Polled Goat Genetics

Our new doeling, "Tillie" is naturally polled.
She comes from a horned Registered Saanen Buck and a naturally polled mixed breed Doe (Boer, Nubian, Saanen). Her twin brother was horned and has been disbudded.

Polled Genetics in Goats

Taken From:
Polled Genetics | American Goat Society

Genetics for Polled vs. Horned

The dominant trait is for goats to be polled which is indicated here by the capital P for polled.  Horns are the result of two recessive genes which are indicated here by the lower case p for horned.  You would not be able to tell the difference in a polled animal that carries two dominant genes from one that carries one recessive gene for horned.  This explains how it is possible to breed two polled animals and have some offspring have horns.  This would indicate that both parents carry a recessive gene for horns.

PP: This animal is polled, and does not carry the gene for horns.
Pp: This animal would be polled, and carry a recessive gene for horns.
pp: This animal has horns.  An animal must carry two genes for horns to have horns.

Here are the various breeding scenarios with the resulting offspring:

Horned (pp) X Horned (pp) = 100%  horned (pp) offspring.
Polled (Pp) X Horned (pp) =  50% polled (Pp), 50% horned (pp) offspring.
Polled (Pp) X Polled (Pp) =  25% polled (PP), 50% polled (Pp), 25% horned (pp) offspring
Homozygous polled (PP) X Horned (pp) = All polled (Pp) offspring.
Homozygous polled (PP) X Homozygous Polled (PP) = All homozygous polled (PP) offspring.

We Have New Kids!

Born on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 6:30 and 6:40. The first born is a Doeling and she is naturally polled (no horns) like her Mother. The second born is a Buckling and we aren't sure yet about whether he will have horns or not. I really hope he doesn't because I hate disbudding, but we will have to wait and see.

Here are some pictures that I took of Hazel kidding, so if you are squeamish about this sort of thing turn back now or just close your eyes.

 Hazel needed a little help with the clean up process and Angel needed to make sure everything was alright and that anything that might draw in predators was cleaned up. She also needed some bonding time with her new charges.

The Doeling has erect ears like her Saanen Daddy.

The Buckling has floppy ears like Mom.