In this presentation, methods for observing transition cow problems are covered.

1. Jeffrey Bewley, PhD, PAS

2.  Increases changes of recovery
 Reduces milk loss
 Reduces drug costs
 Reduces chances of
secondary problems
 Reduces chances of culling
 Makes your life a lot less
stressful!

7.  Observe with a purpose
 Pay attention
 Look for cows
 Acting differently than other cows
 Acting differently than they did yesterday
 Ask yourself “why is this cow acting this way”
 Try to think like a cow
 Walk in front of the cow
 Get behind the cows
 Periodically score cows for at least Body Condition Score
and Lameness
 Look at feedstuffs to see if anything abnormal is
apparent

8. • Describe the
situation
What do I see?
• Identify the
cause.
How did this
happen? • Is this a signal
that something
is wrong?
What does this
mean?
• Identify a
solution to the
problem.
What should I
do?

9.  Is the herd uniform?
 If not, what differences
do you see?
 Which animals are
different (age, size,
etc.?
 What are the cows
doing?

10.  Alertness
 Hair coat
 Feeding behavior
 Cud Chewing
 Temperature
 Cleanliness
 Skin injuries
 Swelling
and pain
 Behavior changes
 Activity levels
 Production
 Abnormal discharge
 Rumen and abdominal
fill
 Body condition
 Locomotion

13.  “Single most useful measurable parameter and a sensitive
indicator of the reactions of the animal”
 Above 103 ° F-cause for alarm
 Potential for measuring and managing
 Pneumonia/Respiratory Disease
 Metritis
 Mastitis
 Estrus
 Pregnancy
 Heat stress
 Onset of calving

14. 1 2 3 4 5
•Deep dip
•Rumen hole
very deep
•Sharp
•Cow is/was
off feed or ill
•Less
prominent
•Common for
fresh cows
•Could be
sign of low
intake or high
rate of
passage
•Rumen hole
barely visible
•Less
prominent
bones
•Desired for
milking cows
•Rumen hole
not visible
•Good for late
lactation/dry
cows
•Rumen hole
not visible
•Vertebrae
not visible
•OK for dry
cows
From CowSignals, Hulsen, 2006

15. Clean cows are easier to milk!
Goal:
< 10%
score 3 or 4

16.  Stands and walks normally
 All feet placed with purpose
 Back Posture Standing: Flat
 Back PostureWalking: Flat
From Zinpro

17.  Stands with flat back, but
arches when walk
 Gait is slightly abnormal
 Back Posture Standing: Flat
 Back PostureWalking:Arched
From Zinpro

18.  Stands and walks with an
arched back
 Short strides with one or
more legs
 Back Posture Standing:
Arched
 Back PostureWalking:
Arched From Zinpro

19.  Arched back standing and
walking
 One or more limbs favored
with at least partial weight
bearing
 Back Posture Standing: Arched
 Back PostureWalking:Arched
From Zinpro

20.  Arched back, refuses to bear
weight on one limb
 May refuse or have great
difficulty moving from lying
position
 Back Posture Standing: Arched
 Back PostureWalking:Arched
From Zinpro

22. Jeffrey Bewley, PhD, PAS
jbewley@bovisync.com
jbewley@cowfocused.com