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Transition Cow Observation
This document provides guidance on observing dairy cows for health issues. It emphasizes paying close attention to individual cows and looking for differences in behavior, coat, feeding, temperature, cleanliness, injuries, swelling, activity levels, production, discharge and body condition compared to other cows. Specific signs of illness are described for various body systems. Scoring charts are included for body condition and lameness. The document stresses the importance of monitoring temperature as a sensitive indicator of health issues like pneumonia or metritis.
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Transition Cow Observation
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- 2. ďŽ Increases changesof recovery ďŽ Reduces milk loss ďŽ Reduces drug costs ďŽ Reduces chances of secondary problems ďŽ Reduces chances of culling ďŽ Makes your life a lot less stressful!
- 7. ďŽ Observe witha purpose ďŽ Pay attention ďŽ Look for cows ď Acting differently than other cows ď Acting differently than they did yesterday ďŽ Ask yourself âwhy is this cow acting this wayâ ďŽ Try to think like a cow ďŽ Walk in front of the cow ďŽ Get behind the cows ďŽ Periodically score cows for at least Body Condition Score and Lameness ďŽ Look at feedstuffs to see if anything abnormal is apparent
- 8. ⢠Describe the situation Whatdo 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. ďŽ Is theherd uniform? ďŽ If not, what differences do you see? ďŽ Which animals are different (age, size, etc.? ďŽ What are the cows doing?
- 10. ďŽ Alertness ďŽ Haircoat ďŽ Feeding behavior ďŽ Cud Chewing ďŽ Temperature ďŽ Cleanliness ďŽ Skin injuries ďŽ Swelling and pain ďŽ Behavior changes ďŽ Activity levels ďŽ Production ďŽ Abnormal discharge ďŽ Rumen and abdominal fill ďŽ Body condition ďŽ Locomotion
- 13. ďŽ âSingle mostuseful measurable parameter and a sensitive indicator of the reactions of the animalâ ďŽ Above 103 ° F-cause for alarm ďŽ Potential for measuring and managing ď Pneumonia/Respiratory Disease ď Metritis ď Mastitis ď Estrus ď Pregnancy ď Heat stress ď Onset of calving
- 14. 1 2 34 5 â˘Deep dip â˘Rumen hole very deep â˘Sharp â˘Cow is/was off feed or ill â˘Less prominent â˘Common for fresh cows â˘Could be sign of low intake or high rate of passage â˘Rumen hole barely visible â˘Less prominent bones â˘Desired for milking cows â˘Rumen hole not visible â˘Good for late lactation/dry cows â˘Rumen hole not visible â˘Vertebrae not visible â˘OK for dry cows From CowSignals, Hulsen, 2006
- 15. Clean cows areeasier to milk! Goal: < 10% score 3 or 4
- 16. ďŽ Stands andwalks normally ďŽ All feet placed with purpose ďŽ Back Posture Standing: Flat ďŽ Back PostureWalking: Flat From Zinpro
- 17. ďŽ Stands withflat back, but arches when walk ďŽ Gait is slightly abnormal ďŽ Back Posture Standing: Flat ďŽ Back PostureWalking:Arched From Zinpro
- 18. ďŽ Stands andwalks with an arched back ďŽ Short strides with one or more legs ďŽ Back Posture Standing: Arched ďŽ Back PostureWalking: Arched From Zinpro
- 19. ďŽ Arched backstanding and walking ďŽ One or more limbs favored with at least partial weight bearing ďŽ Back Posture Standing: Arched ďŽ Back PostureWalking:Arched From Zinpro
- 20. ďŽ Arched back,refuses to bear weight on one limb ďŽ May refuse or have great difficulty moving from lying position ďŽ Back Posture Standing: Arched ďŽ Back PostureWalking:Arched From Zinpro
- 22. Jeffrey Bewley, PhD,PAS jbewley@bovisync.com jbewley@cowfocused.com