Alopecia in Belgian Blue Crossbred Calves: A Case Series
November 2019
in “
BMC veterinary research
”
alopecia malabsorption polycythaemia leucocytosis hyperproteinaemia hypalbuminaemia hypocalcaemia hypokalaemia orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis hair follicle size hair loss nutrient absorption issues high red blood cell count high white blood cell count high protein levels low albumin levels low calcium levels low potassium levels thickened skin small hair follicles
TLDR The hair loss in Belgian Blue crossbred calves was caused by a diet issue, not by disease or infection.
The study investigated alopecia in seven Belgian Blue crossbred calves in Southern Germany, linking the condition to malabsorption of dietary fat due to improper mixing of milk replacer with insufficiently heated water. Clinical findings included polycythaemia, leucocytosis, hyperproteinaemia, hypalbuminaemia, hypocalcaemia, and marginal hypokalaemia, with histological analysis showing lamellar orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis and reduced hair follicle size. The study concluded that nutritional, management, or environmental factors alone could cause significant alopecia in calves, emphasizing the importance of proper milk replacer preparation and feeding practices to prevent such issues.
