Comments on Frosty possibly being an allele with Pied
by John Fowler

The following was posted on the Dove & Pigeon List in response to a post by
John Pire. I thought this might be of interest.

I have data from 3 frosty (not carrying pied) crossed with pied which
would indicate that frosty is not likely an allele of pied. If the
frosty and pied are not alleles you would expect no Ice offspring. Half
the offspring would be frosty (carrying pied) and half would be not
frosty (carrying pied). If they are alleles, then half the offspring
would be Ice (Fr//pi) and half would be wild type (+//pi)

The first of these matings was done in 2001-2002 using a blond frosty
cock (not carrying pied) and a dark pied hen. This pair produced 9
offspring -- 3 frosty and 6 not frosty. No Ice were produced. Because
the male was from Dr Miller's 718 family, I could not rule out the
possibility of pied in the ancestry of the male. So no real conclusions
could be drawn except to say that the data would indicate that frosty
and pied are not alleles.

The second of these matings was done in 2002 using a Silver Ivory cock
(not carrying pied) and a Blond Pied hen. This pair produced 8 offspring
-- 3 frosty and 5 not frosty. No Ice were produced. This male was
obtained from another breeder and I could not be sure that there were no
pied in the ancestry of the male. So again we can say that the data
would indicate that frosty and pied are not alleles but a conclusive
determination is not possible.

The third of these matings using a Platinum cock (not carrying pied) and
a Dark Pied hen is still in progress. This pair has produced 10
offspring -- 6 frosty and 4 not frosty. No ice have been produced. There
is a remote possibility that the male could carry pied because there is
a pied three generations back in his father's pedigree. However, he has
produced 24 not pied offspring when paired with two different pied hens.
I feel confident he does not carry pied. The mother of this Platinum
male has a pied four generations back in her pedigree. I currently have
her paired with an Ice to test for pied. Four not pied offspring have
been produced. With eight not pied offspring, I will feel sure that she
does not carry pied. Then I will feel confident in saying that frosty
and pied are not alleles.

At this time (1-2006) -- while I say that data would indicate that frosty
and pied are not alleles -- more testing is needed. So any breeders doing
similar test mating should continue with what they are doing.
This adds needed numbers.

John Fowler
Houston, TX
ADA & CDA Member

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