Need help with newborn calf.

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Buck

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Jul 29, 2009
Messages
161
Last year we had a calf born that at about a day old became very rigid especially on his rear legs. He lived about 3 months and continued to have stiff joints and very tight and rigid in his movement. I chalked it up to a genetic abnormality and sold the cow to eliminate the problem. This past Saturday we had one born that is exhibiting the same characteristics. I know this cow is squeeky clean! I don't know about the bull. I am now off the genetic thing and leaning toward a vitimin/ mineral problem. It's  seems like it is actually painful for the calf to get up or move. Has anyone experienced that and can you tell me what is going on? I will reveal what I am leaning toward after some of you respond. I don't want to lead anyone in a specific direction and I may be totally off track. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

Buck

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
161
I was hoping for some information on this one. The calf is still alive and we are supplementing with a bottle. On Tuesday I also gave 3 mg Bo-Se and 1 mg Multimin. The only thing I can come up with is selenium deficiency and the symptoms don't exactly fit what I am reading about that. I will try to post a short video. I can't believe someone that has been raising club calves has not seen what I have described.
 

rcx

Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Messages
5
Your description sounds consistent with spastic paresis, recessive genetic condition that affects multiple breeds of cattle.
 

Buck

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
161
I think you are right. However, I'm not finding anything on newborns. The only other time I experienced this was about 8 years ago when my nephew had one with exactly the same characteristics. In all three cases the calves seemed to be this way from birth. I am 58 years old and have been around cattle all my life. I have been breeding and raising club calves the past 25 years. I have been racking my brain to come up with any management or environmental deficiencies that may exist in our operation and I really can't come up with anything we are doing (or not doing) that could be contributing to this problem.
Thanks for your input!
 

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