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.
98 citations
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October 2012 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Eating the right nutrients can improve hair health, but taking extra supplements usually doesn't help unless you have a deficiency.
5 citations
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October 2012 in “Australian veterinary journal” Two Australian Poll Hereford calves had severe anaemia, abnormal red blood cells, and skin issues.
70 citations
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June 2010 in “Clinics in Dermatology” Certain groups may need vitamin supplements to improve hair health and prevent other health problems.
2 citations
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June 2007 in “PubMed” Alopecia in young calves is linked to longer illness periods and ruminal drinking, but the exact cause is unclear.
32 citations
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November 2006 in “Veterinary dermatology” Congenital alopecia in domestic animals is rare and involves abnormal hair follicle development, needing better understanding and classification.
1 citations
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November 1988 in “Veterinary Record” Folic acid helped a calf regrow hair lost due to deficiency.
42 citations
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November 2019 in “Frontiers in Endocrinology” The document suggests creating a validated score to diagnose Cushing's Syndrome and considers plasma steroid profiling as a simpler diagnostic method.
3 citations
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January 2019 in “Elsevier eBooks” Pharmacists should interpret lab data and perform physical exams to improve patient care.
207 citations
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April 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Iron deficiency may be related to hair loss, but there's not enough evidence to recommend iron screening or supplements for all hair loss patients.
46 citations
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July 1988 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Hormone imbalances can cause specific skin changes, which may help in early detection of endocrine disorders.
April 2024 in “Proceedings” People with alopecia areata often have lower iron levels than healthy people.
