Extra Tit

[Bovine Part Time]

Was out checking on cows have sixteen due to start caving early next week.Have a first year heifer who has a extra tit growing between her front and back on one side it is the size of my little finger and about a inch long. Do you think it will be a problem when she has her calf ? She does have two on back of bag but they are just nubs and are nothing and understand this normal for some animals.

 

[Bigfoot]

I've seen it a few times, not sure how common it is. Seen some actually produce milk.

 

[Alan]

It's not uncommon and nothing to worry about. I have a couple like that too.

 

[branguscowgirl]

I have an Angus cow with 6 also. No problems. Just raised twins.

 

[cowgirl8]

Sometimes the calf will get fixated on it and not go for the others. If the others get engorged and harder to nurse because the calf is only going for the rouge teat, it may never get a chance to take the others and if you dont intervene, it will starve. On problem cows, the ones whose teats get large, we've had the rouge teat removed.. If its not a good time to take the cow for us, i'll use duct tape and tape up the rouge one in the chute, let the calf nurse the bigger teats down and set them out before the calf is full. Sometimes its hard to get a calf take a larger teat after the only one they've used was small....

 

[ANAZAZI]

And then it will spit out the empty teat and drink from one with milk in it. A real non-issue.

 

[M-5]

I was going to say something profound ...............but decided its better to keep my mouth shut. Oh yea no problems with extra teat. Calves will use the ones that work.

 

[ANAZAZI]

profound enough for me.

 

[Supa Dexta]

A calf will starve to death sucking a non working tit? Rather than move the 2 inches in any direction for one of the working 4... :lol2:

 

[cowgirl8]

A calf will starve to death sucking a non working tit? Rather than move the 2 inches in any direction for one of the working 4... :lol2:

I guess you would have to have had a lot more cows to know this does happen. Sometimes, like Bigfoot said, they will work, but not enough to keep it alive. If the other teats are large or hard, the calf will continue to nurse it while the others continue to get bigger because its smaller.. Yeah, it happens..We have lots of cows with extra teats, i do watch to make sure they nurse the good ones that first day. Last year we culled all the bigger udder cows so if i have trouble it will be with a younger cow..
Talk to your vet, he should be able to give you advice. Other than that just watch the calf and make sure he does nurse the right ones...

 

[TexasBred]

And then it will spit out the empty teat and drink from one with milk in it. A real non-issue.

True...never had a calf suck on a dead teat but a couple of seconds and then move on.

 

[cow pollinater]

I guess you would have to have had a lot more cows to know this does happen.

OR... he has quality cows so it doesn't happen at all. I have pretty close to the same amount as you(maybe more, don't remember what number you were bragging about) and I have ONE bottle tit. Invest in some quality genetics and your problem will disappear in time.

 

[Nesikep]

I've got a couple with extra nub teats here and there.. .the other teats are all shaped fine and it has never been a problem... My "milk cow" has 6 working teats. It's worth making sure the calf does get on to the right ones, but they're quick to figure out which ones have milk and which ones don't... you ever try and get them to suck on your finger after they've had the real thing? doesn't work very well.

 

[M-5]

A calf will starve to death sucking a non working tit? Rather than move the 2 inches in any direction for one of the working 4... :lol2:

I guess you would have to have had a lot more cows to know this does happen. Sometimes, like Bigfoot said, they will work, but not enough to keep it alive. If the other teats are large or hard, the calf will continue to nurse it while the others continue to get bigger because its smaller.. Yeah, it happens..We have lots of cows with extra teats, i do watch to make sure they nurse the good ones that first day. Last year we culled all the bigger udder cows so if i have trouble it will be with a younger cow..
Talk to your vet, he should be able to give you advice. Other than that just watch the calf and make sure he does nurse the right ones...

Op asked about a heifer with and extra teat. Not an old wore out cow with bottle teats. Yes a calf can starve on teats that are to big but apparently you've not been around enough cows or heifers to know the difference.

 

[AllForage]

All hobby ranchers/farmers listen here!!! Bow down to the infinite knowledge of the mighty land baron and genetic specialist cowgirl8!!!

When she speaks it should be written in stone!! Do not question or second guess her advice.

 

[Alan]

Sometimes the calf will get fixated on it and not go for the others. If the others get engorged and harder to nurse because the calf is only going for the rouge teat, it may never get a chance to take the others and if you dont intervene, it will starve. On problem cows, the ones whose teats get large, we've had the rouge teat removed.. If its not a good time to take the cow for us, i'll use duct tape and tape up the rouge one in the chute, let the calf nurse the bigger teats down and set them out before the calf is full. Sometimes its hard to get a calf take a larger teat after the only one they've used was small....

Seriously! That's your advice is to a member, a calf may starve to death on a dry, extra, rouge teat? You are all about a step forward and two back.


To Bovine Part Time, if you have a calf that will suck on a dry teat until it dies of starvation there's a lot more wrong than a extra teat. Extra teats=no problems..... Period! Your calf will not starve to death.

Alan

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

All hobby ranchers/farmers listen here!!! Bow down to the infinite knowledge of the mighty land baron and genetic specialist cowgirl8!!!

When she speaks it should be written in stone!! Do not question or second guess her advice.

At least not until you've watched her YouTube videos on the subject.

 

[M-5]

I have a suggestion for the duck tape. But that would not be nice.

 

[dun]

We had a cow that had an extra right square in the middle of the back of her udder. Her sixth calf decided it was something of interest. He would clean out the other 4 then start sucking on that one. If a teat was dry the cow would push him off of that teat. She never minded him spending a lot of time sucking on that blind one. I figured it was a pacafier for him. Her seventh calf never touched it, just that one oddball. BTW he didn;t starve to death and weaned @ 662 lbs.

 

[TexasBred]

All hobby ranchers/farmers listen here!!! Bow down to the infinite knowledge of the mighty land baron and genetic specialist cowgirl8!!!

When she speaks it should be written in stone!! Do not question or second guess her advice.

Don't forget...she owns a plantation as well. :lol2: