Diagnosing neuromuscular diseases of calves and young cattle

Abstract

Background: There is a wide range of neuromuscular disorders recognised in cattle. Some of these conditions are fetopathic, others are clinically evident at or soon after the birth, and some are not apparent until the animals are older. The advancement of genotyping techniques has enabled the identification of animals that are carriers of many of these hereditary conditions, and breeders can make informed choices when selecting sires and dams to avoid high‐risk matings.Aim of the article: This article considers the principal conditions which may occur in calves and young cattle and the methods for establishing definitive diagnoses.