Breeding Camp for Licorice

Our sweet micro mini Highland bull – Licorice, has been off at “breeding camp” for the last month.  A very nice couple in Duvall owns two lovely mini highland ladies they wanted to breed.  We share a farm vet, and Dr. Dana put Darrel and Penny in contact with me earlier this summer.  We had a friendly conversation followed by a visit to their farm.  I wanted to see where Licorice would be living while he was breeding and meet their two heifers and the other animals on their farm. 

I was very impressed by the care they provide their animals and how well-bred their highland ladies Daisy and Ember were.  Licorice will certainly make nice calves with these two.  Because Licorice carries the BD1 gene (Chondrodysplasia positive), he cannot be bred to cows that also carry this gene.  I asked Darrel and Penny to have their girls tested prior to having Licorice join them.  Testing is very easy and is a simple DNA test done on hair that includes the follicle.  UC Davis Veterinary School performs the DNA tests and emails the results.  This gene is highly desirable in mini cattle as it keeps them small (bulls with this gene are 4-6” shorter than they would be without it), and Licorice has passed this gene on to both my calves from him.  If you breed two cows with the BD1 you get a calf that is not viable. 

We miss not having Licorice on the farm but he was quite happy when I visited him last weekend.  He will be home later in August, and his Black Horse Farm family will welcome him back with open arms.  Darrel and Penny are quite fond of our boy and said they did not want to ever give him back.  They have been so impressed by how friendly and docile our cows are.  I have shared with them the secret of bread and how much the cows love their afternoon snack. 

Licorice will be ready to breed back to Blossom and Maple when he gets home, and I’m sure he’s up for the job.