heifer cant manage cud - manually remove

[calfmomma]

I have a springing heifer who over the past month has developed an issue with managing her cud. In the beginning approx. 1 month ago she seemed to only have the problem when fed baleage, it has now progressed to the point that she can't handle second cutting bales, we have to restrain her and pull out the cuds on both sides of her mouth, she drools terribly and we don't have any idea what has caused this. She is a jeresy and she is quite small. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Rhodie]

Check if her tongue is normal and she is not developing "wooden tongue" (actinobacillosis).

[BecM]

Is she actually chewing her food, swallowing and regurgitating or is she not able to chew and swallow her hay at all??

One possibility that sprung to mind is 'hardware disease' eg a piece of baling twine,wire etc that is caught around her toungue and going down her throat or actually lodged in the reticulum and preventing cudding and normal flow of material.

Vet job I would say and sooner rather than later. Good luck