Cow Signals

Alertness Healthy cows give an alert impression and show power and life enjoyment. The eyes should be bright and clean, without any black dirt. The cow has a shiny skin and shows ear focus. A good rumen and belly fill is also a positive indicator.

Withers A too low feed fence and/or too low wither pipes in the cubicles may cause sore or rubbed areas on the withers of the cow. This points to poor access to feed, or poor cubicle comfort.

Posture Cows that constantly shrug their back, are suffering from lameness and/or pain in the stomach. All legs should be posted vertically.

Body Condition Body condition score is an important management instrument. The condition of the cow shows if the ration meets the need of the animal. A cow that is fed according to its needs functions optimally. Health problems can be encountered by too fat animals (especially at the end of lactation) or too skinny animals (especially at the beginning of lactation). Depending on the goals of the farmer, a maximum of 10 percent

Temperature People who wonder about the health of a cow, should measure the temperature. Normally it should be between 38 and 39 degrees Celsius. The body temperature is measured rectally. Cold ears may indicate milk fever or metabolic diseases.

Ruminating Healthy cows ruminate 40 to 50% of the day. Per cud a cow ruminates 50-70 times. Rumination should be vigorously and aggressive.

Breathing Healthy cows can be seen to breath 10 to 30 times per minute. A higher breathing rhythm indicates that a cow can not release her body heat fast enough. It may also be an indication for pain or fever.

Rumen fill Rumen fill tells something about how the cow is doing today: is she eating enough? Seen from the rear, the rumen has to bulge. You can judge the rumen functioning by pressing your fist into the rumen. There should be 10 to 12 strong rumen contractions every 5 minutes.

Udder From a management point of view, the udder can best be judged immediately after the teat cup is removed. The teat and teat end tell you a lot about the quality of the milking process. Under ideal circumstances the teat is supple after milking, with an unchanged teat end and there is no damage or callosity. The color of the teat should be pink. Blue or white coloring or striated teats means that the pulsation of the milking machine is incorrectly adjusted or the vacuum at the teat end is too high.

Claws By observing how the cow puts pressure on her feet you can judge the claw condition. Healthy cows stand in the same way on every leg during eating. Small movements or pointing at the legs with the head indicate claw problems. A bad stable flooring or poor hoof trim management may cause claw problems, but also incorrect feeding leads to poor hoof growth.

Manure The manure tells you about the quality of yesterdays feeding. Score the manure on consistency and digestion. No large, undigested parts should be visible.

Legs Bruises on hocks and knees indicate poor cow housing. Baldness and injuries are the result of non-optimal cubicle sizes, poor litter and/or lameness.

From: CM background, Illustration Ed Boelaarts Source: Vetvice.nl, Best

Nose The nose should be wet and there should be no dirt moustache.

Scoring the stretch and scratch factor for TMR rations of dairy cows

A TMR with a high water content has a significantly reduced scratching value.

Score 1 The feed feels like a sponge, it does not scratch. The TMR has a low fiber content. After having been squeezed together, the mix does not disintegrate at all and retains a ball shape.

Score 2 The TMR mix gives a light scratch or tickling sensation. The mix has a reasonable fiber content. After having been squeezed together, the mix stays in a ball shape. Score 3 The TMR scratches to the touch. Stretch and scratch are far more obvious. After having been squeezed together, the mix falls apart upon release. Score 4 There is definitively a scratch sensation in the hand. The mix is rich in fiber. After having been squeezed together, it falls apart very easily. Score 5 There is a strong prickling (needle-like) sensation in the hand. The TMR is extremely high in fiber content. The mix hardly allows squeezing together and upon release it disintegrates into longer parts.

Source: Lely Industries

Locomotion scoring of dairy cattle Locomotion scoring is based on the observation of cows standing and walking (gait), with special emphasis on their back posture. This system is intuitive and, therefore, easy to learn and implement. Use of locomotion scoring is effective for early detection of claw (hoof) disorders, monitoring prevalence of lameness, comparing the incidence and severity of lameness between herds and identifying individual cows for functional claw (hoof) trimming. Animal observations should be made on a flat surface that provides good footing for cows. Cows scoring 2 or 3 should be examined

and trimmed to prevent more serious problems. Trimming should be done by a competent trimmer with the goal of returning the claws to functional weight bearing and conformation.

Locomotion score

Drop in DM intake

Drop in Milk production

1 0% 0% 2 1% 0% 3 3% 5% 4 7% 17% 5 16% 36%

Adapted from Sprecher, D.J.; Hostetler, D.E.; Kaneene, J.B. 1997 Theriogenology 47:1178-1187 Locomotion Score 1 Clin ical Description: Normal Description Stands and walks normally. All feet placed with purpose Locomotion Score 2 Clinical Description: Mildly lame Description Stands with flat back, but arches when walks. Gait is slightly abnormal. Locomotion Score 3 Clinical Description: Moderately lame Description Stands and walks with an arched back. Short strides with one or more legs Locomotion Score 4 Clinical Description: lame Description Arched back standing and walking. One or more limbs favored but at least partially weight bearing Locomotion Score 5 Clinical Description: Severely lame Description Arched back, refuses to bear weight on one limb. May refuse or have great difficulty moving from lying position.

Scoring the digestion of dairy cows by the manure

(by hand) Score 1 The manure feels like a creamy substance and is homogeneous and very weak. The manure contains no undigested feed particles. Score 2 The manure feels like a creamy emulsion and is homogeneous. The manure contains some undigested feed particles. Score 3 The manure does not feel homogeneous. Undigested parts can be detected. After squeezing and opening the hand, undigested fiber parts stick to the fingers. Score 4 Large feed particles can be felt in the manure. Undigested parts are clearly visible. After squeezing and reopening the hand, a ball of undigested fiber remains in the hand. Score 5 Large feed particles can be felt in the manure. Undigested parts from the ration are clearly recognisable.

D. Zaaijer, W.D.J. Kremer, J.P.T.M. Noordhuizen

Scoring the manure consistence of dairy cows

(visual score and boot test) Score 1 The manure is water thin and is not recognisable as manure. Indication: pea soup. Score 2 The manure looks like thin yoghurt and is recognisable as manure. The manure spatters widely around, when it falls on a hard surface. Indication: Very flat Score 3 The manure looks like thick, more or less solid yoghurt. When it falls, a soft sound can be heard. Boot test: the boot profile does not leave an imprint in the manure. The manure does not stick to the boot when the boot is lifted. Indication: Forming rings Score 4 The manure is thick; a hard sound can be heard when it falls. The manure is clearly a round and piles when a new drop falls. Boot test: the boot profile leaves an imprint in the manure and the manure sticks to the boot when the boot is lifted. Indication: Thick substance Score 5 The manure is deposited in stiff manure balls (looks like horse manure). The manure exists of big dry piles. Boot test: The boot profile remains in the manure. Indication: Tears in the eyes

D. Zaaijer, W.D.J. Kremer, J.P.T.M. Noordhuizen

Scoring the rumen fill of dairy cows (looking at the cow from behind)

Score 1 Deep shrunken left side; the skin on top of the diagonal protuberance of the lumbar vertebra is caved-in. The fold of skin goes clearly vertically down from the hip bone. The rumen pit behind the rib bow is more than a hands width. Seen from the side, you have a rectangular flank view. Score 2 The skin over the diagonal protuberance of the lumbar vertebra is caved-in. The fold of skin from the hip bone bump folds slopes to the front, to the rib bow. The rumen pit behind the rib bow equals a hands width. Seen from the side, you have a triangular view. Score 3 The skin over the diagonal protuberance of the lumbar vertebra goes vertically down first and then curves to the outside. The fold of skin from the hip bone is not visible, but the rumen pit behind the rib bow can be seen. Score 4 The skin across the diagonal protuberance of the lumbar vertebra is curved directly to the outside. Behind the rib bow, no rumen pit can be seen. Score 5 The diagonal protuberance of the lumbar vertebra is not visible because of a well-filled rumen. The belly skin is strongly stretched. No transition from the side to the ribs can be seen

D. Zaaijer, W.D.J. Kremer, J.P.T.M. Noordhuizen

Scoring the Body Condition of dairy cows

Score 1 POOR Tail head deep cavity with no fatty tissue under skin. Skin fairly supple but coat condition often rough. Loin spine prominent and horizontal processes sharp. Score 2 MODERATE Tail head shallow cavity but pin bones prominent; some fat under skin. Skin supple. Loin horizontal processes can be identified individually with ends rounded. Score 3 GOOD Tail head fat cover over whole area and skin smooth but pelvis can be felt. Loin end of horizontal process can only be felt with pressure; only slight depression in loin. Score 4 FAT Tail head completely filled and folds and patches of fat evident. Loin cannot feel processes and will have completely rounded appearance. Score 5 GROSSLY FAT Tail head buried in fatty tissue, pelvis impalpable even with firm pressure. Loin cannot feel processes and will have completely rounded appearance.

Source: DEFRA