Due to their unselective feeding habits, cattle may ingest a variety of foreign bodies. Cattle cannot spit out metallic agents (e.g. screws, nails, pieces of wire, bottle tops) once in their mouths, and so ingest them. Heavier metallic objects consumed can become lodged in the [[Reticulum - Anatomy & Physiology|reticulum]], and may penetrate the reticular wall under the influence of the continuous [[Reticulum - Anatomy & Physiology#Ruminoreticular contraction|reticular movements]] or forces caused by pregnancy and parturition. | Due to their unselective feeding habits, cattle may ingest a variety of foreign bodies. Cattle cannot spit out metallic agents (e.g. screws, nails, pieces of wire, bottle tops) once in their mouths, and so ingest them. Heavier metallic objects consumed can become lodged in the [[Reticulum - Anatomy & Physiology|reticulum]], and may penetrate the reticular wall under the influence of the continuous [[Reticulum - Anatomy & Physiology#Ruminoreticular contraction|reticular movements]] or forces caused by pregnancy and parturition. |