Why do cattle chew plastic?

Cattle often chew plastic if it's been left out on pasture to prevent the spread of weeds or mud accumulation. However, plastic can accumulate within a cow's body and is indigestible, causing health problems in the form of ulcers of the mouth and intestinal walls.**

It can also create a physical blockage called hardware disease that must be remedied with surgery - sometimes repeatedly. **Hardware disease often leads to cattle mortality by peritonitis.

Preventing access to discarded plastic is the ideal means of preventing problems arising from the ingestion of such foreign waste materials within cattle; if they still chew this foreign substance, contact a vet who'll provide treatment options to save your calf.