Understanding Highland Colors & DNA Results
Share
How it began
All highlands originated as either black or red.
Over time, these colors have become *diluted*. The result of this dilution is two distinct color charts… one is the result of varying dilutions of black and the other is variations of dilutions of red.
They look like this :
Black > Dun > Silver
Or
Red > Yellow > White
Results are always in pairs
All highland colors are described with a dual gene set (parent A / parent B) as every animal inherits a color gene from each parent.
Understanding “Dilution” DNA results
No Dilution
Black = N/N
Red = N/N
Partial Dilution
Dun = Dh/N
Yellow = Dh/N
Complete Dilution
Silver = Dh/Dh
White = Dh/Dh
You’ll notice that the dilution groups look identical, not because of their color but rather because of the amount of dilution.
MC1R Test and Color influence
There are separate genes that influence the actual color and those are called Alleles. When you submit DNA for color testing, you’ll want test Dilution AND MC1R to get a true understanding of your cows color alleles as well.
There are three primary Highland color Alleles.
ED = black influence
e = red influence
E+ = wild type which is something of a brownish red to brownish black color influence depending on the animal’s dominate base color.
Alleles are also donated from each parent so there are two results (parent A / parent B) for every MC1R test completed.
ED/ED = very dominate black concentration
e/e = very red
E+/E+ = may create a highlighted effect to the tips of the base color or a modeling / striping effect referred to as brindle.
A Black MC1R Test Result is always dominant
These alleles can be mixed and matched depending on the parents influence but ED or black is always dominate.
ED/ED = black
ED/e = black
ED/E+ = black with highlights or brindle pattern
This doesn’t mean that the cow being tested is black, it just means that whatever amount of dilution it is, it will be on the black color spectrum … so black, dun or silver.
Red MC1R test result
e/e = red
e/E+ = red with highlights or brindle pattern.
Wild Type MC1R test result
E+/E+ isn’t directly linked to the color spectrum on its own. It’s influenced by the dominate parents base color. It may create that brindle effect on whatever the animals color is or it may just present as a highlighted effect ranging from gold to ashy dun.
Putting it all together
N/N ED/ED = Black
I have a DNA color test result of N/N ED/ED I know that this a truly black cow. There is no dilution (N/N) and both alleles are black (ED/ED).
N/N ED/e = Black
“N” means no dilution and we know that “ED” (black) is the dominate color influence and not “e” (red).
N/N e/e = Red
This is a red cow because there is no dilution (N/N) and only red influence (e/e).
N/N E+/E+ = Black or Red with highlights or brindle pattern.
The color in this case would need to be observed to know if it’s a black or red cow.
Dh/N ED/ED = Dun
The “Dh” result means that parent A donated a dilution gene and parent B did not (N). The ED/ED means that the partially diluted color (Dh/N) was heavily influence by black (ED) alleles passed on by both parents (ED/ED).
Dh/N e/e = Yellow
One dilution (Dh) with only red influence (e), and donated by each parent (e/e) equals yellow.
Dh/N E+/E+ = Dun or Yellow
Possibly brindle marked or highlighted tips.
Dh/Dh ED/ED = Silver
Both parents passed on a dilution gene (Dh/Dh) and both also passed on black alleles (ED/ED).
Dh/Dh e/e = White
Both parents passed on a dilution gene (Dh/Dh) and both also passed on red alleles (e/e).
Dh/Dh E+/E+ = Silver or White
Both parents passed on a dilution gene (Dh/Dh) and both also passed on a wild type allele (E+/E+). As this calf is fully dilute (absent of color), it may not show the typical brindle pattern or highlighted tips you’d see in a double wild type of black, red, dun or yellow.
Silver calves are usually born a very light silver color so you may notice white markings on these calves at birth, but within a few weeks the calf’s color will lighten dramatically and those marking will become faint to unnoticeable. If the calf’s color is a darker or creamier white, the same may be true.
A couple exceptions
There are other common exceptions to DNA color results when crossing highlands with other breeds.
The white park / highland cross (Highpark)
The white park have a dominate color expression that resembles that of a white coat that blankets the cow. Sometimes the highpark cross will have little more than highland color tipped ears and hoof rings, sometimes they’ll be more “over-marked” and you’ll see their highland color speckled throughout other areas of their bodies. It can be difficult to tell visually what the base highland color is on a white or silver highpark after the first couple of weeks. The cows look solid white. Usually, the nose and hoof color will be your best visual indication with these colors. The highparks DNA results will look the same as their solid highland counterpart though so this will be best method to verify color.
The Galloway / Highland cross (HighWay)
This cross can result in a white band around the center of the cow but the rest of its color is still highland, as is their DNA results.
Why DNA color testing is valuable
If you know this information for all of your breeding stock, you can make informed projections about the color outcomes of your calves. While it’s rarely 100% accurate, and various outcomes are possible, it’s a pretty good indicator to help you plan.
Learn more about submitting DNA for testing
https://montanaminicattle.com/blogs/cow-talk/dna-testing