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Eastern NE KS | No. I used a lot of probability, cow's color ( yellow was assumed carrier of at least one copy of the diluter gene) and past calf history. To estimate the likely amount of diluted cows. Using red non-dilute bulls will remove close to 50% of the gene in replacements. We started with these bulls to remove the diluter gene but not risk making a bunch of gray/chocolate calves.
Black bulls will quickly show you the cows that carry the diluter gene but this approach will also create gray calves. If that is less expensive that making red replacements that reduce the population of diluter genes in the herd, was something I could not push Dad to even think about.
Today the fastest way to sort cattle for a simple trait like color or even most known genetic defects, is a DNA test! If you know who are carriers, then you can apply management and more testing of their progeny to eliminate the problem.
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Red cows black calves.
