Teats and Warts

[nuttalls]

hello everyone, just a query, went to a show last year and the 2nd prize heifer, which was very nice a bit overweight for me, but on doing it,s show I noticed a wart on its teat, the judge wasn,t sure where to place it because it had a very little extra teat. the person that owned it was a bit miffed and had words with the judge, after showing had finished I spoke to the owner whom said it was cos of the extra teat, I told him about the wart and he wasn,t aware of it to which then he ripped it off, job done, but what is the correct rules for this? Had he cut the teat off has a baby then what would be the difference it,s still in the breeding. heather

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Both warts and supernumerary teats can prove quite controversial.

Warts are infectious, and despite the fact that they are quite common and many herds will have them, it is not right to take cattle to a show or sale with active warts which may spread the infection to more herds. I would expect a judge or an inspector for sales to reject animals carrying warts, and they should not only not be in the ring but should really be removed from the lines. They should not have been brought in the first place.

Extra teats on the other hand present no risk whatever to surrounding animals. When inspecting at sales I always think it is right to draw attention to the presence of extra teats, but I have never felt it was right to reject such animals as others in the sale might well have had them skillfully removed. They are not desireable in either beef or dairy animals, and the tenedency to them is inherited. So if you are seeking perfection they should be avoided. They might well be good reason to move an animal down the line when judging. Cows which have them or have had them removed are not ideal as bull mothers, as the bull they breed may well pass on the tendency. But this is not a perfect world and no doubt there will always be some about.

Duncan (not a judge)