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Extreme Rarity of Cancer in the Cow's Udder: A Negative Finding of Vital Interest to the Dairy Industry and to the Consumer

Division Dairy Cattle Breeding, Feeding and Management Investigations, Bureau of Dairy Industry, United States Department of Agriculture

ABSTRACT

In connection with the investigations in the Bureau of Dairy Industry of the interrelation between conformation, anatomy and producing ability of cows, the udders of 313 cows of lactating age, and of 105 heifers and free-martins, have been filled with formalin, frozen, cut into sections, the sections photographed and otherwise studied in detail. This prescribed program brings to light any lesions, growths or other abnormalities that these udders may contain. Many of the lesions that have been found are thought to have resulted from mastitis but in no case has a cancerous growth been found. This paper describes unusual lesions that were found in two udders and discusses the highly important subject of the cow's apparent lack of susceptibility to mammary cancer.

Cow No. 656 made a 365-day production record at 2 years 4 months of 9,713 pounds of milk and 474 pounds of butterfat. There is no record of any udder trouble that required treatment during the first three lactation periods.