I lean toward also calling them ErEr. When Allison picked Slade up, she had the opportunity to see his buckling son, who they are keeping to replace him. Allison describes the buckling as a uniform orangey color -- not faded over the fleece as Slade. This would be consistent with the photos I have seen of ErEr angoras. This buckling is likely consistent with the copper reds in Slade's pedigree.
6) Slade is a uniform color with mostly aa in his background. Therefore he is most likely aa and NOT hiding a pattern gene.
7) Slade has a copper red sire. Therefore he is (at least) a carrier for recessive red -- E+Er. The red tones in Slade's face would suggest a phaeomelanin base, yet he clearly isn't either a copper red or a cream. He could be an ErEr red with intermediate color. On the other hand, the fading in his coat is more suggestive of a eumelanin-based color. He does have numerous chocolate genes on both sides of his pedigree. It is entirely possible that his parents were both carriers for light chocolate (Bl) or even liver (b)
8) When in doubt, stick with the pedigree... I will assume Slade is genotype aaBlBlE+Er. Also possible are aaBl-E+Er, aabbE+Er, & aaBd-ErEr.
Addendum...
1) Puppy - See Sparkle x Slade below. Since Puppy does not have eumelanin faded to chocolate, Slade cannot be BlBl. At least one of his B-alleles must be B+ (black) or b (liver).
2) High number of solid eumelanin (6) and solid phaeomelanin (2) relative to patterned (2) kids makes it most likely that Slade is aaEDEr. Although often referred to as 'dominant black' ED is actually better termed 'dominant eumelanin'. The unbroken line of chocolate-browns behind Slade track this dominant gene.
3) Dolly's cream - See Dolly x Slade below. Highly unlikely that a purebred alpine (Dolly) would be carrying a recessive red (Er) allele. But recessive silvering is apparently common in both alpines (especially with bezoar) and angoras (taupe-silver). I have found many references to this coloring, but nothing on it's genetics; though it appears to act as a simple recessive.
Sparkle x Slade
Slade came to live with us around Thanksgiving. All the does needed to be bred, so we just let him run with them and have a good time. If Sparkle wasn't already bred to Corrigan, then she's definitely bred to Slade by now. If she has babies after April 15, they are Slade's.
1) Highly unlikely that Sparkle is carrying recessive red. So Slade's Er gene(s) just keeps hiding in the kids.
2) Sparkle's dalmatian white is recessive, not impossible that Slade is a carrier, but not likely either. My guess is that the babies will not be Dalmatian (though they will be carriers) and will be mostly colored.
3) Belted is dominant, and if I'm right about Sparkle hiding a belt, then I expect half the kids to have white belts.
5) Slade's aa genotype will split and combine with Sparkle's to reveal the patterns she is carrying. Half the kids should be Agaa gray agoutis and the other half should reveal her 'more red' pattern - likely badger face (Ab).
6) I describe both Sparkle and Slade as 'high rufus' with their phaeomelanin expressing more red than tan. So I would expect any kids to also be relatively high rufus
7) IF Slade is BlBl, this color is DOMINANT OVER the black B+B+ of Sparkle. ALL the kids (BlB+) will have eumelanin fade from black to pale chocolate. IF Slade is bb, this color is RECESSIVE TO the black B+B+ of Sparkle. All the kids would be black. If either are carrying other genes (e.g., Sparkle is B+b or Slade is BlB+) then the kids will split.
Putting it together -- most likely kid is a light chocolate agouti (grey agouti with the eumelanin faded to pale chocolate) with or without a white belt . next most likely is something in a 'chamoisee' type pattern with pale chocolate markings on a high rufus background - again with or without a white belt. Any of these could be very pretty in the longer A or C type wool of a nigora!
Sparkle had one buckling on April 19 - we named him Puppy (floppy ears and a constantly wagging tail). Pretty sure he is Slade's. At just 1 day old, he's a wonderful silvery color - lacks the stockings of an agouti grey and only a hint of the dorsal stripe. I think he's a light grey. Has me thinking twice -- did Sparkle's mom have dark legs or light? Puppy appears to have regular short hair -- we will see whether he develops a heavier fall coat of cashmere (sigh, he never did ... he looked very much like a pure Nigerian - so he was wethered and sold as a pet).
1) Highly unlikely that Sparkle is carrying recessive red. So Slade's Er gene(s) just keeps hiding in the kids.
2) Sparkle's dalmatian white is recessive, not impossible that Slade is a carrier, but not likely either. My guess is that the babies will not be Dalmatian (though they will be carriers) and will be mostly colored.
3) Belted is dominant, and if I'm right about Sparkle hiding a belt, then I expect half the kids to have white belts.
5) Slade's aa genotype will split and combine with Sparkle's to reveal the patterns she is carrying. Half the kids should be Agaa gray agoutis and the other half should reveal her 'more red' pattern - likely badger face (Ab).
6) I describe both Sparkle and Slade as 'high rufus' with their phaeomelanin expressing more red than tan. So I would expect any kids to also be relatively high rufus
7) IF Slade is BlBl, this color is DOMINANT OVER the black B+B+ of Sparkle. ALL the kids (BlB+) will have eumelanin fade from black to pale chocolate. IF Slade is bb, this color is RECESSIVE TO the black B+B+ of Sparkle. All the kids would be black. If either are carrying other genes (e.g., Sparkle is B+b or Slade is BlB+) then the kids will split.
Putting it together -- most likely kid is a light chocolate agouti (grey agouti with the eumelanin faded to pale chocolate) with or without a white belt . next most likely is something in a 'chamoisee' type pattern with pale chocolate markings on a high rufus background - again with or without a white belt. Any of these could be very pretty in the longer A or C type wool of a nigora!
Sparkle had one buckling on April 19 - we named him Puppy (floppy ears and a constantly wagging tail). Pretty sure he is Slade's. At just 1 day old, he's a wonderful silvery color - lacks the stockings of an agouti grey and only a hint of the dorsal stripe. I think he's a light grey. Has me thinking twice -- did Sparkle's mom have dark legs or light? Puppy appears to have regular short hair -- we will see whether he develops a heavier fall coat of cashmere (sigh, he never did ... he looked very much like a pure Nigerian - so he was wethered and sold as a pet).
The Pygoras x Slade
Allison recently got three pygora does. They are all white (update - when sheared we discovered that none of the three are completely white -- all have little bits of grey color 'leaking' through - one also has bits of reddish color). One has blue eyes and horns, one has brown eyes and horns, the third has brown eyes and is naturally polled. We call the polled doe Polly. The other two do not have names and are not very friendly. They've all been bred to Slade.
1) The pygoras almost certainly have their white color from the Angora White gene. Since pygmies don't typically have that gene, they are probably all Ww. Half the kids will get this gene and be white. The other half will be colored.
2) Entirely possible that other white-pattern genes are hiding. These may show up on the 'colored' kids.
3) Slade's 'red' genes - Er (or possibly b) will likely hide in the kids -- unless the angora used to create the pygoras happened to be carrying those genes. They aren't common in white angoras, so it doesn't seem too likely.
4) We have no information on either the angoras or pygmies that were used to create these pygoras. Assuming they came from the most common type of white angora, they likely have the Awht gene. Any kids getting this gene combined with Slade's a gene will be Awhta and show full phaeomelanin (assuming these are within the 'colored' half in step 1 above). Given Slade's high rufus, I would expect these to be some shade of pale red even if the pygoras are relatively low rufus. Assuming the pygoras are F1, the second hidden A-gene likely came from a pygmy ancestry. Pygmies come in lots of patterns -- the most common being agouti grey and caramel. Whatever they are, these genes will be revealed in (on average) 25% of the kids.
5) If Slade is really light brown (Bl-) then expect the eumelanin on the patterned kids will fade to chocolate.
6) Kids from the brown-eyed does will have brown eyes. Kids from the blue-eyed doe will likely be at least half blue eyed.
Putting it together -- Most common kid will be a brown-eyed white -- followed by blue-eyed white. Pale reds (apricot?) are likely - these too could have either blue or brown eyes. Kids in one or more of the 'pygmy' patterns with either eye color are also possible -- these could include pale chocolate or black in their pattern.
Revision! --
(5) getting the 'full spectrum' of eumelanin colors! black, dark chocolate, and light chocolate (plus light grey from the half-sib out of Sparkle). Slade is Bl with either B+ (black) or b (liver red).
(1&4) the two horned pygoras threw colored kids - 3 chocolates and 1 black. If they are Ww, we are beating the dice roll. Even if they are Awhta, we are beating the dice roll. Now leaning toward Slade being EDEr. With Slade as wwEDEraa and the pygoras as wwEEAwhta odds shift to 75% eumelanin solids and 25% phaeomelanin solids. We got 4 eumelanin solids (1 black, 3 chocolate) and 2 phaeomelanin (white and apricot). If this is the case, the two phaeomelanin solids (white doe and apricot buck both of which Allison is keeping) should be carriers for Er.
and More revision!! --
When sheared, all three pygora does revealed colored markings!
(1) Update - Ww should NOT allow color to 'leak through' -- therefore these pygoras do not have the W gene
(4) Update -- Awht- should NOT allow eumelanin color to 'leak through' - except ticking, and this doesn't look like ticking - as all the sheared pygoras show grey patches, they are NOT Awht. These markings are consistent with either agouti gray (Aga) or caramel (Acr) as a 'mostly hidden' pattern. These two patterns are very common in pygmies - but not in angoras. Expect that the second allele in each is an 'a' (the most common allele in angoras that would NOT hide the pattern completely).
(2) Given that the pygoras have eumelanin color 'leaking through' and therefore cannot be EITHER W- or Awht- other white 'spotting' genes (probably multiple others) must be responsible for their primary white color. None of these genes are common in pygmies, but they are quite common in white angoras.
1) The pygoras almost certainly have their white color from the Angora White gene. Since pygmies don't typically have that gene, they are probably all Ww. Half the kids will get this gene and be white. The other half will be colored.
2) Entirely possible that other white-pattern genes are hiding. These may show up on the 'colored' kids.
3) Slade's 'red' genes - Er (or possibly b) will likely hide in the kids -- unless the angora used to create the pygoras happened to be carrying those genes. They aren't common in white angoras, so it doesn't seem too likely.
4) We have no information on either the angoras or pygmies that were used to create these pygoras. Assuming they came from the most common type of white angora, they likely have the Awht gene. Any kids getting this gene combined with Slade's a gene will be Awhta and show full phaeomelanin (assuming these are within the 'colored' half in step 1 above). Given Slade's high rufus, I would expect these to be some shade of pale red even if the pygoras are relatively low rufus. Assuming the pygoras are F1, the second hidden A-gene likely came from a pygmy ancestry. Pygmies come in lots of patterns -- the most common being agouti grey and caramel. Whatever they are, these genes will be revealed in (on average) 25% of the kids.
5) If Slade is really light brown (Bl-) then expect the eumelanin on the patterned kids will fade to chocolate.
6) Kids from the brown-eyed does will have brown eyes. Kids from the blue-eyed doe will likely be at least half blue eyed.
Putting it together -- Most common kid will be a brown-eyed white -- followed by blue-eyed white. Pale reds (apricot?) are likely - these too could have either blue or brown eyes. Kids in one or more of the 'pygmy' patterns with either eye color are also possible -- these could include pale chocolate or black in their pattern.
Revision! --
(5) getting the 'full spectrum' of eumelanin colors! black, dark chocolate, and light chocolate (plus light grey from the half-sib out of Sparkle). Slade is Bl with either B+ (black) or b (liver red).
(1&4) the two horned pygoras threw colored kids - 3 chocolates and 1 black. If they are Ww, we are beating the dice roll. Even if they are Awhta, we are beating the dice roll. Now leaning toward Slade being EDEr. With Slade as wwEDEraa and the pygoras as wwEEAwhta odds shift to 75% eumelanin solids and 25% phaeomelanin solids. We got 4 eumelanin solids (1 black, 3 chocolate) and 2 phaeomelanin (white and apricot). If this is the case, the two phaeomelanin solids (white doe and apricot buck both of which Allison is keeping) should be carriers for Er.
and More revision!! --
When sheared, all three pygora does revealed colored markings!
(1) Update - Ww should NOT allow color to 'leak through' -- therefore these pygoras do not have the W gene
(4) Update -- Awht- should NOT allow eumelanin color to 'leak through' - except ticking, and this doesn't look like ticking - as all the sheared pygoras show grey patches, they are NOT Awht. These markings are consistent with either agouti gray (Aga) or caramel (Acr) as a 'mostly hidden' pattern. These two patterns are very common in pygmies - but not in angoras. Expect that the second allele in each is an 'a' (the most common allele in angoras that would NOT hide the pattern completely).
(2) Given that the pygoras have eumelanin color 'leaking through' and therefore cannot be EITHER W- or Awht- other white 'spotting' genes (probably multiple others) must be responsible for their primary white color. None of these genes are common in pygmies, but they are quite common in white angoras.
Brown eyed pygora's -
Born May 14! self black and self chocolate! Called that wrong, didn't I.
The black baby has frosted ears (frosted ears are very common in pygmies, so that's probably his pygmy heritage showing). It's a dominant trait that was likely hiding in his white mom. He's also got a little white star on his head. That's common in lots of breeds -- that's also a dominant trait (most likely from mom, though I'm not sure I would notice a white spot in Slade's pale coat. Black confirms Slade is not BlBl, and likely BlB+. Kids are either ED_ (with the ED gene from Slade) or aa (which would make the mom -a) or both.
The chocolate baby also has frosted ears. No white star. He's also a nice even self. He's a darker color than his father though -- I believe he is a Bd- dark chocolate brown. That would be possible if the pygora doe were hiding a Bd gene beneath a Ww or Awhta white coat (note Slade cannot be hiding the Bd gene). Note --- he's lightened considerably as he's grown. Maybe the light chocolate after all. Note 2 -- as mom has gray markings, she can't be Awht AND can't be hiding Bd (if she were, her markings would be light chocolate, not grey). Brown kid must be light chocolate Bl-.
Both boys disbudded, wethered and sold to a petting farm.
Born May 14! self black and self chocolate! Called that wrong, didn't I.
The black baby has frosted ears (frosted ears are very common in pygmies, so that's probably his pygmy heritage showing). It's a dominant trait that was likely hiding in his white mom. He's also got a little white star on his head. That's common in lots of breeds -- that's also a dominant trait (most likely from mom, though I'm not sure I would notice a white spot in Slade's pale coat. Black confirms Slade is not BlBl, and likely BlB+. Kids are either ED_ (with the ED gene from Slade) or aa (which would make the mom -a) or both.
The chocolate baby also has frosted ears. No white star. He's also a nice even self. He's a darker color than his father though -- I believe he is a Bd- dark chocolate brown. That would be possible if the pygora doe were hiding a Bd gene beneath a Ww or Awhta white coat (note Slade cannot be hiding the Bd gene). Note --- he's lightened considerably as he's grown. Maybe the light chocolate after all. Note 2 -- as mom has gray markings, she can't be Awht AND can't be hiding Bd (if she were, her markings would be light chocolate, not grey). Brown kid must be light chocolate Bl-.
Both boys disbudded, wethered and sold to a petting farm.
Polly's -
Born May 20! apricot (light chocolate?) and white (or cream?). Now this is more what I was expecting!
Bourbon - The 'light chocolate' buckling is much lighter than his half-brother. He also has frosted ears. Note -- brightened considerably after a couple days. He's now a very pretty bright apricot.
Vodka - White doeling! She will be a keeper!
Note - after a few days, she seems to have pale cream patches in the white -- particularly in the back of the neck. Not dirt.
Best guess on genotypes:
IF Slade is EDEr (as seems likely) then he must have given the Er gene to both of these kids. Most likely they have a normal E allele from Polly, though Bourbon's bright color (as well as Vodka's cream) may indicate ErEr.
If Vodka is a true white, she might be Ww with a W gene coming from Polly (Slade is ww). But with a cream color coming in, and the brother looking apricot, I'm leaning towards calling both of them Awhta (Awht from mom, a from Slade). Update - BUT mom has grey markings, so cannot be Awhta (or W-). That leaves only ErEr as the explanation for apricot and cream. Polly must be EEr. White means her white color (and Vodka's) is probably due to a dominant white 'spotting' gene heavy on the white.
All the siblings and half-siblings so far have frosted ears -- so thinking Vodka is probably hiding that gene too.
Neither kid is polled. Because they already look to be developing very heavy angora-type wool, we opted to keep them both horned. Bourbon has been kept intact. We may keep him to breed to his half-sister (below) or sell to another breeder.
Born May 20! apricot (light chocolate?) and white (or cream?). Now this is more what I was expecting!
Bourbon - The 'light chocolate' buckling is much lighter than his half-brother. He also has frosted ears. Note -- brightened considerably after a couple days. He's now a very pretty bright apricot.
Vodka - White doeling! She will be a keeper!
Note - after a few days, she seems to have pale cream patches in the white -- particularly in the back of the neck. Not dirt.
Best guess on genotypes:
IF Slade is EDEr (as seems likely) then he must have given the Er gene to both of these kids. Most likely they have a normal E allele from Polly, though Bourbon's bright color (as well as Vodka's cream) may indicate ErEr.
If Vodka is a true white, she might be Ww with a W gene coming from Polly (Slade is ww). But with a cream color coming in, and the brother looking apricot, I'm leaning towards calling both of them Awhta (Awht from mom, a from Slade). Update - BUT mom has grey markings, so cannot be Awhta (or W-). That leaves only ErEr as the explanation for apricot and cream. Polly must be EEr. White means her white color (and Vodka's) is probably due to a dominant white 'spotting' gene heavy on the white.
All the siblings and half-siblings so far have frosted ears -- so thinking Vodka is probably hiding that gene too.
Neither kid is polled. Because they already look to be developing very heavy angora-type wool, we opted to keep them both horned. Bourbon has been kept intact. We may keep him to breed to his half-sister (below) or sell to another breeder.
And a third set of twins from the blue-eyed doe -- both blue-eyed chocolate with white markings. Both have white polls and frosted ears. The buckling has a white mark (partial belt) on his side. His sister (a keeper! - Ellie) has a lighter face. These two started slightly lighter than the half-sib above, but are now almost exactly the same color except lighter/brighter faces - a really close match to Slade's face.
Best guess - ED_ and/or aa (eumelanin) Bl_ (light chocolate) Bb (heterozygous for blue eyes) St_ (star) Fr_ (frosted).
Both disbudded and the boy wethered. Sale pending on the wether. Ellie is staying.
Best guess - ED_ and/or aa (eumelanin) Bl_ (light chocolate) Bb (heterozygous for blue eyes) St_ (star) Fr_ (frosted).
Both disbudded and the boy wethered. Sale pending on the wether. Ellie is staying.
Dolly and Dee
Dolly and Dolly's Ditto (aka Dee) also belong to Allison. Dolly is a beautiful chamoisee alpine out of registered lines (all chamoisee) and Dee is her kid (born spring 2011). Dolly has a tan belly but no tan face stripes. Dee looks just like her mom except that she DOES have tan face stripes.
1) Neither Dolly nor Dee have white markings and their lines have not thrown white markings. I assume no white-pattern genes are present.
2) Dolly and Dee show a colored pattern, so none of the alternative E alleles are likely in play. Assume E+E+
3) Eumelanin markings are very clear black. Assume B+B+
4) Somewhat surprisingly, Dolly and Dee are not a perfect fit to any of the pattern genes. Blackbelly (Ab) is closest and the most common gene in chamoisee alpines, but there must be second gene in place shifting their bellies to tan phaeomelanin. There are several candidates, but the one least likely to add other phaeomelanin markings to Dolly's head is the black and tan (At). Since Dee does have the markings, her second gene (from her father) could be something like eyebar or SanClemente. San Clemente is noted to be a 'variable' pattern, so it is possible they are straight San Clemente. It has also been suggested that they may be bezoar (A+) as that is the most common light-bellied chamoisee, but their necks strike me as too dark for that.
1) Neither Dolly nor Dee have white markings and their lines have not thrown white markings. I assume no white-pattern genes are present.
2) Dolly and Dee show a colored pattern, so none of the alternative E alleles are likely in play. Assume E+E+
3) Eumelanin markings are very clear black. Assume B+B+
4) Somewhat surprisingly, Dolly and Dee are not a perfect fit to any of the pattern genes. Blackbelly (Ab) is closest and the most common gene in chamoisee alpines, but there must be second gene in place shifting their bellies to tan phaeomelanin. There are several candidates, but the one least likely to add other phaeomelanin markings to Dolly's head is the black and tan (At). Since Dee does have the markings, her second gene (from her father) could be something like eyebar or SanClemente. San Clemente is noted to be a 'variable' pattern, so it is possible they are straight San Clemente. It has also been suggested that they may be bezoar (A+) as that is the most common light-bellied chamoisee, but their necks strike me as too dark for that.
Dolly and Dee x Slade
Allison intended to breed Dolly and Dee to an Oberhasli buck that we borrowed. Unfortunately, after he left they both went back into heat. With only Slade on hand, they were bred to Slade. Al-gora babies should be interesting!
1) None of the three have any of the dominant white genes and it is highly unlikely that either pair have the same recessives. So I'm betting on no white on any of the kids.
2) As Dolly and Dee are extremely unlikely to carry recessive red (Er) that just gets passed from Slade to the kids and stay in hiding.
3) If Slade is BlBl, then the eumelanin markings on all the kids (BlB+) fade to pale chocolate. If he is bb, then those genes split and hide beneath the B+ - leaving the markings black. If he is a carrier (BlB+ or Blb) the kids split half chocolate, half black.
4) Dolly and Dee have tan phaeomelanin, while Slade is likely higher rufus. Expect the kids to be a bit more red than the moms.
5) Slade's aa pattern gene should split -- and be covered by the pattern genes carried by Dolly and Dee. With a little luck, each kid should perfectly fit one of the patterns - revealing the genes hiding in Dolly and Dee. My bet is on half blackbelly (Ab) - this time complete with the eumelanin bellies. The other half will be interesting to see which gene(s) gave their moms the lighter belly color.
Putting it together - my bet for most common kid is a chamoisee pattern with pale chocolate markings (including bellies) against a redder base color. Next most common will to be reveal an alternate black-tan pattern such as black and tan, eyebar or san clemente.
1) None of the three have any of the dominant white genes and it is highly unlikely that either pair have the same recessives. So I'm betting on no white on any of the kids.
2) As Dolly and Dee are extremely unlikely to carry recessive red (Er) that just gets passed from Slade to the kids and stay in hiding.
3) If Slade is BlBl, then the eumelanin markings on all the kids (BlB+) fade to pale chocolate. If he is bb, then those genes split and hide beneath the B+ - leaving the markings black. If he is a carrier (BlB+ or Blb) the kids split half chocolate, half black.
4) Dolly and Dee have tan phaeomelanin, while Slade is likely higher rufus. Expect the kids to be a bit more red than the moms.
5) Slade's aa pattern gene should split -- and be covered by the pattern genes carried by Dolly and Dee. With a little luck, each kid should perfectly fit one of the patterns - revealing the genes hiding in Dolly and Dee. My bet is on half blackbelly (Ab) - this time complete with the eumelanin bellies. The other half will be interesting to see which gene(s) gave their moms the lighter belly color.
Putting it together - my bet for most common kid is a chamoisee pattern with pale chocolate markings (including bellies) against a redder base color. Next most common will to be reveal an alternate black-tan pattern such as black and tan, eyebar or san clemente.
Dee's doeling (born 5/27) looks exactly like her except for a white spot on top of her head. ... named this one Mischief. Less than 24 hours old, she was escaping the kidding stall - which led to Dee calling and calling (which little Mischief just ignores).
Note the white star means Slade must have that dominant gene and be hiding a white spot on his pale chocolate head!
So far, our F1 angora crosses are looking to have regular short hair. Losing this dice roll.
Note the white star means Slade must have that dominant gene and be hiding a white spot on his pale chocolate head!
So far, our F1 angora crosses are looking to have regular short hair. Losing this dice roll.
Dolly made us wait...and wait...and wait. June 15 - twin bucklings. Finally won the dice roll on fur -- these are both fuzzy kids!
One solid black (no frosting, no white poll!)
solid black = aa or ED_. This kid has me seriously leaning towards the explanation of Slade as EDEr. The only way he could be aa is if Dolly is hiding an a. That just doesn't seem likely!
One solid black (no frosting, no white poll!)
solid black = aa or ED_. This kid has me seriously leaning towards the explanation of Slade as EDEr. The only way he could be aa is if Dolly is hiding an a. That just doesn't seem likely!
and one cream!
This one throws me. I did not expect cream. IF this is the usual pheomelanin cream with an Awht_ genotype, then Slade would have to be the source of the Awht (Dolly's chamoisee can't hide it). The only way Slade could hide Awht is if he is EDErAwhta (dominant ED overrides the A-genes altogether). Not impossible, but it would greatly increase the odds of white siblings, which doesn't seem to be happening!
So this baby is NOT the 'usual' phaeomelanin cream genotype Awhta.
The cream seen on this kid is likely the same genetic cream found in Slade's ancestry (see pedigree above). This cream acts as a recessive. I know of three options for producing a recessive cream...
1) a pale version of the phaeomelanin-based recessive red (ErEr). The Er allele is rare outside of angoras and Dolly is a purebred (registered) alpine - so that seems unlikely even though we believe Slade is carrying the Er allele.
2) a very pale version of the eumelanin-based light chocolate (aaBl-). We know Slade has a Bl allele which would be dominant over the black allele(s) that Dolly has. So this is possible. But it would mean that Dolly has whatever recessive modifier causes the cream to go substantially lighter than the light chocolate of Slade's coat.
3) a very pale version of the eumelanin-based recessive red (bb). Except b also is supposed to be rare outside angoras and boers.
Bottom line -- none of the three alternative explanations seem all that likely to be a gene hiding in an alpine. Yet there he is!
and a friend gave me a fourth -- (4) a silvering modifier (si) common to both angoras (as with the taupe/silver-browns in Slade's pedigree) and alpines (silver bezoar) which shifts chocolate to cream. Another wrinkle, but the most likely explanation.
Interesting note - each of the creams in Slade's pedigree produced a copper-red kid. This would imply that all the creams are carriers for either Er (likely) or b.
This one throws me. I did not expect cream. IF this is the usual pheomelanin cream with an Awht_ genotype, then Slade would have to be the source of the Awht (Dolly's chamoisee can't hide it). The only way Slade could hide Awht is if he is EDErAwhta (dominant ED overrides the A-genes altogether). Not impossible, but it would greatly increase the odds of white siblings, which doesn't seem to be happening!
So this baby is NOT the 'usual' phaeomelanin cream genotype Awhta.
The cream seen on this kid is likely the same genetic cream found in Slade's ancestry (see pedigree above). This cream acts as a recessive. I know of three options for producing a recessive cream...
1) a pale version of the phaeomelanin-based recessive red (ErEr). The Er allele is rare outside of angoras and Dolly is a purebred (registered) alpine - so that seems unlikely even though we believe Slade is carrying the Er allele.
2) a very pale version of the eumelanin-based light chocolate (aaBl-). We know Slade has a Bl allele which would be dominant over the black allele(s) that Dolly has. So this is possible. But it would mean that Dolly has whatever recessive modifier causes the cream to go substantially lighter than the light chocolate of Slade's coat.
3) a very pale version of the eumelanin-based recessive red (bb). Except b also is supposed to be rare outside angoras and boers.
Bottom line -- none of the three alternative explanations seem all that likely to be a gene hiding in an alpine. Yet there he is!
and a friend gave me a fourth -- (4) a silvering modifier (si) common to both angoras (as with the taupe/silver-browns in Slade's pedigree) and alpines (silver bezoar) which shifts chocolate to cream. Another wrinkle, but the most likely explanation.
Interesting note - each of the creams in Slade's pedigree produced a copper-red kid. This would imply that all the creams are carriers for either Er (likely) or b.
Milkdud
Milkdud is an alpine boer cross. She was supposed to be Allison's market goat - but she has too much personality and we couldn't part with her. She has both black and tan on her face and some color on her legs.
1) The dominant Schwartzhal gene common in Boers is likely restricting her color to her head and legs.
2) Milkdud could very easily be hiding other white markings - both dominant and recessive. Several are quite common in both her parent breeds.
3) alternate E genes are rare in both alpines and boers - so assume Milkdud is E+E+
4) Milkdud has definite black markings, so has at least one B+ gene. chocolate, including liver (bb) is not particularly rare in the boers, so it is not impossible that she is B+b.
5) Milkdud's phaeomelanin color is variable. In the summer she looks visibly red in some markings, but in the winter the phaeomelanin color almost disappears to a pale tan.
5) Milkdud has so little color that is impossible to guess at her color from her markings - other than that it has both eumelanin and phaeomelanin expressed in the face. So I will make a guess based on the gene pool. One gene should be from her boer parent. The most common pattern gene in boers is dominant red - Awht which gives the red-headed boers -- we know Milkdud does NOT have this gene because it would eliminate all black markings. The next most common pattern gene in boers is actually the opposite extreme -- black-headed boers (and the rarer chocolates too) are aa. That means the phaeomelanin in Milkdud's face must come from her alpine ancestor. Ab is among the most common, so I will use that for my guess. Most likely genotype then, is Aba.
1) The dominant Schwartzhal gene common in Boers is likely restricting her color to her head and legs.
2) Milkdud could very easily be hiding other white markings - both dominant and recessive. Several are quite common in both her parent breeds.
3) alternate E genes are rare in both alpines and boers - so assume Milkdud is E+E+
4) Milkdud has definite black markings, so has at least one B+ gene. chocolate, including liver (bb) is not particularly rare in the boers, so it is not impossible that she is B+b.
5) Milkdud's phaeomelanin color is variable. In the summer she looks visibly red in some markings, but in the winter the phaeomelanin color almost disappears to a pale tan.
5) Milkdud has so little color that is impossible to guess at her color from her markings - other than that it has both eumelanin and phaeomelanin expressed in the face. So I will make a guess based on the gene pool. One gene should be from her boer parent. The most common pattern gene in boers is dominant red - Awht which gives the red-headed boers -- we know Milkdud does NOT have this gene because it would eliminate all black markings. The next most common pattern gene in boers is actually the opposite extreme -- black-headed boers (and the rarer chocolates too) are aa. That means the phaeomelanin in Milkdud's face must come from her alpine ancestor. Ab is among the most common, so I will use that for my guess. Most likely genotype then, is Aba.
Milkdud x Slade
Milkdud didn't take with the borrowed Oberhasli either, so she is also bred to Slade.
1) Milkdud will pass the dominant Schwartzhal gene to half her kids. Any other dominant white genes she is hiding will also pass to half the kids. Also possible that she and Slade have some recessive white genes in common. Which is to say, expect most of the kids to have a lot of white in their coats -- half of them as much as Milkdud.
2) Expect half the kids to be aa and half to match Milkdud's pattern gene. That is, if she's Aba, the kids will be half aa and half Aba.
3) IF Slade is BlBl, then the kids are light chocolate eumelanin. If Slade is bb, and IF Milkdud is B+b, then half the kids are liver red eumelanin and the other half black. That's two big ifs. Otherwise, the Kids have black eumelanin.
4) Slade is high rufus, but Milkdud is variable. I'd expect medium to light phaeomelanin colors in apricot-tan range.
5) half the kids continue to carry Slade's recessive red (E+Er)
Putting it together - most likely kid is pale chocolate and white -- ranging from white with just a pale chocolate head and stockings to full pale chocolate. Next most likely is similar to Milkdud with a bit brighter red - ranging up to more color. lots of possible but not likely combinations -- including full liver red, light chocolate, virtually any black/tan pattern, and everything in between.
Still nothing from Milkdud. She's big, but not HUGE. Possible she isn't bred, but simply shifted body type from her dairy heritage to her boer heritage. Either that or she is just waiting for fair!
1) Milkdud will pass the dominant Schwartzhal gene to half her kids. Any other dominant white genes she is hiding will also pass to half the kids. Also possible that she and Slade have some recessive white genes in common. Which is to say, expect most of the kids to have a lot of white in their coats -- half of them as much as Milkdud.
2) Expect half the kids to be aa and half to match Milkdud's pattern gene. That is, if she's Aba, the kids will be half aa and half Aba.
3) IF Slade is BlBl, then the kids are light chocolate eumelanin. If Slade is bb, and IF Milkdud is B+b, then half the kids are liver red eumelanin and the other half black. That's two big ifs. Otherwise, the Kids have black eumelanin.
4) Slade is high rufus, but Milkdud is variable. I'd expect medium to light phaeomelanin colors in apricot-tan range.
5) half the kids continue to carry Slade's recessive red (E+Er)
Putting it together - most likely kid is pale chocolate and white -- ranging from white with just a pale chocolate head and stockings to full pale chocolate. Next most likely is similar to Milkdud with a bit brighter red - ranging up to more color. lots of possible but not likely combinations -- including full liver red, light chocolate, virtually any black/tan pattern, and everything in between.
Still nothing from Milkdud. She's big, but not HUGE. Possible she isn't bred, but simply shifted body type from her dairy heritage to her boer heritage. Either that or she is just waiting for fair!
Calvin x Sparkle
Calvin was a very ambitious little alpine buckling. We left him in with the does a little too long thinking he 'wasn't old enough' (he was still smaller than Sparkle!). He was a gorgeous little cou clair pattern (silvery with black pants). Their daughter, Ginger, is a gorgeous little chamoisee minialpine with frosted ears and a little white spot on top of her head (born April 2016). Calvin couldn't have given the A+ gene to give this pattern (it would be dominant over his cou clair pattern) so this confirms Sparkle as AbAg (badgerface carrying light grey - all hidden under ticked dalmatian).
Ginger all grown up...
Ginger x ?
Ginger was a total escape artist ... always out in the yard. Alli's mini-lamancha buckling was also an escape artist. One day they both escaped at the same time ... 5 months later -
Daddy is the boy in the middle ... all white, so I was predicting a white kid (wrong!)
So where did all that black and red come from? Here is Daddy's mother, Ruby (full LaMancha) ...
Ruby is a black tan (at) pattern with the 'tan' color replaced with white (palest phaeomelanin - extreme low rufus). So her son must have been Awht at with the Awht coming from his Nigerian father, but hiding Ruby's tan pattern which he passed to his son. He might also be hiding the genes for high rufus from that father, but that may also be coming from Ginger and Sparkle (Calvin was also pale). So baby has at as his dominant A-gene...he must have something recessive to that hiding from his mother ... Ginger is Ab_, her mother Sparkle is AbAg, her father Calvin Apk_ ... so the mystery recessive gene (most likely a) must have been hiding in Calvin. ... New baby boy is also E+, B_ (black) and high rufus. He is frosted (white on ears, nose and tail tip) - though this might fade like his mother's did, with a white star (dominant St), and a few scattered white spots on his left side (remnant belt or S hiding from the Nigerian on his father's side).
With my 'goat girl' graduating High school, we chose to sell out of goats in 2017.