Heritable genetic defects cause significant welfare suffering in cattle and require active management through genetic testing and selective breeding to reduce prevalence.
Cattle born with serious heritable conditions suffer significantly. BLAD-affected calves have no functional immune system and die from repeated infections. Citrullinaemia causes progressive neurological deterioration. Double-muscled breeds experience chronic joint pain and increased calving difficulty. These conditions are largely preventable through genetic testing and responsible breeding. Carrier animals passed untested through breeding programmes spread conditions through generations. Welfare-responsible breeding uses DNA testing to identify carriers, avoids carrier-to-carrier matings, and tracks the elimination of harmful alleles from populations.