About 500 isolates of <I>Escherichia coli </I>were recovered from apparently healthy cattle and tested for their susceptibility to third generation cephalosporins and extended spectrum beta-lactamase producers were detected using the double dusk synergy test. Representative isolates were selected on the basis of their cephalosporin resistance patterns for plasmids analysis and mating experiment using <I>E. coli </I>25922 as recipient. Resistance to cefoxitin was highest as 395 (79.0%) showed resistance to the antibiotic while resistance to ceftriaxone was the lowest with 87 (17.4%) isolates. Seventy two isolates were confirmed to be extended spectrum beta-lactamase producers. Two of 13 representative isolates selected among the extended spectrum beta lactamase producers carried single plasmids while the remaining 11 isolates contain multiple plasmids ranging from 1.2-22.2 kb. The cephalosporin-resistant isolates also carried plasmids with sizes ranging from 4.32-32 kb. Twelve isolates among the extended spectrum beta-lactamase producers that carried plasmids successfully transferred the plasmids to the recipient while all the cephalosporin-resistant isolates successful transferred plasmids to the recipient strain. The use of third-generation cephalosporins in animal medicine should be regulated.