MC1R (Extension) - Red/Black

Quick Summary

The Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R) gene (also called Extension) controls the production of black and red pigments in the coats of domestic cattle, creating base colors that may then be further modified by other genes.

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Phenotype: Cattle with the dominant black allele are jet black (solid or spotted); wild type cattle have reddish brown to brownish black base coloration with a tan muzzle ring; cattle with two copies of the recessive red allele have a red base coloration.

Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive, order of dominance is ED > E+ > e

Alleles: ED = Dominant black, E+ = Wild type, e = Recessive red

Breeds appropriate for testing: Many breeds (excluding Holsteins—see separate Holstein-specific MC1R test)

Explanation of Results:

  • Cattle with ED/ED genotype will have a jet black base color and cannot produce red offspring. They will transmit this dominant black variant to all of their offspring.
  • Cattle with ED/E+ genotype will have a jet black base color and are carriers of the wild type variant. They will transmit this wild type variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two wild type carriers result in a 25% chance of producing a calf with wild type base coloration.
  • Cattle with ED/e genotype will have a jet black base color and are carriers of the recessive red variant. They will transmit this recessive red variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two recessive red carriers result in a 25% chance of producing a calf with recessive red base coloration.
  • Cattle with E+/E+ genotype will have wild type base coloration (reddish brown to brownish black base coloration). They will transmit this wild type variant to all of their offspring.
  • Cattle with E+/e genotype will have wild type base coloration (reddish brown to brownish black base coloration) and are carriers of the recessive red variant. They will transmit this recessive red variant to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two recessive red carriers result in a 25% chance of producing a calf with recessive red base coloration.
  • Cattle with e/e genotype will have red base coloration. They will transmit this recessive red variant to all of their offspring. All calves produced from matings with other e/e genotype cattle will have recessive red base coloration.

Note: Overall appearance of the cattle's coat also depends on expression of and complex interactions with other genes (for example, genes that add white spotting, genes that affect pigment distribution, and genes that dilute pigments).

Turnaround Time
At least 15 business days; may be delayed beyond 15 business days if sample requires additional testing, or a new sample is requested.
Price

$30 one test per animal

Also available as part of the following Dexter breed-specific packages:

$40 this test + one test from list below
$50 this test + two tests from list below
$60 this test + all tests from list below

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Sample Collection

Most of the cattle DNA tests offered by the VGL are carried out using cells from the roots of a hair sample (roughly 20-30 hairs).

Hair samples should be taken from the switch of the tail, the poll, or the neck.

Cattle sampling examples
Sampling from the tail switch (left); Sampling from the poll (right)

1.  Clean (use comb if possible) tail switch, poll, or neck by removing all loose hair and foreign matter.

2.  Use fingers or pliers to grasp approximately 8-10 hairs close to the skin and pull. Pull (do NOT cut) hair strands. Examine the end of hair strands for presence of root bulbs. Hair roots are necessary for DNA testing. If the majority of hair strands lack the root bulbs, discard hair and start again.

3.  Repeat until you have approximately 20-30 hairs with root follicles attached.

4.  Place the 20-30 hairs with root follicles attached in the envelope and seal with the animal’s ID written on the envelope. If hairs are long they can be taped to the submission form. Do not tape the roots. 

Cattle hair in envelope

hairs with roots showing

5.  Repeat steps 1-4 for each additional animal being sampled.

 
Note:

-  Hair should be dry.

-  If hair has excess dirt and debris, please brush out if possible before pulling hairs for sample.

-  Do not cut the hair! The roots contain the DNA for testing.

-  When sampling several animals in the same session, make sure that there are no hair strands in your hands to reduce the possibility of sample contamination. Clean hands and/or pliers if possible.

Additional Details

Several genes are involved in the process of creating the complex coat colors and patterns found in domestic cattle. One of these is the Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R) gene, also called Extension, that controls the production of black (eumelanin) and red (phaeomelanin) pigments. The three alleles (forms or variants) of this gene are dominant black (ED), Wild type (E+), and recessive red (e).

Dominant black (ED) is dominant to the other two alleles, and animals with this allele are jet black (solid or spotted). The Wild type (E+) produces cattle with reddish brown to brownish black coloration with a tan muzzle ring. Two copies of the recessive red (e) allele will result in red color. Other coat color genes act as modifiers of these base colors, adding white spotting patterns, reorganizing the distribution of red and black pigments (Brindle and Agouti), or diluting the pigments (Dun, Charolais dilution, and Simmental diution).

 

Note: In Holsteins, there are two other variants that can mask the effects of the other MC1R (Extension) alleles. These are known as 'Black/Red' (red color changes to black) and 'Variant Red' (dominant red color). This test for MC1R does not detect these alleles. If you wish to test a Holstein, please see this breed-specific test.
Type of Sample
20-30 Hairs With Roots

Species

Cattle

Breed

Afrikaner American Lineback American Milking Devon Angus Angus, Lowline Angus, Midline Ankole-Watusi Aubrac Ayrshire Ayrshire Cross Balancer Beefmaster Belgian Blue Belted Galloway Bison Black Hereford Black Maximizer Blonde d'Aquitaine Brahman Brangus Braunvieh British White Brown Swiss Brown Swiss Cross BueLingo Canadienne Canadienne Cross Charolais Charolais Cross Chianina Chianina Cross Corriente Crossbred Dahomey Dexter Dexter Cross Dutch Belted Cattle Dutch Belted Cross Fleckvieh Galloway Gascon Gelbvieh Gir Guernsey Guernsey Cross Hereford Highland Holstein Holstein Cross Jersey Jersey Cross Kerry Kerry Cross Limousin Longhorn Maine-Anjou Marchigiana Milking Devon Cross Milking Shorthorn Milking Shorthorn Cross Mini Hereford Mini-Mid Jerseys Miniature Highland Miniature Highland/ White Park Cross Miniature Jersey Miniature Zebu Montbeliarde Murray Grey Normande Norwegian Red Norwegian Red Cross Piedmontese Pinzgauer Poll Highland Polled Hereford Randall Lineback Red & White Red Angus Red Poll Romagnola Romagnola Cross Salers Saltillo Scottish Highland Shorthorn Simbrah Simmental Suiz Bu Wagyu White Park
+ View All Breeds
Type of Test
Coat Color and/or Type
Results Reported As
Test Result MC1R (Extension)
ED/ED Dominant black. This animal cannot produce red offspring.
ED/E+ Dominant black. Carrier of wild type.
ED/e Dominant black. Carrier of recessive red.
E+/E+ Wild type.
E+/e Wild type. Carrier of recessive red.
e/e Recessive red. When bred to another 'e/e' will produce only red offspring.
References

Klungland, H., Vage, D.I., Gomez-Raya, L., Adalsteinsson, S., Lien, S. (1995). The role of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) receptor in bovine coat color determination. Mammalian Genome, 6(9), 636-639. doi: 10.1007/BF00352371

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