An outbreak of congenital goiter and chondrodystrophy among calves born to spring-calving beef cows.

Abstract

An outbreak of congenital diffuse hyperplastic goiter and chondrodystrophy occurred among springborn calves at an Angus-based cow-calf operation in southern Alberta. Although these diseases are observed globally in multiple species, reports of their occurrence concurrently are exceptionally rare. A nutritional cause is highly suspected as previous matings between the same sires and dams resulted in apparently normal calves. However, it is unclear if multiple mineral deficiencies manifested as goiter and chondrodystrophy independently or if a primary hypothyroidism inhibited normal fetal growth and skeletal development. This is apparently the first large-scale outbreak of concurrent congenital goiter and chondrodystrophy reported in calves.