Nylon Ingestion in Cows: Causes, Signs, Treatment, and Prevention

[Henlus]

Many livestock farmers lose animals every year because of nylon (plastic) ingestion, yet few know what really happens inside the animal.

This post explains what it means, how to recognize it early, and what to do before it’s too late.
   

What Is Nylon Ingestion?
Nylon ingestion happens when cows, goats, or sheep eat plastics, nylon bags, ropes, or other non-digestible materials while grazing.

These materials cannot be digested or broken down. They build up inside the rumen (the first stomach), blocking the passage of feed and water.
   

Once this happens, digestion slows down or stops completely.

Common Causes
– Grazing near refuse dumps or market areas where plastics are scattered.
– Lack of minerals (especially salt and phosphorus) — this causes pica, a condition where animals eat strange things like nylon, stones, or sand.
– Poor waste disposal around the farm.
– Curiosity or boredom, especially in confined animals with nothing to chew.

Symptoms to Watch Out For
You can easily spot a cow suffering from nylon blockage through the following signs:

– Refusal to eat or drink water.
– Bloating or hard, swollen belly.
– Weakness and standing still for long periods.
– No rumination — the cow stops chewing cud.
– Dull eyes and general tiredness.

Once you see these signs, act fast — delay can kill the animal.

Early Home Management (If Caught Early)
If the case is mild or just starting, you can try to loosen the blockage before it becomes serious:

– Give vegetable oil, paraffin oil, or molasses to help soften the materials inside the stomach.
– Provide plenty of roughage (hay or grass) to help move the materials.
– Ensure there’s always salt lick and mineral blocks available to stop mineral deficiency.
– Monitor closely — if there’s no improvement in 24–48 hours, call a vet immediately.

Veterinary Treatment
If the nylon has already caused a complete blockage, home remedies will not work.

A qualified veterinarian can perform a procedure called rumenotomy — a minor surgery to open the rumen and remove the plastics.

After surgery, the vet will give:
– Antibiotics to prevent infection.
– Pain relievers and antiseptic dressing.
– Rest and soft feed for a few days.

Most animals recover fully and resume eating within a week.

Common Mistakes Farmers Make
– Waiting too long before calling a vet.
– Using only antibiotics or herbs when the real problem is a blockage.
– Believing the problem is caused by “village people” or witchcraft.
– Allowing cows to graze freely in dirty areas filled with waste.
– Ignoring the use of mineral and salt blocks.

Prevention Tips
– Keep your grazing areas clean — burn or bury all nylon and plastic waste.
– Provide mineral blocks and salt licks daily.
– Always give roughage to keep digestion normal.
– Observe your animals — when one stops chewing cud, check immediately.
– Have a vet’s contact on standby — a simple rumenotomy can save your cow.

Final Advice
This problem is 100% real and preventable.
Too many farmers lose cows, goats, and sheep to something as small as a nylon bag.
Don’t wait until your animal stops eating — prevention is cheaper than treatment.
If you run a farm, print and paste this guide in your feed store or office.
It can save you thousands of naira and the life of your best cow.
Would you like me to also make the headings uppercase (for extra visibility on MyBB) or keep them as they are?

[CtrlAltDel]

When you say rumenotomy, is it something an ordinary farmer can try, or it must be done by a vet only?

[Suarus]

Thanks for this post. Many farmers don’t know that mineral deficiency can cause animals to start eating rubbish. Salt lick is very important!

[Quantum]

I once saw a viral video where a vet pulled out a full black nylon sack from a cow’s stomach. I didn’t know it was this common.

[Danny]

The Fulanis will find this useful. But most are illiterates.

[Kryon]

Please how can one tell early enough that it’s nylon problem and not bloat or worms? The symptoms look similar.

[Donk]

Excellent write-up. These are the kind of posts that make FarmersJoint better than random Facebook advice.

[Henlus]

Please how can one tell early enough that it’s nylon problem and not bloat or worms? The symptoms look similar.

That’s a very good question, because honestly the signs of nylon blockage, bloat, and worms can look almost the same at first. But there are some key differences you can use to tell early before it’s too late.
Feeding and rumination:
If it’s nylon or plastic, the cow will just stop eating completely and you won’t see it chewing cud at all. Even when you force-feed, it turns away.
But in bloat, the animal may still try to eat small feed and then swell up fast, especially after eating fresh grass or beans haulms.
For worms, appetite may reduce but not totally stop — the cow still eats and chews cud but loses weight gradually.
How the belly feels:
For nylon cases, when you touch or knock the left belly, it feels very hard and tight, almost like a drum.
Bloat feels swollen and elastic — when you tap it, it sounds hollow or “boomy.”
Worms don’t make the belly that hard; instead, you’ll see rough hair and pale eyes.
How fast it happens:
Nylon blockage develops slowly — maybe over days or weeks, as the animal starts rejecting feed bit by bit.
Bloat comes suddenly, even within hours.
Worm problems take longer — weeks to months.
Other small clues:
With nylon, the stomach goes silent — no rumen movement at all.
With bloat, the cow struggles to breathe, salivates, and may fall suddenly.
With worms, there might be diarrhea, pale gums, and slow growth.
If you’re not sure, call a vet. They can check by passing a stomach tube or doing a small test to see if gas or feed can move.
In the meantime, if you suspect nylon, give vegetable oil or liquid paraffin, provide plenty of water, and don’t delay calling a vet if it doesn’t improve in a day or two. Early action can save the animal.

[Henlus]

When you say rumenotomy, is it something an ordinary farmer can try, or it must be done by a vet only?

You can try it only when you've  been trained for it

[Kryon]

Thanks Henlus