Phenotypes

By comparing whole-genome sequence of a small number of Holsteins having the trait, with sequence data from hundreds of control animals, Capitan et al. (2014) confirmed the mapping results of Lawlor et al. (2014) and identified the causal mutation as a de novo variant BTA3 g.C9479761T, which corresponds to a missense mutation p.R160C in the COPA gene that encodes coatomer protein complex, subunit alpha. By whole-genome sequencing of a Dominant...

Philipp et al. (2011) reported a "dominantly inherited syndrome associated with hypopigmentation, heterochromia irides, colobomatous eyes and bilateral hearing loss . . . in Fleckvieh cattle"

For information relating to Bos indicus cattle see: OMIA 001199-9915 : Coat colour, extension in Bos indicus

By cloning and sequencing a very likely comparative positional candidate gene (see the Genetic mapping section above), Seitz et al. (1999) reported that a missense mutation at 654 bp (amino acid 193, Ala>Asp) in the mast cell growth factor (MGF) locus is responsible for the roan phenotype in Belgian Blue and Shorthorn cattle (Mohammad Shariflou. The MGF gene is now called KITLG (10/11/2006; FN 15/9/2012)

See also: OMIA:001737-9913 : Coat colour, white spotting, KIT-related in Bos taurus (taurine cattle)

See also OMIA:002280-9913 : Coat colour, albinism, generic in Bos taurus (taurine cattle). Some refrences for albinism in cattle that have not been confirmed to be due to TYR variants have been moved to the generic entry [09/09/2025].

Complex vertebral malformation is an inherited syndrome in Holstein-Friesian cattle. CVM has been reported in aborted, premature born, stillborn and neonatal calves. Affected calves have a reduced weight, a misshapen backbone and tendon contractions in the legs. Several other malformations including heart malformations are associated with this syndrome. A DNA test is available in Denmark and the Netherlands. [Imke Tammen: 26 Jan 2002] From a s...

In the words of Charlier et al. (2008), "All calves with CMD have episodes of generalized muscle contractures, but careful clinical examination suggested two distinct phenotypes (CMD1 and CMD2)." 

Reith et al. (2024): "Whole-genome sequencing was performed on the [Angus] sire, six affected and seven unaffectedpaternal half-sibling calves and combined with data from 135 unrelated controls. The sire and five of the six affected calves were heterozygous for a nonsense variant (Chr7 g.12367906C>T, c.5073C>T, p.Arg1681*) in CACNA1A. The other affected calves (N = 8) were heterozygous for the variant but it was absent in the other unaff...

Excluding variants found in breeds that do not show this trait, Daetwyler et al. (2014) narrowed the field down to "a missense mutation in KRT27 (c.276C>G; p.Asn92Lys; g.41636961C>G on BTA19; ss699911276)". Strong supporting evidence of the causality of this mutation was found by studying its presence in numerous bulls of the Montbeliarde breed (in which the trait occurs, and which, like Fleckvieh, derives from the Simmental breed) compa...

This disorder is of particular interest in cattle, because it is one of the few cases in which an embryonic lethal has been identified. (By their very nature, embryonic lethals are difficult to identify; their only manifestation is a return to service.) To date, the only known cause of this disorder in cattle is a nonsense mutation in codon 405 of the UMPS gene, resulting in a complete deficiency of functional UMPS (Schwenger et al., 1993). Si...

Much useful information on this disorder, including a video, is available from http://www.angus.org/pub/DD/DDInfo.aspx

By whole-genome sequencing of a trio of affected offspring, sire and dam, Jacinto et al. (2022) "identified two heterozygous private protein-changing variants present exclusively in the genome of the affected calf and absent in both parental genomes as well as in 5365 controls . . . . Only one of these variants was in a putative candidate gene for the observed phenotype. This heterozygous variant at chr10:84751870G>A (NM_001101951.1: c.416C...

Jacinto et al. (2025) investigated a Holstein calf with primordial disproportionate dwarfism and craniofacial dysmorphism using a whole genome sequencing approach: "A heterozygous pathogenic missense variant in exon 12 of PDGFRA [Chr6:g.69749162 T > C; c.1685 T > C; p.Ile562Thr; omia.variant:1841], which replaces residue 562, was found and might be due to a spontaneous de novo mutation. However, due to the lack of parental DNA, we could ...

Jacinto et al (2025) investigated two half-sib Angus calves with chondrodysplasia leading to primordial disproportionate dwarfism in a whole genome sequencing approach: "Assuming a dominant MOI [mode of inheritance], a heterozygous pathogenic missense variant was found in exon 6 of PRDM10 leading to an amino acid exchange in PRDM10 at position 289, located in the PR-SET domain (Chr29:g.36138136G > A; c.866C > T; p.Pro289Leu) [omia.varian...