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COWS-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 30
A sick animal may lie with head tucked around toward its flank and not want to get up when approached.
General attitude and behavior:
Notice the animal from a distance before it focuses attention on you and is distracted. That way you can tell if the animal is off by itself, acting in an abnormal manner, or in an unusual posture that might indicate pain or distress.
Respiration:
In a healthy calf at rest should be about 20 breaths per minute (10-30 is normal). On a hot day it will breathe faster. Watch his sides, each in-out movement is one respiration. Count for 15 seconds and then multiply by 4.
Pulse Rate:
This is hard to determine unless you restrain the animal and listen to the heart with a stethoscope. Normal pulse in young calves is 100-120 beats a minutes. Adult cattle 60-80 beats a minute.
Temperature:
Normal temperature is 101.5F. Anything over 102.5F is a fever. Anything below 100.5F is below normal and is also serious.
VACCINATIONS
You should check with your veterinarian as to which vaccinations are appropriate for your herd and when to use them, and do not forget to make a record of dates and type of vaccination.
Some vaccinations can be given that stimulate a cow to create antibodies against diseases that cause serious problem in newborn calves i.e. diarrhea caused by rotavirus, corona virus, or E. coli bacteria, or enterotoxaemia causes by C perfringens. If you vaccinate the cow 2 – 4 weeks before calving she will develop antibodies and her colostrums will contain a rich supply. This gives the calf temporary protection from these diseases if it is nursed immediately after birth, many antibodies from colostrums are absorbed directly into its bloodstream. If your calf develops diarrhea ask your vet which type of diarrhea it has and for the correct medication.
General attitude and behavior:
Notice the animal from a distance before it focuses attention on you and is distracted. That way you can tell if the animal is off by itself, acting in an abnormal manner, or in an unusual posture that might indicate pain or distress.
Respiration:
In a healthy calf at rest should be about 20 breaths per minute (10-30 is normal). On a hot day it will breathe faster. Watch his sides, each in-out movement is one respiration. Count for 15 seconds and then multiply by 4.
Pulse Rate:
This is hard to determine unless you restrain the animal and listen to the heart with a stethoscope. Normal pulse in young calves is 100-120 beats a minutes. Adult cattle 60-80 beats a minute.
Temperature:
Normal temperature is 101.5F. Anything over 102.5F is a fever. Anything below 100.5F is below normal and is also serious.
VACCINATIONS
You should check with your veterinarian as to which vaccinations are appropriate for your herd and when to use them, and do not forget to make a record of dates and type of vaccination.
Some vaccinations can be given that stimulate a cow to create antibodies against diseases that cause serious problem in newborn calves i.e. diarrhea caused by rotavirus, corona virus, or E. coli bacteria, or enterotoxaemia causes by C perfringens. If you vaccinate the cow 2 – 4 weeks before calving she will develop antibodies and her colostrums will contain a rich supply. This gives the calf temporary protection from these diseases if it is nursed immediately after birth, many antibodies from colostrums are absorbed directly into its bloodstream. If your calf develops diarrhea ask your vet which type of diarrhea it has and for the correct medication.