SPINAL DYSMYELINATION IN CROSSBRED BROWN SWISS CALVES

The occurrence of a congenital neurological disorder ''spinal dysmyeli nation'' in cross-bred calves in Denmark is reported. A total of 36 af fected calves of the Red Danish Dairy breed X American Brown Swiss wer e detected. The calves occurred in a clear familiar pattern consistent with an autosomal recessively inherited trait, and the parents could be traced to a common ancestor. Clinically the disease was characteriz ed by congenital lateral recumbency, opisthotonos, extension of the li mbs, normal to increased reflexes, and normal alertness. At histologic al examination dysmyelination occurred constantly in specific spinal t racts.