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

Abnormal development, although rare in beef calves, is a product of both genetic and environmental factors. Genetic or environmental factors may produce the same abnormality. Abnormal development may cause death in utero, perinatal death, intrauterine growth retardation, or functional and structural anomalies. This article is limited to a description of developmental defects that cause fetal or perinatal death and includes an outline of methods used to determine the causes of such defects.