Spider lamb syndrome: hereditary chondrodysplasia, a congenital skeletal defect in sheep

Abstract

Spider lamb, a lay term, identifies a pathologic syndrome in which congenital skeletal deformities are present. Initial findings were made in the late 1970's with the incidence increasing in the 1980's. It was a syndrome first reported in the veterinary literature in 1985. It was reported only in Suffolk and Suffolk cross lambs. The present study was initiated to make a detailed evaluation of the spider lamb syndrome. Emphasis was placed on cataloging and categorizing specific defects present and separating the syndrome from other lamb deformities.