lactation- non pregnant heifer

[Pj Broadfoot]

In a message dated 10/28/04 11:53:56 AM Central Daylight Time,
minutus@yahoogroups.com writes:
What can anyone tell me about lactation in a female who has never been
pregnant? In this case the "patient" is a heifer, but I assume the basic
information is the same? Would I be right in assuming that someone (human
or bovine) with this degree of hormonal mix-up is unlikely to be able to
become pregnant? (Or would that be a whole other set of issues?)>>
Any hormones being given to this animal?
What is the possibility of hormonal mimics in the diet?
Could the heifer be getting suckled by other calves in the herd? (Manual
stim will sometimes induce lactation.)
PJ (Paula Jo) Broadfoot DVM 6509 Alma Hwy Van Buren, AR 72956
We do not inherit the earth. We borrow it from our children. (American Indian
Wisdom)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Shannon Nelson]

Hi PJ,
She is completely grassfed and no other animals (she's with 5 other cows)
have shown a similar effect. Also, she is the youngest in the herd, so
suckling doesn't seem to be an issue.

But, no doubt related--vet remarked that she has cysts on her ovaries (I
know no detail beyond that) and her build strikes me as a bit
bull-like--heavier shoulders than the other cows, and slimmer back.

Thanks for the thoughts!
Shannon
on 10/28/04 12:24 PM, pbroadfoot@aol.com at pbroadfoot@aol.com wrote: