Even the highest producing cows won‘t produce as expected when sick hence keeping them healthy is vital in maximizing productivity.
A healthy animal will have a temperature range between 38 and 39 degrees, normal lung sound, breathing and heart sound. A healthy animal should also have a smooth hairy coat, appetite for feed and water normal consistency of the stool, normal colour of urine and should always be with other animals and not in isolation.
Ill health signs
Sick animals have a reduced appetite ie the animal does not totally eat or drink and have a rough hair coat.
Reduced production ie drop in milk production, live in isolation and incase animals are moving in a group, sick ones will always lag behind.
Sick animals also have a dry muzzle and in most cases have issues with their digestive system which causes diarrhoea or constipation.
Coughing incase the disease affects the respiratory system and also laboured breathing.
Diagnosing sick animals
When you notice an animal is sick, inquire about the history of the sickness for example when it started and for how long the animal has been sick. Do a general check in which you check on the environment, heart and lung sound.
After a general analysis, do a differential diagnosis where you list down all the possible causes of the conditions observed during general analysis. After this, do the specific diagnosis which you now by elimination you remain with the specific disease affecting the cow which you now treat.
Incase you are not sure of the specific disease, refer to a veterinary doctor.
