What signs should I be paying attention to when herding calves?
- Location - when herding older animals, we will be immediately drawn to individuals located away from the group. In herds of cows with calves, maternal instincts kick in and calves are often 'hidden' along boundaries, either in groups or alone. Do not get concerned if this is the case.
- Lying - animals that feel cold will lie with heads curled in along their body, to prevent heat loss. If a group are cold they will often lie in bunches in a certain area of a pen or field. On the other hand, animals that are warm will lie stretched out. These behaviours are not a cause for concern in calves outdoors that have suckled/are feeding.
- Stretch - healthy, content animals will stretch on rising and quickly return to normal posture. Do not get alarmed if young calves don't rise quickly when you disturb them. However, they should stretch when they eventually rise. Be aware of suckler cows when herding calves - don't turn your back.
- Head - once standing calves should stand squarely with a flat back and carry their heads level with, or higher than their front shoulders.
- Ears - should be erect, not drooping.
- Nose - should be clean, moist and warm - not cold and likewise not too hot. Mucous discharge from the nose can indicate respiratory problems.
- Eyes - we want eyes to be full and bright, not cloudy and not sunken in the head. We don't want to see any dirt or pus around the eyes, nor should there be any discharge.
- Body - skin shouldn't be tight. The animal shouldn't appear 'empty' though this can be hard to spot in calves. Check too that the navel is not hard (if possible) or swollen. The coat should be clean and groomed.
- Breathing - >30 breaths per minute may be a sign of respiratory problems. However, on warm days respiratory rates will be faster.
- Tail - a swishing or slightly raised tail can indicate that the animal is experiencing gut discomfort and scour symptoms could be imminent.
- Dung consistency - healthy calf dung will have a light colour initially and darken as the animal gets older, with a thick paste consistency. Think thick mustard. It is not uncommon for traces of blood to suddenly appear in what is otherwise healthy dung from a healthy-looking, young calf. This isn't cause for immediate concern - the calf may have ingested something solid (e.g. concentrate feed/straw) that its sensitive digestive system isn't yet fully ready for. Monitor these animals in the following days. They will generally be fine.
- Hind-quarter - the hind quarter should be dry and clean. If the area under the anus and across the back end is wet and matted with dung, there is or has been a digestive issue. Dark staining indicates coccidiosis, as does evidence of blood through the staining. Pay attention to animals as they're dunging. If the animal finishes dunging and keeps pushing or is straining, this can be evidence of inflammation in the gut and a potential scour problem.
- Suckling - obviously it's great to see calves suckling, but this mightn't always materialise when we're present. Check their mothers to ensure teats are clean and sucked out. A calf will be less inclined to suck a dirty teat and this can lead to complications for the dam. If she experiences discomfort, she may kick when the calf vists to drink - potentially injuring the calf and/or discouraging it from drinking. If you see a calf visiting a drinking trough for water (in periods of normal temperatures) if could be a sign that the animal is hungry.
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What signs should I be paying attention to when herding calves?
- Location - when herding older animals, we will be immediately drawn to individuals located away from the group. In herds of cows with calves, maternal instincts kick in and calves are often 'hidden' along boundaries, either in groups or alone. Do not get concerned if this is the case.
- Lying - animals that feel cold will lie with heads curled in along their body, to prevent heat loss. If a group are cold they will often lie in bunches in a certain area of a pen or field. On the other hand, animals that are warm will lie stretched out. These behaviours are not a cause for concern in calves outdoors that have suckled/are feeding.
- Stretch - healthy, content animals will stretch on rising and quickly return to normal posture. Do not get alarmed if young calves don't rise quickly when you disturb them. However, they should stretch when they eventually rise. Be aware of suckler cows when herding calves - don't turn your back.
- Head - once standing calves should stand squarely with a flat back and carry their heads level with, or higher than their front shoulders.
- Ears - should be erect, not drooping.
- Nose - should be clean, moist and warm - not cold and likewise not too hot. Mucous discharge from the nose can indicate respiratory problems.
- Eyes - we want eyes to be full and bright, not cloudy and not sunken in the head. We don't want to see any dirt or pus around the eyes, nor should there be any discharge.
- Body - skin shouldn't be tight. The animal shouldn't appear 'empty' though this can be hard to spot in calves. Check too that the navel is not hard (if possible) or swollen. The coat should be clean and groomed.
- Breathing - >30 breaths per minute may be a sign of respiratory problems. However, on warm days respiratory rates will be faster.
- Tail - a swishing or slightly raised tail can indicate that the animal is experiencing gut discomfort and scour symptoms could be imminent.
- Dung consistency - healthy calf dung will have a light colour initially and darken as the animal gets older, with a thick paste consistency. Think thick mustard. It is not uncommon for traces of blood to suddenly appear in what is otherwise healthy dung from a healthy-looking, young calf. This isn't cause for immediate concern - the calf may have ingested something solid (e.g. concentrate feed/straw) that its sensitive digestive system isn't yet fully ready for. Monitor these animals in the following days. They will generally be fine.
- Hind-quarter - the hind quarter should be dry and clean. If the area under the anus and across the back end is wet and matted with dung, there is or has been a digestive issue. Dark staining indicates coccidiosis, as does evidence of blood through the staining. Pay attention to animals as they're dunging. If the animal finishes dunging and keeps pushing or is straining, this can be evidence of inflammation in the gut and a potential scour problem.
- Suckling - obviously it's great to see calves suckling, but this mightn't always materialise when we're present. Check their mothers to ensure teats are clean and sucked out. A calf will be less inclined to suck a dirty teat and this can lead to complications for the dam. If she experiences discomfort, she may kick when the calf vists to drink - potentially injuring the calf and/or discouraging it from drinking. If you see a calf visiting a drinking trough for water (in periods of normal temperatures) if could be a sign that the animal is hungry.
Keep Learning