Cow Signals

Alertness

Withers

Posture

Body Condition

Temperature

Healthy cows give an

A too low feed fence

Cows that

Body condition score is an

People who wonder

alert impression and

and/or too low wither

constantly shrug

important management

about the health of a

show power and life

pipes in the cubicles

their back, are

instrument. The condition of the

cow, should measure the

enjoyment. The eyes

may cause sore or

suffering from

cow shows if the ration meets the

temperature. Normally it

should be bright and

rubbed areas on the

lameness and/or

need of the animal. A cow that is

should be between 38

clean, without any

withers of the cow.

pain in the

fed according to its needs

and 39 degrees Celsius.

black dirt. The cow

This points to poor

stomach.

functions optimally. Health

The body temperature is

has a shiny skin and

access to feed, or poor

All legs should be

problems can be encountered by

measured rectally. Cold

shows ear focus. A

cubicle comfort.

posted vertically.

too fat animals (especially at the

ears may indicate milk

good rumen and belly

end of lactation) or too skinny

fever or metabolic

fill is also a positive

animals (especially at the

diseases.

indicator.

beginning of lactation).
Depending on the goals of the
farmer, a maximum of 10 percent

Nose
The nose
should be wet
and there
should be no
dirt
moustache.

Ruminating
Healthy cows ruminate 40 to
50% of the day. Per cud a
cow ruminates 50-70 times.
Rumination should be
vigorously and aggressive.

Breathing
Healthy cows can be
seen to breath 10 to 30
times per minute. A
higher breathing rhythm
indicates that a cow can
not release her body
heat fast enough. It may
also be an indication for
pain or fever.
Udder
From a management point of view,
the udder can best be judged
Rumen fill
Rumen fill tells
something about how
the cow is doing today:
is she eating enough?
Seen from the rear, the
rumen has to bulge. You
can judge the rumen
functioning by pressing
your fist into the rumen.
There should be 10 to
12 strong rumen
contractions every 5
minutes.

immediately after the teat cup is

removed. The teat and teat end tell
you a lot about the quality of the
milking process. Under ideal
circumstances the teat is supple
after milking, with an unchanged
teat end and there is no damage or
callosity. The color of the teat
should be pink. Blue or white
coloring or striated teats means
that the pulsation of the milking

Claws

Legs

By observing how the cow puts

Bruises on hocks and knees

pressure on her feet you can

indicate poor cow housing.

judge the claw condition. Healthy

Baldness and injuries are the

cows stand in the same way on

result of non-optimal cubicle

every leg during eating. Small

sizes, poor litter and/or

movements or pointing at the

lameness.

legs with the head indicate claw

problems. A bad stable flooring
or poor hoof trim management
may cause claw problems, but
also incorrect feeding leads to
poor hoof growth.

machine is incorrectly adjusted or

Manure
The manure tells you about the
quality of yesterdays feeding.
Score the manure on consistency
and digestion. No large,
undigested parts should be

the vacuum at the teat end is too

visible.

high.

From: CM background,

Illustration Ed Boelaarts

Source: Vetvice.nl, Best

Scoring the stretch and scratch factor for TMR rations of

dairy cows

A TMR with a high water content has a significantly reduced scratching value.

Score 1
The feed feels like a sponge, it does not scratch. The
TMR has a low fiber content.
After having been squeezed together, the mix does
not disintegrate at all and retains a ball shape.

Score 2
The TMR mix gives a light scratch or tickling
sensation. The mix has a reasonable fiber content.
After having been squeezed together, the mix stays
in a ball shape.

Score 3
The TMR scratches to the touch.
Stretch and scratch are far more obvious.
After having been squeezed together, the mix falls
apart upon release.

Score 4
There is definitively a scratch sensation in the hand.
The mix is rich in fiber.
After having been squeezed together, it falls apart
very easily.

Score 5
There is a strong prickling (needle -like) sensation in
the hand. The TMR is extremely high in fiber content.
The mix hardly allows squeezing together and upon
release it disintegrates into longer parts.

Source: Lely Industries

Locomotion scoring of dairy cattle

Locomotion scoring is based on the observation of cows standing and trimmed to prevent more serious problems. Trimming should
and walking (gait), with special emphasis on their back posture. be done by a competent trimmer with the goal of returning the
This system is intuitive and, therefore, easy to learn and implement. claws to functional weight bearing and conformation.
Locomotion Drop in DM
Drop in Milk
Use of locomotion scoring is effective for early detection of claw
score
intake
production
(hoof) disorders, monitoring prevalence of lameness, comparing the
1
0%
0%
incidence and severity of lameness between herds and identifying
2
1%
0%
3
3%
5%
individual cows for functional claw (hoof) trimming.
4
7%
17%
Animal observations should be made on a flat surface that provides
5
16%
36%
good footing for cows. Cows scoring 2 or 3 should be examined
Adapted from Sprecher, D.J.; Hostetler, D.E.; Kaneene, J.B. 1997 Theriogenology 47:1178-1187

Locomotion Score 1
Clin ical Description:
Normal
Description
Stands and walks normally. All feet
placed with purpose

Locomotion Score 2
Clinical Description:
Mildly lame
Description
Stands with flat back, but arches when
walks. Gait is slightly abnormal.

Locomotion Score 3
Clinical Description:
Moderately lame
Description
Stands and walks with an arched back.
Short strides with one or more legs

Locomotion Score 4
Clinical Description:
lame
Description
Arched back standing and walking.
One or more limbs favored but at least
partially weight bearing

Locomotion Score 5
Clinical Description:
Severely lame
Description
Arched back, refuses to bear weight on
one limb. May refuse or have great
difficulty moving from lying position.

Scoring the digestion of dairy

cows by the manure
(by hand)

Score 1
The manure feels like a creamy substance and is
homogeneous and very weak.
The manure contains no undigested feed particles.

Score 2
The manure feels like a creamy emulsion and is
homogeneous.
The manure contains some undigested feed particles.

Score 3
The manure does not feel homogeneous.
Undigested parts can be detected.
After squeezing and opening the hand, undigested
fiber parts stick to the fingers.

Score 4
Large feed particles can be felt in the manure.
Undigested parts are clearly visible.
After squeezing and reopening the hand, a ball of
undigested fiber remains in the hand.

Score 5
Large feed particles can be felt in the manure.
Undigested parts from the ration are clearly
recognisable.

D. Zaaijer, W.D.J. Kremer, J.P.T.M. Noordhuizen

Scoring the manure consistence

of dairy cows

(visual score and boot test)

Score 1
The manure is water thin and is not recognisable
as manure.
Indication: pea soup.

Score 2
The manure looks like thin yoghurt and is
recognisable as manure. The manure spatters
widely around, when it falls on a hard surface.
Indication: Very flat

Score 3
The manure looks like thick, more or less solid
yoghurt. When it falls, a soft sound can be heard.
Boot test: the boot profile does not leave an
imprint in the manure. The manure does not stick
to the boot when the boot is lifted.
Indication: Forming rings
Score 4
The manure is thick; a hard sound can be heard
when it falls. The manure is clearly a round and
piles when a new drop falls. Boot test: the boot
profile leaves an imprint in the manure and the
manure sticks to the boot when the boot is lifted.
Indication: Thick substance
Score 5
The manure is deposited in stiff manure balls
(looks like horse manure). The manure exists of
big dry piles. Boot test: The boot profile remains in
the manure.
Indication: Tears in the eyes
D. Zaaijer, W.D.J. Kremer, J.P.T.M. Noordhuizen

Scoring the rumen fill of dairy cows

(looking at the cow from behind)

Score 1
Deep shrunken left side; the skin on top of the
diagonal protuberance of the lumbar vertebra is
caved-in. The fold of skin goes clearly vertically
down from the hip bone. The rumen pit behind the
rib bow is more than a hands width. Seen from the
side, you have a rectangular flank view.
Score 2
The skin over the diagonal protuberance of the
lumbar vertebra is caved-in. The fold of skin from
the hip bone bump folds slopes to the front, to the
rib bow. The rumen pit behind the rib bow equals a
hands width. Seen from the side, you have a
triangular view.
Score 3
The skin over the diagonal protuberance of the
lumbar vertebra goes vertically down first and then
curves to the outside. The fold of skin from the hip
bone is not visible, but the rumen pit behind the
rib bow can be seen.

Score 4
The skin across the diagonal protuberance of the
lumbar vertebra is curved directly to the outside.
Behind the rib bow, no rumen pit can be seen.

Score 5
The diagonal protuberance of the lumbar vertebra
is not visible because of a well-filled rumen.
The belly skin is strongly stretched. No transition
from the side to the ribs can be seen
D. Zaaijer, W.D.J. Kremer, J.P.T.M. Noordhuizen

Scoring the Body Condition of dairy cows

Score 1

POOR

Tail head deep cavity with no fatty tissue under skin. Skin fairly
supple but coat condition often rough.
Loin spine prominent and horizontal processes sharp.

Score 2
MODERATE
Tail head shallow cavity but pin bones prominent; some fat
under skin. Skin supple.
Loin horizontal processes can be identified individually with
ends rounded.

Score 3

GOOD

Tail head fat cover over whole area and skin smooth but pelvis
can be felt.
Loin end of horizontal process can only be felt with pressure;
only slight depression in loin.

Score 4

FAT

Tail head completely filled and folds and patches of fat evident.

Loin cannot feel processes and will have completely rounded

appearance.

Score 5
GROSSLY FAT
Tail head buried in fatty tissue, pelvis impalpable even with
firm pressure.
Loin cannot feel processes and will have completely rounded
appearance.
Source: DEFRA