Right-sided cleft lip and jaw in a family of Vorderwald × Montbéliarde cattle

A congenital unilateral cleft lip and jaw in association with campylognathia to the opposite side was identified in a family of Vorderwald × Montbéliarde cattle. Clinical examination, radiography and computed tomography revealed similar types and degrees of orofacial abnormality in three affected animals from different farms. Digital radiographs and computed tomography demonstrated absence of the rostral segment of the incisive bone in association with sigmoid curvature of the rostral lower jaw and campylognathia to the left side. All three affected animals could be traced back to a common ancestor, a Montbéliarde bull, who had sons and grandsons used for in-crossing in Vorderwald cattle. The affected animals were inbred on Montbéliarde sires, with inbreeding coefficients of 0.39% in one calf and 6.25% in two calves. Pedigree analysis supported the hypothesis of an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.