Indicators of temperature and pulse and respiratory rate of cattle are normal, TPD graph
Data on the temperature, heart rate and respiration of cattle can tell a lot about the health of the livestock to an attentive owner. Monitoring of these parameters is necessary if the usual behavior of cows changes or sick individuals are found in the herd. Animal owners need to know about what the indicators should be in the norm, how they change depending on gender and age.
Normal behavior and mental activity
The health of a cow can be judged by its appearance and behavior. Normally, the animals are calm, have a good appetite, and go for a walk with pleasure. If the animal is excessively agitated, mournfully hums, beats in the stall, or is too apathetic, lies, refuses to eat and drink, you must call the veterinarian.
The condition of the animals is assessed according to several criteria:
- Appearance. The cow should have clear eyes, dry and cool nose. A straight gait and a straight back indicate no problems with hooves, joints and scarring. A clean, shiny coat is about proper maintenance and nutrition.
- Gum. Loss of gum is an alarming symptom. Normally, cows chew 7-10 hours a day, a shorter time indicates an animal's illness or improper nutrition.
- Examining the cow from behind, the condition of the udder and rumen is determined. In a healthy dairy cow, the udder is symmetrical, and the scar is slightly protruding from the left side.
- Udder. It should be elastic, without scratches, papillomas, seals, edema. Be sure to examine the nipples before milking. The softness of the nipples and the absence of redness indicate the health of the animal.
- The behavior of the cow depends on the condition of the hooves and joints. If she stands evenly, calmly while eating, then her legs are not sick.
In addition, an attentive owner should monitor the temperature, pulse and respiratory rate of cattle.
What should be the pulse of a cow
The pulse changes depending on the sex and age of the animal. In newborn calves (up to 14 days old), the heart rate is high - 100-140 beats per minute. As they grow older, it decreases, for babies from 3 months to a year, the pulse is normal - 70-100 beats per minute. For a cow, the norm is 50-80 beats, for a bull, the heart beats less often - 50-60 beats per minute. The pulse rate is influenced by external factors, if the animal is scared or overheated, the heart rate increases.
A high heart rate for no apparent reason indicates an animal's illness. These can be infectious diseases, heart problems; you should contact your veterinarian.
Breathing is normal
The respiration rate decreases with the age of the animal. Small calves breathe more often than adult animals. Respiration of pregnant cows is more frequent than that of a dairy herd. It can get more frequent from stress or overheating. It happens that rapid breathing is a sign of animal disease. It can accompany various types of pneumonia, infectious diseases, especially if there is an increase in temperature. Rapid breathing is observed when livestock overheats in hot weather; this is a natural way of thermoregulation. Breathing quickens if the cow was walking or running quickly, under the influence of fear, when the animal feels pain.
Normally, the respiratory rate of a cow is 15-30 breaths per minute, bulls 15-25 breaths, calves up to 14 days old - 30-50 breaths per minute, calves 3-12 months old - 25-45 breaths.
Experienced farmers note that if the animal is healthy, the rate of respiration can be used to judge the productivity of the cow. The highest milk yield is characteristic of cows with a high level of metabolism, the respiratory rate in this case will also be high, about 30 respiratory movements per minute. When an animal is sick, a graph is drawn up, where the temperature, pulse, cow's respiratory rate and behavioral characteristics are reflected daily. This allows us to judge the dynamics of treatment.
What is the normal temperature
Temperature rise is one of the most important signs of animal disease. What is the normal temperature for cows - this question is often asked by novice farmers. The indicator depends on the age of the animal: in an adult cow, the norm will be 37.5-39.0 ° C. For calves up to 2 weeks - 38.5-40.0 ° C, for calves from 3 months to 1 year - 38.5-39.5 ° C. An increase in temperature is noted:
- in case of poisoning in the pasture;
- the development of infectious diseases;
- inflammatory processes in the body of the animal (mastitis, inflammation of the joints);
- errors of maintenance and nutrition;
- complications after calving.
An increase in indicators up to +41 ° C, signals an acute form of the disease. A decrease in temperature (at the same time, the ears of the cow become cold) is noted with birth paresis. Each of these cases requires the help of a veterinarian.
The sick animal is isolated from the rest of the livestock, TPD (temperature, pulse, respiration) must be recorded. In case of the same symptoms in several animals from the herd, they must be reported to the district veterinary service.
How to measure the performance of an animal
To measure the pulse of a cow or calf, place your hand on the subscapularis and count the number of heart beats. Method two: measure the heart rate through the jugular vein in the animal's neck. Respiration rate is determined by counting the number of breaths the cow breathes per minute.
The temperature of the animals is measured by the rectal method. The animal is tied tightly. A mercury or electronic thermometer is taken, treated with alcohol, and then petroleum jelly, and inserted into the anus of the animal to a depth of 2-3 centimeters. Temperature measurement time: with a mercury thermometer - 6 minutes, with an electronic one - 1 minute. After removing the thermometer, wash it with soap and water and wipe it with an alcohol solution.
Reasons for deviation from the norms
Changes in heart rate and respiratory rate can be triggered by various factors:
- fast running;
- stress;
- overheating.
These indicators change for pregnant cows. If a rapid pulse and labored breathing are accompanied by an increase in temperature, you should definitely call a veterinarian, these may be the first symptoms of dangerous infectious diseases: pneumonia, foot and mouth disease, brucellosis.
In the case when the temperature and rapid breathing appear after calving, endometritis and other gynecological complications are possible. The temperature can rise when low-quality (rotten or frozen) feed is consumed, in which case cows develop rumen inflammation, accompanied by diarrhea.
Systematic monitoring of the pulse, respiration and temperature of animals allows you to notice changes in their condition in time and prevent the development of an acute form of disease. Careful care and attention to animals will surely result in high productivity.
