Observations on the incidence of ties in the Hereford.

Abstract

Observations on the Incidence of ' Ties ' in the Hereford BY J. A. SPRINGHALL* SUMMARY The incidence of ' ' in the Hereford and Poll Hereford is ties discussed. Cows and heifers showed a higher incidence of the defect than bulls. INTRODUCTION A characteristic of the Hereford breed is that a large number of its members have a depression along the backline which is referred to as a ' ' This condition is congenital Briggs (1949), and results tie . from the hide being attached by connective tissue to the spinoua processes of the thoracic, lumbar and sacral vertebrae. As the flesh accumulates around this attachment, a depression or hole results, Briggs (lot. cit.). The condition has also been described by Redding (1955), who has outlined a minor plastic operation for the correction of the condition. This communication describes a survey of this condition in Australian Hereford cattle. METHODS Herefords and Poll Herefords exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Society Show in Sydney were examined during three annual shows. The backlines of the animals were palpated, as the hair can conceal the condition. The number of ' ' or depressions occurring was ties recorded. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION From the figures in Table I, it would appear that ' ' are ties present in 15-19% of the 614 Herefords, and in 27-35% of the 337 Poll Herefords shown. The bulls, cows and heifers exhibited were from studs throughout New South Wales and on the borders of Queensland and Victoria. TABLE I (See page 134) As some studmasters will not show cattle with this condition, and as the condition can be corrected by minor plastic surgery, it is suggested that the condition is greater in incidence than Table I indicates. Females showed a consistently higher incidence in all classes, out of the 442 males and 138 females examined. The differences. were significant in two of the three years, except 1956 Herefords, and in this, the difference was approaching significance, P (0.1. The results of analysis are shown in Table II. TABLE II. Results of Statistical Analysis of Incidence of ' Ties' in Males and Females. Year Animal X2 P 1956 1956 1960 1960 Hereford Poll Hereford Hereford Poll Hereford 2.92 9.19 4.62 13.68 Significance doubtful Highly significant Significant Very highly signif icant School, ( < < < 0.1 0.01 0.05 0.001 * Department Queenslund. of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary University of 136 137 The higher incidence in females may be due to more critical selection of bulls before showing. It is known that the condition will not detract from the quality of the carcase. However., their presence does affect the skinning time, and endanger the integrity of the hide, Charles (1960, Personal communication) and therefore can cause some economic loss; and in the live animal, the symmetry of the backline is broken. Further studies indicating the mode of inheritance of this condition would seem to be required. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The writer would like to thank Mr. J. James for statistical advice. REFERENCES Modern Breeds of Livestock' The Macmillan . Briggs, H. M. (1949).- ' Company: 1st Edition New York: 115. Redding, R. W. (1955).- The N. Amer. Vet. 36: 22. 138