How to manage calves unable to suckle due to ‘squinty jaw’

Vets and farmers have been collaborating across the UK to unravel a frustrating calving conundrum that can render up to 15% of calves unable to suck their dams.

Otherwise healthy and bright, the calf requires regular tubing and feeding and prevents other jobs being done.

The phenomena goes by many names, including “floppy tongue”, “squinty jaw syndrome”, or its full clinical title, asymmetrical mandibular malalignment.

The condition has existed for years, but 2019 saw an increase in reports to vets around the country and to Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) from suckler and dairy farms.

See also: Tips on getting reluctant calves to suck a bottle

Cause is a mystery

The current cause is unknown, but SRUC veterinary centre manager Tim Geraghty and his team have worked with farms and vets to try and demystify the condition.

The team published a surveillance article in Vet Record in 2020, which increased awareness and discussion of squinty jaw.

Some breeders blame squinty jaw on the double muscling gene; others suspect nutrition plays a part.

Researchers have also considered foetal exposure to toxins or infectious diseases, and admit it could be a multifactorial condition.

“There is a wide range of breeds and dairy herds affected, and we haven’t nailed it down to myostatin being the issue. I’m not sure it’s clear cut yet and more research is needed,” said Mr Geraghty.

“In one high-incidence herd there was no incidence one year – and the following year, it was seen in 15% of the calves with the same cows bred to the same bulls.”

Managing asymmetrical mandibular malalignment

Vet surgeon Leanne Forde says “floppy tongues” in calves are a problem she has experienced “sporadically and often in passing” in practice in North Yorkshire.

“It is not a presentation that farmers will book a standalone visit for,” says Ms Forde. “It is usually a ‘while you are here to have a look at’ or a phone call for advice.”

She says farmers have more experience of the condition than practising vets and often consider it to be “one of those things”.

“In North Yorkshire, I would say that floppy tongue syndrome covers several conditions that result in the same challenge – a calf that cannot suck due to issues with the tongue,” she explains.

Ms Forde’s experience of “floppy tongue” is mainly with suckler calves.

These calves are often bright and able to stand, but cause great frustration to the farmer who is faced with the time-consuming task of trying to get them to feed.

“The initial challenge is hand-milking the turgid udder of a suckler cow, which can require a high degree of stealth, and the second is trying to get the calf to drink from a bottle.

“It is important we maintain conversations about this syndrome, as the more we talk, the more likely we are to determine [causes] and deduce solutions to prevent cases.”