Breeding Away from Inherited Diseases

…where DNA tests have been developed for Simple Recessive Diseases Karen Hedberg BVSc  2006 Of the 400 odd diseases in the dog that are inherited or have significant inherited components, more than half are believed to be single gene defects, and around 70% of these, are inherited as in a simple autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Because so many of the canine genetic disease conditions are as a result of single gene defects, there is great hope that eventually there may be many DNA disease specific tests available to dog breeders. Similar diseases within related breeds often have...

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The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

History The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog has a unique place in Australia’s agricultural heritage. Bred during the 19th Century as a drover’s dog, traits of existing breeds such as the dingo and the Smithfield were selected and combined to produce a worker that could move untamed cattle across vast distances and rugged terrain. The evolution of the ASTCD began as early as the 1830s. It is thought that a drover named Timmins crossed the Dingo, with its high intelligence and hardy nature, with an English breed of dog called the Smithfield, one or both of which may have been...

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Best Breeding Practices

Best Breeding Practices for the Australian Stumpy Tailed Cattle Dog The recognised inherited diseases in the Stumpy at present include the following:- Deafness Hips and elbows Eyes – PRA (PRCD), Eyes – other conditions. Deafness– as a breed that is born white, deafness and our awareness of the problem must remain constant. It is recommended that BAER testing of all puppies between the ages of 6-8 weeks is done to sort out the hearing from the deaf puppies but more importantly the unilaterals.Unilaterals – it has been proven that breeding with unilaterals results in a much higher...

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Progressive Vision Loss

I have been involved in the ASTCD for more than 20 years, while maintaining a continuing interest in the health of both the ASTCD and ACD. I have always done annual eye certificate examinations through an ophthalmologist and in 1999 I started asking questions and researching prcd-PRA, the recognised genetic variant responsible for most cases of spontaneous vision loss in the ACD.  PRA is a progressive disease which causes total blindness, often in younger dogs.  Because I needed clear answers to assist with my own breeding choices in Stumpies (with a much smaller working gene pool), I began...

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Hips and Elbows