Diagnosing Your Cows Health – Ag Matters

A quick look at your cows can tell you a lot about their health.  Cornell's Small Farm Program offers three vital signs to monitor.  

VITAL SIGNS: Split-Second Animal Performance Monitoring For Cows is an an article written for the Small Farms Program by Meg Grzeskiewicz.  She owns Rhinestone Cattle Co. in Colden, NY and while she raises beef cattle, her tips apply to any cow. Here's the three things to watch:

The Rumen

Stand facing a cow’s left side (with her head to your left and tail to your right). You need to be on the left side, because that’s where the rumen is. Look for a triangular indentation behind her ribcage and before her hook (hip) bone, high on her side, just beneath her loin muscle. If you can’t see any depression, her rumen is full.

 

Manure

 The ideal manure pile is one to two inches tall. It has circular ripples like a target, and a small pond-like depression in the middle. Spread it open with your boot. It should have the consistency of “pumpkin pie.”

Drinking

They should put their noses right in the water and drink without hesitation. If they sniff or lick at the water, play with it or hesitate, you have a water quality problem. If you wouldn’t drink it, don’t make your livestock!

 

The articles goes much deeper into detail, you can read it here.  The Rhinestone Cattle Company offers consultancy on grazing animals on your farm and many other related services including grass fed beef for sale.  Learn more about the company here.

SOURCE: Cornell's Small Farms Program