Table 1.

Baseline characteristics and clinical findings at the time of hospitalisation of seven Belgian Blue crossbred calves referred to the clinic. Calves 1, 2 and 3 were referred with existing signs of alopecia. Calves 4–7 were picked up at the farm in the first week of life when no clinical signs were apparent. BS, Brown Swiss; BB, Belgian Blue; RH, Red Holstein

Parameter	Calf 1	Calf 2	Calf 3	Calf 4	Calf 5	Calf 6	Calf 7
Cross breed	BS x BB	BS x BB	BS x BB	RH x BB	RH x BB	BS x BB	BS x BB
Age (days)	28	42	19	7	1	2	1
Sex	Male	Male	Female	Female	Female	Male	Male
Body mass (kg)	44.7	57.0	44.2	45.4	45.2	51.5	40.6
Body condition	Poor	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Good	Good	Good
Posture	Hind legs gathered underneath abdomen	Hind legs gathered underneath abdomen	No weight bearing on left hind limb	Unremarkable	Unremarkable	Unremarkable	Unremarkable
Behaviour	Unremarkable	Unremarkable	Unremarkable	Unremarkable	Unremarkable	Unremarkable	Unremarkable
Heart rate (beats per minute)	120	100	92	120	112	116	120
Respiratory rate (breaths per minute)	24	40	32	40	36	28	40
Body temperature (°Celsius)	37.6	35.9	40.2	39.1	39.1	39.2	38.2