Woodduck – Not exactly true, from what I’ve gathered, not “all” deer carry the recessive gene. If that was the case and they “all” had it, then in that theory more deer would have “skeletal deformities like short front legs and arch back, and short lower jaw”.
Also, many or most have normal skeletal structures.
Liquid Amber has it right, although I don’t know how they could estimate a percentage because it will be different in various areas. It all has to do with genetics.
As stated, piebalds carry the recessive gene of albinism and both parents must carry the recessive gene before it can occur in their offspring. An albino bred to and albino would have only albinos. An albino bred to a normal pigmented animal without the recessive gene for albinism would only produce all normally pigmented offspring, but in turn, these offspring would carry the recessive gene. When carriers of the recessive gene breed, there is about a one-in-four chance they will produce an albino offspring.
Once the recessive gene enters a deer herd where previously nonexistent - as the herd grows, generations of the gene becomes prevalent. That’s why in some areas piebalds and albinos maybe be absent and in some areas more common.
Not an expert on heredity or know exactly how one gene dominates over another, but have witnessed and studied this piebald/white deer phenomenon enough to have somewhat of a grasp of it.