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Albino Gene Runs Strong
In These Jerseys

When Gene Sivesind saw his first albino calf 8 years ago, he knew he had to have it. Today, he has a herd of 8 albinos, all descendents of the white bull that he named Powder.

About 20 percent of the heifers bred to Powder produced albino calves. One of them was a white bull calf, which the owner decided to keep as a herd bull. The six albino heifers he currently owns all came out of him.

In addition to the white skin, all albino offspring have inherited Powder's deafness. Sivesind did some research and found out that most albinos are either deaf or blind.

Another dairyman had bought several non-albino Powder-bred heifers and Sivesind told him he would buy back any white ones calves produced later for $200 apiece.

"Of course, I was thinking heifer calves, so when he called to say he had two, I didn't think they might be bulls," recalls Sivesind. "He didn't hold me to the $200, but I had said I would take them, so I did."

Powder is no longer around. About two years ago, the white bull began acting strange, charging at nothing and staring into the distance. A day later, he died. When the vet came out, he told Sivesind the bull had rabies. A scratch on the nose suggested a rabid skunk or raccoon had bit him.

Sivesind plans to sell the bred albino heifers before they freshen in the early fall of 2005. He would have taken $800 for them this fall, but next year's price will depend on the cost to over-winter and next fall's market.

Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gene Sivesind, 1720 W Prairie Rd., Decorah, Iowa 52101 (ph 563 382-2021).

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