Etude des principales maladies du système locomoteur chez le veau de race Blanc-Bleu Belge

The mortality rate due to musculoskeletal diseases in calves is 9 % of the overall mortality rate. It may then have major consequences on the future of the animal and on breeder’s economics. The most common musculoskeletal diseases are septic arthritis, congenital articular rigidity, fractures and spastic paresis. Two clinical studies were performed on 295 and 40 Belgian Blue calves. The first one reported a 72.3 % success rate in surgical treatments of septic arthritis. The 83.9 % rate of posterior presentation and the 90 % rate of males confirmed the hypothesis of hypomobility of calves affected by congenital articular rigidity. The success rate after appropriate treatment was 82.8 %. This study also confirmed the predisposition of Belgian Blue calves to tibial fractures (52 %). The success rate of fractures in calves was 74.1 %. An alternative to treatment in case of quadriceps or combined spastic paresis is fattening. Seventy height percent of affected calves have indeed been fattened with an almost normal growth rate. This alternative remains economically advantageous.
The second study developed a classification of gastrocnemius spastic paresis based on general examination, special examination and postoperative results. This classification demonstrates the progressive nature of this disease and its consequences on body condition, allowing a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis. The success rate after partial tibial nevrectomy for grade II, III and IV was respectively 100 %, 72.7 % and 42.9 %.
Those 2 studies demonstrate the effectiveness of accurate diagnosis and prognosis associated with an appropriate treatment to offer a better output to breeders despite the presence of these diseases.