Vertebral and spinal dysplasia: A novel dominantly inherited congenital defect in Holstein cattle.

Monitoring and surveillance strategies are imperative for managing genetic defects in livestock populations in order to avoid detrimental effects on animal welfare and productivity. Recently, a number of previously unknown defects have been described in cattle, fostered by the huge progress in genome analysis and genomic selection. In response to reports about a potentially new defect in Holstein cattle, case-control studies were carried out to confirm a genetic background of the defect and to evaluate its phenotypic relevance.

The mammalian cervical vertebrae blueprint depends on the T (brachyury) gene.

A key common feature all but three known mammalian genera is the strict seven cervical vertebrae blueprint, suggesting the involvement of strong conserving selection forces during mammalian radiation. This is further supported by reports indicating that children with cervical ribs die before they reach reproductive age. Hypotheses were put up, associating cervical ribs (homeotic transformations) to embryonal cancer (e.

Bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP): novel insights into the incidence, vaccination-associated epidemiological factors and a potential genetic predisposition for clinical and subclinical cases.

Bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP) is a haemorrhagic disease of newborn calves elicited by colostrum from specific cows. Two studies have indicated that BNP-inducing colostrum might be associated with alloantibodies directed against MHC class I in response to vaccination with a distinct inactivated viral vaccine. However, the proportion of alloantibody-producing individuals by far exceeds the proportion of clinical BNP cases in the vaccinated population.