| HISTORY First discovered in the herds on the Davenport, WA ranch of Robert Gunning in 1960-61. This color carries the semi lethel gene and appears in the heterozygous form only. This was the latest discovery in the three incomplete dominate genes, but is also the most common, making up 5% of all chin colors - the most of any single color. This is most likely from the fact it was the first mutation that adapted to the fur/pelt market. |
| Black Velvet |
| Black Velvet , Gunning Black, black TOV (touch of velvet) This animal has a matt or veil of black over the standard gray, giving a shiny head and back, fading to grey on the sides, with a white belly. Gray to BV would produce 50% black velvet. BV carries a fatal gene, which means that a Homozygous Black Velvet can never be produced, as the fetus never develops in the womb. IF breeding BV to BV you will have 25% less offspring, so it is not recommended for the novice. Some experienced breeders have done this in an attempt to produce a darker, deeper black. It is also said that breeding a gray chin that has one BV parent to another quality BV will produce a better BV. This is a much better practice for most smaller breeders. Combining the BV and beige genes can get you 25% Brown Velvet. This will also carry the fatal TOV gene. BV and White can give you a black white cross... visually it could look like a mosaic, but would contain the BV gene. BV violet carrier bred to a violet could get a TOV Violet...the veil being a darker violet. When very young, BV can look like a gray, but the eyes and forehead will often darken quickly. The veil can continue to get blacker for over a year. Violets were first discovered in matings from BV. Another dominate black is the Midnight Black: A pure deep black with a pure white belly. Fur is a fine texture and very dense. |
| <<< Onyx or Nicks, the first BV born here |
