cleft mouth calf

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aj

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Jul 5, 2006
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western kansas
Had a cleft mouth calf. Northwest Ks. Whats the thinking on cleft.....vet told me it could be genetic.....or a poison weed. Whats some thoughts. We run on short grass.....corn stalks......volunteer wheat....cane feed.....crystalx tubs. This is the first one I remember seeing. Haven't had time to study pedigrees. Shorthorn with maybe touch of Red Angus.....I'll have to check.
 

CAB

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Corning,Iowa
  Not all that rare, it happens. Just a congenital defect. Things just didn't come together quite correct when being formed.
 
J

JTM

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I've heard of what is referred to as "monkey mouth" in that the lower jaw comes out further than the upper jaw. This is a genetic defect that has been found to be fairly prevelant in the maine anjou breed. I believe it may be passed on with only one parent having the defect. Not 100% on that.
 

aj

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western kansas
I know the sire of the cleft calf was thf,phaf and dsf. Ended up he worked real well on heifers.
 

CAB

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  If your calf can nurse without drowning it should be OK, but if it can't nurse without sucking milk down into it's lungs, the outlook will not be bright.
 

aj

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Location
western kansas
This was a really severe case. Very long split upper jaw.....clear through upper jaw. First calf heifer.....both legs back......calf was dead.....hard pull....calf head deformed bad.
 
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