The ICBF congenital defect survey continues to collect valuable data on the incidence of birth abnormalities in calves. Over the past 10 years, almost 600 cases of congenital defects have been reported by farmers via the ICBF survey. Further research is underway on the most common abnormalities, including intestinal atresia (blocked intestine), multiple defects (at least two defects in the same animal), and tail abnormalities (no tail, short tails, deformed tails).
If you notice a calf with any sort of defect or deformity, please record this through the ICBF congenital defect survey. Please use the button below to access the survey.
In addition to reporting the defect, you can forward a photo/video of the deformity, which is very helpful for identifying the defect. By reporting these cases, farmers are helping the ICBF to identify, monitor, and manage genetic defects segregating in the Irish cattle population. If you have any questions regarding the defect survey, please contact 023-8820452 or email [email protected].
For more information on data recorded over the last 10 years, please click here.