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For goat breeders: Genetic test for polledness (polled intersex syndrome - PIS)

Polledness can be a desirable trait in goat breeding – particularly due to the fact that routine dehorning is not legal for animal welfare reasons in some countries or requires an exemption in others. However, breeding for polledness in goats carries the risk of polled intersex syndrome.

What is the polled intersex syndrome (PIS)?
PIS occurs in female goats that are purebred/homozygous for the polledness trait. These animals usually develop with reduced or no fertility as hermaphrodites, which means that they cannot be distinguished phenotypically from hornless billy goats until puberty. Homozygous polled billy goats can be affected by infertility due to the PIS mutation.

Why is a diagnostic test useful?
With a genetic test, you can detect at an early stage whether an animal is at risk of PIS. This allows you to:

  • select carrier animals and prevent them from breeding,
  • sort out infertile animals at an early stage,
  • avoid rearing costs for animals unsuited for breeding,
  • and distinguish naturally polled from dehorned animals.

Foresighted breeding with informing diagnostics
We are now offering to test your goat samples (ear punches, EDTA blood, mucosal swabs, semen, hair roots) for the PIS trait. The test is scientifically proven, reliable, and easy to evaluate. For further information and to order tissue collectors, please do not hesitate to contact us.