Cattle Warts

Warts are caused by a Papilloma virus and are very contagious from direct contact between cattle and also by sharing leads, ropes and halters. They are of no economic significance but are the bane of people showing cattle as they often appear in a herd when cattle are being broken in or prepared for a show. There are different strains of papilloma virus and these tend to infect specific areas of the cows body. The virus is inside the wart and not in the cows body and so even though cattle eventually become immune to warts, it takes a long time for them to do so. Crushing or cutting off the warts to promote bleeding may help stimulate the immune system to mount an immune response to warts. When you see warts on young cattle, crush or cut them off as soon as possible.

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