es ae Cow SIGNALS Wc (Com CO CTC MUP ur i“ :Cow SIGNALS A practical guide for dairy farm management Jan Hulsen‘Author «an Hulsn, Yesioe® Translators iKlsssJan & Gerda Suet Content editors ‘Sah Balle MROVS, Mijam Goer ROWS, van vile Downer ROS Language editor sey Burtougn, Science Eating & “Tansiaon, Wageningen, NL Coordination Ui Bartsch, Gere ven der Ke Photography (Cover phot: Marca ken ther photos: Jan Husan (unless stated otherwise) Drawings ‘Margen Fete Design and tayout Erk do Brn, Varia Desi With thanks to: + Dik Zain [Future Fartity Syste, Delden, NL) soost de Veer (hist Lid, NL + Otis Sarpinon (Prial Heath Sonic Ld, Dove, NL) {+ Menna Holenauer (Primal Heath Sovice Ls, Dover, NL) 1 Jan Fre (PTD, Horst, ML) + oop Driessen (Veen) Neo Vesburg (etice/0C De Overant, Oss, NL} + Baran Westen (VetvesDAG Oeste, acter, NL + Francesca Neierfus \Recoerh Inctute for Animal Husbancy 'ASG, Leytad, NL) And to: Nall Chestetn, Gert Hoojer Paul Hulsen, Aart de Kru Dick de Large, Jos Noarthizen, Koos Posters, Themas Schonowl, 2oier van der Vie, Bert Veihuizon, fond huncteds of cary farmers, veteinar sane, fam adieets and agricuuralexton- ‘on ofcars in the Netetancs and tha x Jan Miteinebeek lan Mares 2007 No part of his okay be rocouan any term or by ary decree ech es incur aman strae ane ec stan wou per paisson ht for ‘heputlerr Roopéanyt 0, Box 2108, 720080 Zupan, Nard Teepe: +1 575 54 8.8 Fac 191 WETS 54 £000 inert VETVICE owetansetean 118 L614 PC Gen ap Zeer Taonone +t 165304305 “Te aur ae puter have coma ie ptieston wh ecard tthe bes ha row. Thy ane bs el abla Sinan, whstve ts ois Fo est ‘tas on ferns ena etContents Si 1 Don't just look: obsorvel 8 From large to sat rauating cow sires Look and compare Flak gts Ineeator annals ik locations “Time ok Not competing intemal Unclasiiesrotabe bsenations Asatomy oa oow Fis management ‘Succes factors Bat grass: Heath, stands seks one ks Tre ultimate gazor ‘Permanent pasture ane sucker eons ‘cows senses Group betavout Lyra dou ard gating Heat jeosrus) ‘tonto ta Gow contort Hooves at pasture Locomotion seare ‘9. When housed Use cri! eye Dierences between soimals ‘Space and soci der ik acatons Light ard ciate Froors 8 8 2 at 2 2 88988 Bf RISBSeRe Hoot score 40 (Other causes oflemeness. 41 Hoot problems: the consequences 42 The reed 0 fe down 43 cuticles 4 ooking and understanding 47 Straw yrs pr Gesniness 20ore 2 4 White eating and digesting Rumor sore ood intake ‘end digestion Dura Dug score A Dung soo B Raton preparation Food ane Location of he ee bari fina tough Water Body conten score ‘Canaan score char ‘What doas the condton soot ol us? ik grours 28 Bagnes s 5 tn the mitking parlour Learing to swe more ‘Benaveurentorng tne pau Benevour leaving he arbur Peace and quit dura miking Behaviour durrg milking ‘Geaninass and rygiene Se 23 338 8 8 Hocks Eating ik Tet heath “ea acora Fumen fi tobotie milking Success factor for ow do you assess tis? ‘TMeifers and dry cows ‘Universal far speciic Growth sre development The et days of te Changes ‘Cows ean Fearing young stock Dy patog ‘ound caling 2 7% 4 76 76 7 Ey a ro 85 B RR°SBese BIntroduction Modern dairy farmers are hant-work: ng and need to know a tremendous amount. They are deluged with infor mation about cattle husbandry, hows ing, and farm business management. There is so much to knave that some times its dificult to see the wood for the trees With the expansion of farm ing enterprises, workloads, and the need for detailed knowledge, daity farmers and their advisers could find themselves inthe situation where they are Tosing sight of the cows. But the bottom line is that dairy farming is about cows. A cow gives out signals about her well. being and health. She does this ‘dhrough behaviour, posture, and phys jal traits. You can make wse of these ‘ow signals to optimise your farm's profitability. The first step involves careful observation, followed by searching for causes, and then trans lating all of this into. practical solu tons. And you should be asking your self certain questions over and aver f¢ What dot see? 6 How has this come about ‘© What does this mean? Know signals This practical guide was compiled fo and with da surgeons to provide them with adit nal tools for observing and using cow 19 how to read the signals, Our goal i to prevent diveases, improve cow comfort, and optimise production. Recently, a dairy farmer asked me ‘A couple of days before ‘cw falls sick, how can I tell that some thi save on vet's Bills, nat lose yield, and improve the cow's comfort” That ‘question touches on the issues funds mental to this book: The challenge is to pick up as many signs as possible before real problems occur, «0 eval at risks before they claim victims, and to notice symptoms before the d fully shoves itself Another reason {0 lodk at cow signals more purposefully is the dan, arm blindness: thinking that what you see every day on your farm is nor mal, This is @ potential danger for ‘everyone and means that you might no longer notice what's happening, Around you. Making a point of incl dling specific observation times in your daily routine, discussing matters ct cally with colleagues and advisers, and Visiting other farms all help to reduce this risk‘A book on observing Cow Signals is not a textbook but a _guide on how to observe and evaluate So it comtains more than 250 pictures and illustrations that clearly show what observations can be made. looking at the examples and working Uhrough the picture quizzes will help yu to look at your own cows from a new perspective. And it will help you to Took through a cow's eyes ~ at the arc) appears to favour her Wt rc 09) Veluable reminders Nobody can remember everything accurately, so write things down on a notepad, blackboard, or compute ‘With data from previous observations ‘on hand, new observations can be kept in context. On farms with a workforce fof more than one, exchanging infor mation helps ensure everyone is up to date. In addition, writing things down, forces you to describe clearly what yor see, which will help you sharpen yourRisk groups Certain groups of animals are at great cr risk than others. Animals in risk ‘groups are the first co send out the sg nals indicating that something is going wrong. Spotting something abnormal im an animal from a risk ‘group should set alarm bells ringing, because it's a group signal and other animals are likely to develop similar symptoms. very risk has its own associated risk groups and every group has its own associated risks, Hightielding cows, for example, will be the first to show that theresa problem with the ration, Risksare always prosent. The challenge is wo limit them, identify them early, and respond quickly, so that they do rot cause foo much damage. Indicator animals I certain risks fist become apparent in certain groups of animals, you can use these groups to monito risks. The cows in the risk gro fanetion as indicator animals. For example, if you're worse about the availability of forage because access to itis limited, then monitor the animals that will havea problem frst: the he fers in the milling herd. If their pro duction and food intake are disap- pointing, this is an indication that more forage needs to be provided.[isk groups, risks, and cow signals ‘Some randontyclotec exam ors Grune, ks, andthe cow signs used to meni Risk group | Risk Cow signal Froshly calved | Moto + Siow cows Masite + Fever 29°C /102.5°F) + Sueling, discharge ie fever | + sow, decreases appetite * Weak muscles, unable to stan! up No tever Inaufcert energy intake | + Sow + Poor samen (score <2 + Sil of acston on breath and in ik + High fat anor ow poten Cows * sua amen i in heat + acon fencing te ries | = Atty of caw i Rest * Retesaness veoh Calves that | Ling womvecion |» Coughing are not pro- “leigh oss tected against | ung worm |Risk locations Examples of risk locations tn adkition to risk animals, here are also risk locations that ean be identi TF Along, gh tack Hey wes fhe fied on farm. These are places where hooves and posse ny tom sal animals could be injured or beat risk snes from dangers in their environment Risk locations require regular mont ‘Pex At pasture, cons se vary sis toring and assessment. Implement cape to eremea n re weatner improvements if the risk of injury is sun, wind or ran whieh can aad to high reciced food acl wate intake “F The yoke Minor shortcomings caused ‘by fecuent use can lad to lor prob lame, and if armas ry to escape ‘rough a damaged yoke hey may be __ Fiurod ‘F cata, wet beading fr caves. okies 0 very suscoptba to crave and‘Times of risk mes of risk are identified as periods with an increased risk af disease, ail ments, and discomfort, This can be rela ted to Season, age, stage of lactation, and certain activities (moving cattle mixing groups). Make more frequent checks during these times. In many id change play an impor ia decrease in tant role. Stress food intake and weakening of the immune system. I's essential tobe pre pared for these tisk periods and 10 ‘monitor them. What might happen? Often, preventive measures can be taken to ensure animals get through these periods without problems Responding rapidly to problems can prevent serious consequences. Plan ahead and then you'l be able to assess ‘whether everything is as it should be and deteet problems promptly Examples of times of risk Toveg ot Even coms inthe herd Yoavrg Tita changes FWeather changes Ven cr aboot farmer Troera cate Vist avons F stansng or move than an hour Trestassness