“…In alkali disease, caused by prolonged oral exposure of cattle to elevated dietary selenium, a defective keratinization results via low amounts of sulphur containing amino acids (cystine) in hard keratin structures leading to dyskeratosis of the hair shafts and dystrophic hooves (O'Toole & Raisbec 1995). Similarly, in Ramaria flavo-brunnescens poisoning, defective keratinization has been shown in the keratinized structures, mostly in the hard keratin (Trost et al 2009). In RTS, the defect in hair conformation is restricted to the pigmented areas of hair coat and occurs in crosses between black cattle breeds (e.g., Angus and Holstein) and some European breeds that are characterized by color dilution of the coat (e.g., Simmental, Charolais and Hereford) (Knaust et al 2016).…”