Surgical Correction of Congenitally Fused Vulva Labia in a Holstein Friesian Cross Bred Heifer

Congenital defects present at birth occur frequently in cattle (Leipold and Dennis, 1986) and these defects may enhance perinatal mortality, decrease maternal productivity and reduce the value of defective neonates (Rousseaux, 1994). The factors responsible for causing the abnormalities are genetic, environmental or a combination of these factors (Roberts, 1971; Rousseaux, 1994). Congenitally fused labia syndrome is defined as a variable occlusion of the labia majora by connective tissue (Wedi et al., 2011). This syndrome was described in heifers by Oettle and Coubrough (1985) and Balasubramanian et al. (1991). However, no information regarding the subsequent fertility was recorded. In the present study, we describe the surgical treatment of congenitally fused labia and subsequent conception in a crossbred Holstein-Friesian heifer.