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A. SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR A HEALTHY ANIMAL
1.
Does the animal react normally to its environment and in the herd or is it acting strangely?
(
Behaviour)
2.
Does it carry its head, ears, body and tail as usual? Does it walk normally? (
Attitude)
3.
Is the animal in good condition and is it well muscled, neither too thin or too fat? (
Condition)
4. Does it eat, drink and ruminate properly?
5. Does it urinate and defaecate normally?
6. If a cow is in milk, is there a sudden drop in milk production?
7. Any other abnormal signs?
Consult a veterinarian in case any change is noticed
B. OBSERVING BASIC HEALTH PARAMETERS
•
Breathing frequency
- (Breathing in + breathing out) is 10-30 times per minute in normal
adults and 30-50 times per minute in calves. Observed best from the animal’s right flank,
seen from behind.
•
Rumination
- Not less than 40 times per minute and 7-10 hours per day.
•
Rumen movement
- Two to three per minute, can be felt by pressing lightly on the
upper part of the left flank.
•
Appearance
- A healthy animal has a shining, smooth and even coat as well as shiny horns
and hoofs. Eyes should also be normal without discharge or tears and muzzle moist.
•
Fever
- Usually accompanied by rapid breathing, shivering and occasionally diarrhoea.
Ears, horns and legs are usually cold to touch while body is too warm.
If any change is observed in the above parameters or fever seen, consult a veterinarian.
Body condition scoring
Scoring
Interpretation
Vertebrae at
middle of the
back
Rear view of
the hook bone
(cross-section)
Side view of the
line between hook
and pin bones
Cavity between tail
head and pin bone
(rear and side view)
Score 1 -
Severe under-conditioning
Score 2 -
Frame obvious
Score 3 -
Frame and covering well
Score 4 -
Frame not very visible
Score 5 -
Severe over-conditioning
Not in good health.
Will not milk well or
reproduce.
Health may be OK. But
milk production low and
poor reproduction.
High producing, but fat
may not be enough for
peak production.
May have more metabolic
problems at calving.
Extremely fat and will
have metabolic and
breeding problems.
Dry cows and calving cows should have a body condition score of 3.5 (See chapter on body scoring)
Observe your animals closely to help diagnose diseases early