Homozygous roan cattle carry two copies of the roan gene. Here's what that actually means — and what it doesn't mean.
Every calf inherits color genes from both parents. When it comes to the roan gene, an animal can carry zero, one, or two copies. A homozygous roan cow or bull carries two copies — one from each parent.
Why homozygous roan matters
A homozygous roan parent always passes a roan gene to its offspring. If you breed a homozygous roan bull (Rn/Rn) to a solid cow (n/n), 100% of the calves will inherit at least one roan gene and express the roan pattern.
That's why homozygous roan miniature bulls — like our herd sire Lil Roanmaker — are so valuable in a roan-focused program.
Common myths, cleared up
There's a lot of misinformation online suggesting that homozygous roan is automatically lethal in cattle. It is not. Homozygous roan cattle are healthy, normal animals.
Roan expression can vary by breed and bloodline. Some homozygous roans are heavily roaned, some are lightly colored, and some can appear nearly white — all healthy, just genetically expressive in different ways.