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An outbreak of congenital goiter and chondrodystrophy among calves born to spring-calving beef cows
Homerosky, E.R.; Johnsen, M...
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Objectives: An outbreak of concurrent congenital diffuse hyperplastic goiter and chondrodystrophy occurred at a commercial cow-calf operation in southern Alberta during spring 2018 (Homerosky et al., 2019). All affected calves were born to mature Angus cows and sired by one of two half-sibling mature Red Angus bulls. Matings during the previous four breeding seasons resulted in apparently normal calves. The objective was to investigate non-genetic etiologies of congenital goiter and chondrodystrophy.
Materials and methods: The herd was on pasture until November 2017 when they were transitioned to a ration comprised of wrapped high-moisture barley greenfeed bales and mixed grass hay bales. No supplemental trace minerals or vitamins were provided during the winter feeding period. Twenty of 35 calves born between April 5th and June 5 th, 2018 were affected with goiter and generalized weakness in the presence or absence of varying degrees of chondrodystrophy. Incidence of stillbirths and neonatal deaths (N=7) and severity of clinical signs decreased as calving season progressed. All dams were in good body condition and appeared clinically healthy.
Results: Three deceased affected calves submitted for additional diagnostics tested negative for bovine herpesvirus, Leptospira spp., Neospora caninum, and bovine viral diarrhea. Liver concentration for iron was high, manganese was low, and cobalt was deficient in multiple calves. Cobalt may serve as a proxy for iodine as these two minerals must be supplemented continuously to cattle in Alberta. As such, iodine deficiency was determined to be the cause of goiter in these calves. The herd was treated by providing trace minerals with added ethylenediamine dihydroiodide.
Conclusions: Although congenital goiter and chondrodystrophy are observed globally in several species, there is a paucity of reports describing concurrent manifestations, especially in calves. In the current outbreak, it is unclear if hypothyroidism impaired normal fetal growth and development or if multiple concurrent mineral deficiencies predisposed these calves to goiter and chondrodystrophy independently.
Keywords: Iodine, manganese, mineral, deficiency, hypothyroidism.
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Affiliation of the authors at the time of publication
Veterinary Agri-Health Services, Ltd., Airdrie, Canada;
University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
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