Our Whitchurch vets, Alkis and Laura, had an unusual call the other week to a cow calving with a dead calf that was ‘awkward to get’! Opting for a caesarean after confirming it was indeed awkward and darn right odd! On cutting into the uterus, it became clear this was no normal calf. This is what they pulled out….A “Schistosoma Calf”, which is a rare and fatal birth defect.

The calf’s spine bends backwards, the abdominal wall stays open, and the internal organs sit on the outside of the body, with the legs being stiff, locked, and bent up near the head. The unusual shape makes normal birth impossible, hence the need for a caesarean section. It is not known why it happens, other than that it’s a rare genetic defect. In some cases, it’s been shown to be inherited (a couple of cases in the same herd all from the same sire line), and it has a slightly higher risk of occurring with twins.

A rare call we don’t get very often (we also add that the cow is recovering well!)