[Bilateral anophthalmia associated with further anomalies of the head in German Holstein calves].

Two female calves of the breed German Holsteins showing bilateral anophthalmia and deformations of the jaws such as brachygnathia superior and bilateral cleft of lips and noses, respectively, were born on two different farms. Similar congenital defects could be found neither in the relatives of the affected calves nor in other animals of the same herds. A monogenic autosomal recessive inheritance may have caused bilateral anophthalmia. Chromosomal aberrations could not be detected in the affected calves. The possible environmental causes such as infection by the BVD-virus or oversupply or deficiency of vitamin A are very unlikely.