Umbilical Hernias & Breeding

[Bleenie]

I am posting for my own knowledge but also for potential buyers in case I do sell my two girls...

I have a pair of Holstein heifers that both have umbilical hernias, both caused from Naval Ill that I treated after getting them.

Heifer #1(Bella) is 9wks old & has a small hernia, soft, clean, easily pushed back up and causes no pain or discomfort.

Heifer #2(butterscotch) is 8wks old & has a sizeable hernia, probably no more than 3 inches long, easily pushed back up inside but i can definitely feel something in there(not sure if it's scarred hernia tissue or intestine), it's clean and also causes her no pain or discomfort. She doesn't even care when i brush right over it or around it... and i don't try to be gentle when i brush them either.
(there's some side/belly fluff in front of it here that is Not part of the hernia)

What I would like is everyone's opinion on repair/don't repair & future breeding with the hernias

 

[Lothiriel]

I have no personal experience with repairing hernias in cattle or breeding heifers that have them... The only knowledge I have of them is from books I've read in The Cattle Health Handbook by Heather Smith Thomas. She says that umbilical hernias seem to be genetic, and cows that had them as calves themselves will most likely pass it on to their offspring. Because of that she says it's best not to use a heifer for breeding if she has a hernia.

I have heard of folks who have kept them and used them as family milk cows... I don't know anything about their offspring, but they have apparently calved and milked just fine.