SYNDACTYLY IN A MINIATURE HERFORD

BULL CALF

History Calf born on Friday evening, posterior

presentation, pulled with chains (2 men pulling)

Dam: retained fetal membranes, mild fever.

Calf: unable to rise, no suckle reflex. Hind legs had mild abrasions from chains. Owner tube fed colostrum and milk from dam

Physical Exam Unable to rise, appeared dull but responsive Temp: 38.4, HR, mm and RR WNL, no murmur

auscultated Neuro exam: weak menace response, PLR

difficult to assess due to eyes rolling ventrally. Retraction of neck resulted in loss of motor control of head.

Syndactyly on both front feet, hind right partially fused, hind left appeared normal.

Tendons severely contracted, unable to place feet on ground.

Physical Exam

Normal Radiograph and Anatomy

Radiographs

Left front Right front

Radiographs

Right hind Left hind

Necropsy findings Coning of cerebellum

Spinal cord bleed

Syndactyly Common genetic abnormality found in many

breeds, most commonly Holstein calves More common in dairy, more severe in beef Autosomal recessive trait with incomplete

penetrance Mutation of the low density lipoprotein

receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp4 gene) Can be one foot, or multiple feet affected –

right front most commonly affected, hind left least likely

Syndactyly Problems:

Difficulty walking Usually “unthrifty” and die in first few days Unable to cope with stress and heat, get

hypothermia very easily If affected, both dam and sire may be carriers

References Barr, M. (1981). Syndactyly. Angus

Journal, 34-35. Leipold, H. W., Schmidt, G. L., Steffen, D.

J., Vestweber, G. E., & Huston, K. (1998). Hereditary Syndactyly in Angus Cattle. J Vet Diag Invest, 10, 247-254.