Mastitis?

[ufo_chris]

My Cow (Highland)is highly pregnant,could be any day now .
She started bagging up a bit a week ago, it's not totally bagged up but you can see the difference.
Thing is her one teat is bigger than the others. It is about twice the size.Almost like it's swollen but no redness.
Should I worry about this ? Could this be Mastitis?
It's been that way a couple of days .
I remember last time when she was fully bagged up the teats were sticking out and fuller but not enlarged like this, and all not just one.
Thanks for any help,
Chris

[Callieslamb]

Could be endema. Feel the quarter and if it's hot, that would lead me more towards thinking mastitis.

[ufo_chris]

No easy being a beef cow but I did 'cop a feel' and it does feel warm and hard.
I asked a dairy farmer today and he said sounds like Mastitis and he said not to worry about it in a beef cow and she just won't let the calf drink out of it.
Is that right ? I should not worry?
I never believe what just one person tells me!
Could it not spread to the other teats once she has the calf and it tries to suck on it?
Thanks,Chris

[springvalley]

can you milk any out of it? if its chuncky , it`s mastitis, if it isn`t don`t worry then. Kinda short and sweet but thats about it, you should treat it if it is. I don`t think I ever had a cow with mastitis in my beef cows. > Thanks Marc

[ufo_chris]

Originally Posted by springvalley

can you milk any out of it? if its chuncky , it`s mastitis, if it isn`t don`t worry then. Kinda short and sweet but thats about it, you should treat it if it is. I don`t think I ever had a cow with mastitis in my beef cows. > Thanks Marc

Thanks ,but I don' wanna get my head kicked off,LOL!
It was hard enough to touch it real quick! She is not halter trained or anything.
If I could ,would it not interfere with her producing colostrum for when she has her calf (looking at any day ,or a few weeks)?
And how do you treat it ? Antibiotics? Would that not hurt the calf?
Also ,I would have to restrain her in a squeeze which would be pretty traumatic for her and being so pregnant I would worry.
So I was glad to hear not to worry of course.
Do you think I could let it go for a while?
Thanks,Chris

[springvalley]

You were told not to worry, and thaat may not be the right answer. She could have mastitis, and you could end up with a three quarter cow IF?? she has mastitis. It won`t hurt to milk some out of her to see if she has mastitis would only take a few squirts to tell, and that won`t hurt the colostrum production. You can get mastitis meds. from your vet or local farm store (maybe). I know beef cattle it`s not as easy to work on them as it is dairy cattle, but you may have to. Is your cow a first time mom, or has she had a calf before? > Thanks Marc

[agmantoo]

I occasionally have a cow, usually an older one, that will have an enlarged teat. The enlarged teats have not been a problem to date. If the calf has a problem sucking the enlarged teat it will normally dry up on its own. I cull the cow after the calf has weaned.

[Tad]

Probably has mastitis but a three quartered beef cow isn't that big of a deal. As long as she doesn't go off feed I would just let it go. You could try to treat it once she freshens but if you can't squirt milk out putting a tube of treatment were it needs to be could be even worse. We have dairy cows we milk twice a day try to take your head off when you try to dry treat them.

[ufo_chris]

Thanks Guys.
She is 10 years old and had a few calves.
I'll probably see if I can squirt some out (have to wait for the right moment) and see.
Thanks,Chris

[Faith Farm]

The enlarged teat is not all that unusual in an older beef cow. I agree with Agmantoo,
the calf will adjust and the Mama will be fine but I do cull them once the calf is weined.

[ufo_chris]

Sorry but why would you cull the cow if the calf will adjust and do just fine?
And if it is quite common there is no need to cull of fear of that trait getting passed on.
These are Beef Cattle AND my pets, so no culling for something like this.
Chris