CONGENITAL-DEFECTS AS A CAUSE OF PERINATAL-MORTALITY OF BEEF-CALVES

Abnormal development, although rare in beef calves, is a product of bo th genetic and environmental factors. Genetic or environmental factors may produce the same abnormality. Abnormal development may cause deat h in utero, perinatal death, intrauterine growth retardation, or funct ional and structural anomalies. This article is limited to a descripti on of developmental defects that cause fetal or perinatal death and in cludes an outline of methods used to determine the causes of such defe cts.