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Genetic Variations in Hemoglobins of Beef Cattle^1,2,

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station,⁴ Belle Glade

Abstract

Blood samples were collected from 939 cattle and subjected to analysis by paper electrophoresis. The samples represented 322 cows, 19 bulls, 588 weanling calves, 10 calves 13–38 days of age and included Angus, Hereford, Brahman, Hereford x Angus, Brahman x Angus, Brahman x Hereford, Santa Gertrudis and Santa Gertrudis x Red Poll cattle. All but six samples from the 929 older cattle exhibited one of three distinct types of adult hemoglobin previously reported; type A, indicated by a slow moving band on the filter paper; type B indicated by a relatively faster moving band; or type AB, indicated by the presence of both type A and B. A fourth type of adult hemoglobin, not previously reported, was observed in six samples. This type was characterized by the presence of a band corresponding to type A and another band migrating to a distance between types A and B. It was designated as type AC.

Distribution of the hemoglobin types indicates a breed difference. The British breed groups (Angus, Hereford and Hereford x Angus) exhibited only type A, with the exception of six grade Herefords showing type AB. The Brahman or Brahman crossbreds exhibited type A, B, AB or the fourth type AC. No gross phenotypic differences could be observed between animals having different hemoglobin types within breed groups. A multiple allele theory of inheritance is proposed with the types being controlled by the genes Hb^A, Hb^B, Hb^C.

An analysis of the records of 239 cows showed no significant differences in average daily gain of the offspring of dams of different hemoglobin types.

¹ Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 1432

² These data were taken from a dissertation presented by the senior author to the Graduate Council, University of Florida, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

³ Present address: Animal Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

⁴ The authors gratefully acknowledge W. C. Burns, Animal Husbandman in Charge, West Central Florida Station, Brooksville and M. E. Hammond, W. H. Stuart Ranch, Bartow, for their cooperation in this study.