Black angus - odd belly bump?

Eslayer · Jan 28, 2025

Hi there,

I am new to cattle, we have recently started caring for our older family's herd and taken them over. It's basically a hobby farm but we have 15 head, black angus, and they just have a bull in there all the time. I'm not exactly sure when this cow is due but I know she's pregnant and I think by the looks maybe around March. She's always had a pretty flappy part on her belly, but I realized today it's swollen. Would love some input on things to check!

-E

Eslayer · Jan 28, 2025

Here’s another image that’s not ideal but may help lol (my puppy-ish one got in the way because she loves attention).

SBMF 2015 · Jan 28, 2025

Welcome to CT.
Looks like an umbilical hernia.

Eslayer · Jan 28, 2025

SBMF 2015 said:
Welcome to CT.
Looks like an umbilical hernia.

She’s 8, and has calved a few times. It can happen at that age? I guess I assumed it would be more common in younger cows/heifers?

SBMF 2015 · Jan 28, 2025

Eslayer said:
She's 8, and has calved a few times. It can happen at that age? I guess I assumed it would be more common in younger cows/heifers?

Yes, it’s more common in calves.
But it could be a weakling of the belly muscles.

Travlr · Jan 28, 2025

There was a thread here recently and someone said the same kind of thing might be edema. Might want to google edema in cows...

suzorse · Jan 28, 2025

looks like it may be edema , but that shows up closer to calving with a swelled up udder , you check for edema by pressing your finger in and seeing if you kind of get an indentation , but you would have to feel it to know what it is
Suzanne

GoWyo · Jan 28, 2025

I have had a couple get milk vein edema. Seems that runs from the udder all the way to the navel, where this cow appears to have swelling just around the navel.

RDFF · Jan 28, 2025

Yup, navel hernia. Probably been that way a long time, but can happen anytime if she's got a genetic predisposition toward it.

wbvs58 · Jan 29, 2025

In the first photo I thought there may have been some suggestion of oedema of the brisket as well. Is she well within herself? Breathing not labored? An overall photo would be good. Where do you come from? If you could add your location it would be helpfull like if you lived at altitude it would be relevant.

Travlr · Jan 29, 2025

Eslayer said:
Hi there,

I am new to cattle, we have recently started caring for our older family's herd and taken them over. It's basically a hobby farm but we have 15 head, black angus, and they just have a bull in there all the time. I'm not exactly sure when this cow is due but I know she's pregnant and I think by the looks maybe around March. She's always had a pretty flappy part on her belly, but I realized today it's swollen. Would love some input on things to check!

-E

^^^ This!^^^ What @wbvs58 said in the post above.

coachg · Jan 29, 2025

Vet could tell you for certain. Cheapest course would be haul her to the sale .

Eslayer · Feb 8, 2025

Here’s an update - we ended up taking her to the vet and it was an abcess! A good lancing and some antibiotics later, we have a healthy cow and will have a calf in a month or so!!!!

mwj · Feb 8, 2025

Thank you for the followup. Glad to see you were proactive and went with the vet. It is nice to ask for advice and consider all of your options.

farmerjan · Feb 8, 2025

Glad you took her to the vet and got things straightened out. Good luck on the coming calving... let us know how she does...

Black angus - odd belly bump?

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