Miniature Texas Longhorn Registry Reclassification Information Instructions for applying for reclassification: 1. Submit a completed Miniature Reclassification Application for cattle that are at least 6 months old (exceptions to this rule can be made on a case by case basis). 2. Submit three clear current photos (taken within 2 weeks of the application) of the animal, either with the application or by sending the photos in an email to miniature@tlbaa.org (photos must be at least 1024 X 768 resolution) and need to be named according to the registration number of the animal being reclassified (e.g. C223323_front.jpg). Electronic submissions will expedite processing. If your email will not allow you to send large image attachments, you can use a wide variety of free file transfer options available on the Internet (e.g. www.transferbigfiles.com). One photo showing the side of the animal along with the profile of the head (the animal is looking forward and not at the camera) Photo Name: C223323_side.jpg TLBAA MTL Instructions Page 1 of 7 Published October 19, 2010
One photo showing the side of the animal with the animal looking at the camera (only applicable for animals 5 years old) Photo Name: C223323_side_facing.jpg One photo showing the front of the animal (e.g. the animal is directly facing the camera) Photo Name: C223323_front.jpg TLBAA MTL Instructions Page 2 of 7 Published October 19, 2010
3. Submit the original registration certificate of the animal A new miniature registration certificate will be created once the animal has been accepted into the miniature registry 4. Submit a payment of $15 to cover the cost of reclassification and generation of a new registration certificate. Review Process: 1. Once all of the application materials have been received, the photographs will be routed to a TLBAA appointed review panel who will review the photographs looking for the following: Obvious signs of dwarfism o Disproportionately short legs o Full sized head on a small body o Bulging eyes o Dished Forehead o Pinched Snout Genetic testing for dwarfism can be performed at the cost of around $50 per animal. Genetic test kits can be ordered from the TLBAA that include instructions. A hair sample pulled from the tip of the tail is required for these tests. Obvious signs of breed impurity o Presence of a hump over the loin region o Large downward pointing ears o Horn shape o Coloration that is uncommon in Texas Longhorns Genetic testing for breed purity can be performed at the cost of around $50 per animal. Genetic test kits can be ordered from the TLBAA that include instructions. A hair sample pulled from the tip of the tail is required for these tests. Horn size in relation to hip height (only applicable to animals 5 years of age) o Horns that curve sharply upward and have a Tip to Tip measurement of less than 1/4 the hip height will be rejected. o Horns that curve sharply upward and have a Total Horn Measurement of less than 1/2 the hip height will be rejected. If the animal passes the minimum requirement of either Tip to Tip or Total Horn Measurement, it will be accepted. TLBAA MTL Instructions Page 3 of 7 Published October 19, 2010
2. After the panel reviews the photographs, the TLBAA will either receive a notice to proceed with the processing of the application or additional information will be requested from the applicant (additional photos, measurements, letters from veterinarians and/or genetic testing) Animals found to possess dwarfism, breed impurity or horn to height ratios that are below the minimum standards (after positive verification) will be removed from the registry. The registry status of the offspring of cattle that have been removed from the registry will not be affected. Registration of calves born to miniature parents: 1. All calves born to at least one miniature parent must be entered into the miniature registry and cannot be entered into the standard registry. 2. If only one of the parents is in the miniature registry, a miniature application must be completed along with a registration application. The animal must be accepted by the TLBAA miniature review panel before the registration will be processed. 3. If both parents are in the miniature registry, a miniature application does not need to be submitted but a registration application must be submitted. There will be no review process for these animals. Registration of miniature cattle from another registry: Cattle registered with another Texas Longhorn registry (e.g. ITLA) must first be brought into the TLBAA Standard Texas Longhorn registry before an application may be submitted to re classify the animal into the TLBAA Miniature Texas Longhorn registry. TLBAA Members who select not to reclassify their Miniature Texas Longhorn cattle as Miniature Texas Longhorns within the TLBAA registry: 1. Cattle not registered within the TLBAA Miniature Texas Longhorn registry will not be eligible to compete in TLBAA sanctioned Miniature Texas Longhorn events. 2. Members cannot advertise animals that are not in the TLBAA Miniature Texas Longhorn Registry as being TLBAA registered Miniature Texas Longhorns. These animals may be advertised as TLBAA registered Texas Longhorns but the word Miniature may only be used on animals that have been accepted into the TLBAA Miniature Texas Longhorn registry. Miniature Breeding Stock: Cattle that are > 45 at the hip when they are 5 years of age will be considered Miniature Texas Longhorn Breeding Stock Miniature Texas Longhorn Breeding Stock is eligible for entry into all TLBAA sanctioned Miniature Texas Longhorn activities EXCEPT for Shows. o If Miniature Texas Longhorn Breeding Stock is entered into a TLBAA sanctioned show, they will be disqualified. TLBAA MTL Instructions Page 4 of 7 Published October 19, 2010
No separate registration certificate will be issued for Miniature Texas Longhorn Breeding Stock they will be issued a standard Miniature Texas Longhorn registration certificate and there will not be any separation within the TLBAA registry between Miniature Texas Longhorns and Miniature Texas Longhorn Breeding Stock. Miniature Texas Longhorn Breeding Stock should be advertised with the Breeding Stock designation. Registration Fees: Reclassification of an animal that is already registered within the standard registry is $15 regardless of age. Original registration of Miniature Texas Longhorn cattle will follow the TLBAA price schedule (varies by age) and there is no additional fee associated with Miniature designation or required review (no review if both the sire and dam are registered Miniature Texas Longhorns). Transferring a Miniature Texas Longhorn that is already in the Miniature Texas Longhorn registry into someone else s name will follow the standard TLBAA price schedule ($15 1 60 days / $25 61+ days). If a Miniature Texas Longhorn is in the standard registry and is sold to a new owner, the animal must first be transferred to the new owner ($15 1 60 days / $25 61+ days) and then the new owner may apply to reclassify the animal as a Miniature within the Miniature Texas Longhorn registry ($15). Changing a Miniature Texas Longhorn Bull to a Steer within the Miniature Texas Longhorn registry is $15 regardless of age. If a Miniature Texas Longhorn bull is in the standard registry and the owner wants to change it to a steer and move it into the Miniature Texas Longhorn registry: they must either first change it to a steer within the standard registry or reclassify it as a Miniature within the Miniature Texas Longhorn registry and then change the status from bull to steer. The cost for each action is $15, so the total fees paid will be $30. Request for Additional Information: Email miniature@tlbaa.org with questions regarding the new TLBAA Miniature Texas Longhorn registry. TLBAA MTL Instructions Page 5 of 7 Published October 19, 2010
Dwarfism How to Identify it and why it needs to be kept out of your herd Bovine dwarfism can be caused by either the in utero environment (nutrition, hormone imbalances or toxicity) or genetics (traits inherited from one or both of the parents). The only way to determine if the form of dwarfism is caused by a genetic defect is through DNA testing. Bulldog Dwarfism or Dexter Dwarfism Achondroplasia Heterozygote Homozygote Identification: Inheritance: Known Breeds: Affected Testing: Risk: Short legged, short headed, pinched in nose, blocky and heavily muscled appearance (heterozygote carriers) Incomplete dominant Dexter and Florida Cracker (one of the original Spanish breeds that is closely related to the Texas Longhorn) DNA testing is conducted using hair pulled from the tip of the tail If both the sire and the dam posses this form of dwarfism (heterozygotes) they will produce a homozygous bulldog calf, which is a fatal gene mutation. The fetus will be aborted at 6 8 months gestation. The aborted (bulldog) fetus will have a compressed skull, the nose will be divided by furrows and it will have a shortened upper jaw giving it a bulldog appearance. TLBAA MTL Instructions Page 6 of 7 Published October 19, 2010
Long Nosed Dwarfism Dolichocephalic Identification: Inheritance: Known Breeds: Affected Testing: Risk: Normal sized head on a small body. The calves appear normal at birth, the body will stop growing but the head will continue to grow. Simple recessive Angus and Hereford DNA testing is conducted using hair pulled from the tip of the tail. The affected individual will pass on the gene mutation. Long headed dwarfs appear to be healthy with normal fertility but the gene has been linked to cystic fibrosis and the affected individuals tend to make a gurgling sound in their chest. TLBAA MTL Instructions Page 7 of 7 Published October 19, 2010