Understanding Hypotrichosis Causes in Hairless Cattle

Hairlessness in cattle, often due to hypotrichosis causes, poses unique challenges and curiosities. This genetic condition can affect various breeds, leading to partial or complete hair loss. Proper care, such as climate-controlled environments or protective measures like clothing and sunscreen, is essential to ensure their well-being. Learning about hypotrichosis causes aids in responsible breeding practices, preventing unnecessary suffering. Explore this fascinating topic more and learn how to manage it effectively.

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Examples:

Sometimes cattle are born without hair, such as in the undated vintage photograph shown to the right.

While these calves do not usually have any other obvious health problems*, they are often smaller and may be bullied by their herd mates. Their slower growth rate is attributed to hairless animals having to use more energy to keep warm. For this reason, many farmers will often euthanize these animals rather than raise them, and adult examples are rare.

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However, some people keep hairless calves as a curiosity or pets. Because they are typically kept on pasture, hypothermia and sunburn (especially with skin cracking and infection) can be serious risks to the health of hairless cattle. So, those who wish to keep their hairless specimens normal should protect them with clothing and sunscreen or keep them in an enclosed area with a more controlled climate.

In most cases, hairlessness is caused by congenital (a.k.a. "viable") hypotrichosis, a genetically inherited trait found in several breeds, including Hereford, Piedmontese, Angus, Holstein, and Guernsey. Many consider this fault to have arisen in the Hereford, but it could also have had multiple spontaneous occurrences in different breeds.

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In Hereford, hairlessness is controlled by a simple recessive form of inheritance. The calf may be born with no hair or some hair, which may have a "frosted" silvery appearance. ​The condition ranges from partial to full hair loss. Any hair these calves have tends to be on the extremities and underside of the torso. The hair on these calves may be unusually long and curly. (There is also a lethal form of hypotrichosis, not being discussed here.}

1898

• A report was published that a calf had been born and raised at the age of three months with no hair on its body except below the knee.

1907

• Jessie: "The cow with skin like a human."