Stiff calves at birth

[stoneridge]

Looking for anyone who has experienced the following problem or has even heard of something similar.

I have watched several calves(4 last season+1 this season) being born and the calves are born paralyzed.
They are alive but they seem to be having seizures every 10-20 secs which results in a stiffing of their limbs.
They cannot move on their own and will jerk so often due to the seizures to point that they actually wear a hole down into the straw under them.
Have taken 2 calves to local vet and had full tissue samples and blood work done, even sent a carcass away for investigation, no answer!
The calves bodies are so stiff you can actually lean them against a post and they will stand up. If you bottle or tube feed them they will live for days but have not had any improvements with any sort of drug treatment.
Very frustrating as we test all our feed, have custom mineral and rations made up.
No other health problems at all.
Zero pulls in any backgrounding pens and no issues with any newborns other than this oddball problem.
All calves get selenium as day old calves but the problem seems to be invitro as it occurs at birth.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[jerry27150]

had one years ago that got stiff like that, you could stand him up but he could barely move. legs would not bend, if cow would get close enough he could suck. did not take to vet but told him how calf acted & he gave meds but calf died after awhile.

 

[Lucky_P]

Breed of cattle?
Any known degree of inbreeding/linebreeding (SireXdaughter, grandsireXgranddaughter, etc.) behind them?

 

[JMJ Farms]

Nothing to add but I would like to follow this thread. Sorry for your troubles. I'm sure it's awfully frustrating.

 

[stoneridge]

The herd is primarily Red Angus.
Could be some line breeding as we have been using the same breeder to source a lot of our genetics.
Will make sure we outcross this season.
Only occurs in the 1st and 2nd calving cows.
Keep looking at mineral program but we have 75-80% conception in 1st cycle and only breed for 60 days as it is and our open rate is below 5%. If mineral or feed was the problem it should show up in some other portion of our system, I would think.
Was wondering about drug interaction, all get modified live vaccines and scourbos. The main herd gets same protocols.

 

[stoneridge]

UPDATE;
Vet reports the tissue samples came back Vit A+Vit E deficient. Could be a tipping point for some other problems that wouldn't normally affect the fetus. Vet recommends injecting cows at weaning time and again prior to calving.
When we calved in feb/march used to run herd through chute several times a year. Always gave Vit A+Selinuim (Vit E) injections. Did not see these problems.
Since we switched to may/june calving we focused on a strong mineral program year round and do not inject minerals.
Guess we'll go back to needling and see if it cures the problem.
Surprising that our overall herd health and fertility are not a problem but the fetus is affected in some cases.