Breeding for color?

Question

I have been researching color genetics in horses recently, and im confused about which one of these would be most likely to produce a colored foal from a bay TB mare (base color black).

Either a homozygous overo, or a Tovero? LWO isn't an issue as the mare is TB. I have read that there is a 75% chance of either Tobiano, Sabino or overo when bred to a Tovero, but would an homozygous overo be better odds as it is homozygous?

Answer 1

if they are homozygus, they will produce a colored baby every time. Either way you go, you will get a painted babe.

Answer 2

With a Homozygous you are going to get color. But with paints wether it is a overo, or tobiano is a toss of the coin.

Answer 3

i don't know, the answer to your question but i do know that bay is very dominant , we have 2 bay mare and have tried breeding them with a few different stallions who were supposed to be guaranteed color producers and we got black foals everytime from both mares. there is a color calculator on the net animal genetics incorporated you enter the sire and dams info and it gives you the pecentages of the color you should get you can try that

Answer 4

First off there is no such thing as a Homozygous Overo....Overo's in the the homozygous form are the Lethal Whites that do not survive. Be careful of advertising...breeders may offer a "Homozygous Black Overo" at stud, they are actually saying he's Homozygous for Black not Overo.

Tovero's are horses that carry both the Overo gene and the Tobiano gene but you're still not guaranteed they will pass on either color pattern to the foal.

Sabino along with Splash White, Rabicano, and Frame are all colors that can attribute to the Overo horses but are not seperate colors them selves.

The only way you're guaranteed color is to breed her to a Homozygous Tobiano, ie they carry only Dominant Tovero genes so that is all they can pass on. Even with crossing to a HZ Tobiano you might only get minimal white. There have recently been genetically proven cases of HZ Tobianos throwing foals with that looked solid but where genetically Tobianos.

All that aside breeding specifically for color alone is a very bad idea. Make sure that the horse you decide on is not only a prime example of its breed, with no flaws that can be passed on but has an impressive show record and pedigree to back him up.

Or on the other hand, and IMO, a much better idea, just pick what color you want and go buy it outright. Cheaper in the long run and you know exactly what your getting (color, s*x, conformation, temperament ect), without any waiting or guessing, or risking your mare.

Right now well bred, flashy colored paint foals and yearlings are running through sales throughout the USA for as little as $25-$50 each.

BTW...are you sure your mare is a TB? I've never actually saw a Spotted (tovero) TB.

Answer 5

You should look up you color gene chart.  A homozygous, produces color, guarenteed to produce color.  If you breed a solid mare to a homozygous stallion it will be spotted/paint foal.  In order to get a specific color you must know your color gene chart.  A black mare to a Homo. Stallion will more than likley have a Blk/wht foal, grays throw, sorrell, bay, or roans.  Palominos throw, whites, cremmelos, duns, etc.  You must learn the genes before you decide what color you want, it's very simple if you know this.  Good Luck.

Answer 6

I wasn't aware overos could be homozygous.

If you want color you need to find a homozygous Tobiano. Being homozygous the stallion MUST pass on the tobiano gene. However you can also have minimal Tobianos with so few white markings they don't appear to be pinto. Uncommon, but it happens.

Better yet, you can find a horse that's already been born with spots you like.