A DNA exclusion occurs when an animal’s DNA profile is not consistent with one or both parents listed in its pedigree. When an exclusion is identified, the DNA Coordinator will contact the member and assist in resolving the pedigree, if possible. All registrations and transfers of the excluded animal and their downstream progeny need to wait until the pedigree is resolved and updated.
DNA exclusion cases often require additional testing and may take longer to resolve than routine DNA results.
What Happens When There Is a DNA Exclusion?
Before notifying the owner, ADGA staff will review the animal’s record and determine whether it has any registered littermates or offspring that may also be affected by the exclusion. The DNA Coordinator will contact the breeder and current owner of the animal to begin the resolution process. Members have 30 days to respond and begin the resolution process, or the animal will be flagged as a DNA Exclusion in the database. The resolution timeline can take
longer than 30 days as long as progress is being actively made
Once a DNA Exclusion flag is placed onto an animal, transfers and registration of offspring will not be permitted. Upon resolution, the DNA flag will be removed, and the animals can be used again.
Once the correct parentage has been established, ADGA will update the pedigree and notify the owner of any additional steps needed to complete the correction.
Exclusions Involving Unregistered Animals
When an exclusion involves an unregistered animal, no further action will be taken unless:
- The animal is submitted for registration with an excluded parent listed
- The owner chooses to pursue additional comparisons to resolve the pedigree. Assistance by the DNA Coordinator will be provided.
To continue the parentage investigation, submit the names and registration numbers of all possible parents.
Exclusions Involving Registered Animals
When a registered animal is excluded from a listed parent:
- The breeder & owner will be notified of the exclusion.
- Additional possible parents may be submitted for comparison.
- The laboratory may request additional DNA samples when the available results are not conclusive.
- Once the case is resolved, ADGA will correct the pedigree in its records.
Follow the instructions provided by ADGA staff to obtain an updated registration certificate. The original certificate may need to be returned to the ADGA office.
Closely Related Potential Parents
Parentage cases may be more difficult to resolve when the possible parents are closely related, such as:
- A sire and his son
- Full brothers or littermate brothers
- A parent and offspring
- Other animals with very similar pedigrees
- Breeds with limited genetic diversity.
In these cases, the laboratory may require the dam’s DNA profile or additional potential parents to help determine the correct parentage.
When the dam is requested due to multiple sires with similar DNA profiles to the potential offspring, the lab is not suggesting that the dam is incorrect, but that she will assist in the lab determining the correct sire.
Processing and Resolution Time
Parentage comparisons generally take two to eight weeks after the laboratory receives a usable sample.
Additional time may be required when:
- More than one potential parent must be tested
- Samples are incomplete, mislabeled or unusable
- Closely related animals are being compared
- Additional DNA profiles are needed
- None of the initially submitted parents qualify
- ADGA staff must review related registrations or pedigrees
DNA exclusion cases may take up to 60 days or longer to resolve, depending on the complexity of the case.
Processing times vary. The completion date of another member’s submission cannot be used to estimate when your results will be available.
Resolving a DNA Exclusion
To help ADGA resolve the case, provide as much of the following information as possible:
- The animal’s registered name and registration number
- The animal’s tattoos and tattoo locations
- The DNA case or accession number, when available
- The names and registration numbers of all potential sires and dams
- Breeding, kidding or collection dates
- A description of any shared breeding pens or accidental exposures
- Contact information for the owners of potential parents
- Any additional records that may help identify the correct pedigree
Testing an Unregistered Animal Before Registration
When parentage is uncertain, members are encouraged to complete DNA testing before submitting the registration application.
Submit a DNA request for the unregistered animal using its tattoos and tattoo locations as its unique identification. Include all possible parents for comparison.
Once parentage is resolved and the animal is registered, additional steps may be required to connect the tattoo-based DNA profile to the completed registration record.
Need Assistance?
For help with a DNA exclusion, complete the DNA Exclusion Case form and include the animal’s registration number, name and all known potential parents.
Submitting complete information at the beginning of the review may help prevent additional delays.