Precocious Udder In A Pre-Weaned Jersey Calf: A Novel Paradigm

Abstract:

Precocious udder implies galactopoietic mammogenesis in pre-pubertal heifers that is not associated with the process of calving. A pre-weaned Jersey female calf was presented with complaints of udder development and milk secretion. Calf was primarily fed dam’s milk along with a few chunks of mulberry leaves (Morusalba) as fed to the mother. The udder was distended on palpation. A 6.8 cm vaginal length with a thin dorso-ventral muscular band (hymen) cranial to urinary meatus was unveiled in vaginoscopy. Trans-rectal ultrasonography revealed a normal tubular genital tract with non-palpable ovaries. Multiple anechoic pockets with the lower gland cistern containing a largely dispersed central anechoic cavity indicating a developed mammary gland were revealed during udder ultrasonography. The plasma progesterone level in calf was below 1 ng/ml indicating no luteal activity. Considering the steroidogenic activity of mulberry due to the presence of flavonoids, the owner was advised to discontinue its feeding to dam as well as the calf together with complete milking-out of the calf’s udder. On reappraisal after four weeks, the udder showed atrophy with no secretion. Since a negligible amount of mulberry leaves was consumed by the calf, it is more likely that the estrogenic effects were indirectly delivered through the dam’s milk. Mulberry leaves flavonoids present in the dam’s milk have probably triggered the cascade of udder development in the calf. This is the first report of precocious lactation in a pre-weaned Jersey calf with estrogenic diet supplementation to the dam as the most plausible explanation for its development. Additionally, a primer bonafide review on the subject has also been comprehensively signed.