Temperature pulse breathing of cattle: indicators and frequency are normal, TPD graph

Data on the temperature, pulse rate and respiration of cattle can tell a lot about the he alth of the livestock to an attentive owner. Control of these parameters is necessary if the habitual behavior of cows changes or sick individuals are found in the herd. Pet owners need to know what the normal indicators should be, how they change depending on gender and age.

Behavior and mental activity are normal

A cow's he alth can be judged by its appearance and behavior. Normally, the animals are calm, have a good appetite, go for a walk with pleasure.If the animal is excessively excited, mooing pitifully, struggling in the stall or too lethargic, lying down, refusing to eat or drink, you need to call a veterinarian.

The condition of animals is assessed according to several criteria:

Appearance. The cow should have clear eyes, a dry and cool nose. An even gait and a straight back indicate the absence of problems with hooves, joints and a scar. Clean shiny coat - about proper maintenance and nutrition.
Gum. Loss of gum is an alarming symptom. Normally, cows chew 7-10 hours a day, less time indicates an animal's illness or malnutrition.
Viewing the cow from behind, determine the condition of the udder and scar. A he althy dairy cow has a symmetrical udder and a slightly protruding scar on the left side.
Udder. It should be elastic, without scratches, papillomas, seals, swelling. Be sure to inspect the nipples before milking. The softness of the teats and the absence of redness indicate the he alth of the animal.
The behavior of a cow depends on the condition of the hooves and joints. If she stands upright, 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 varies 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 frightened or overheated, the heart rate increases.

Important: it must be taken into account that a cow is an affectionate animal, a change in the usual environment, a change in the treatment of the owners can cause severe stress and provoke an increase in heart rate.

High heart rate for no apparent reason indicates an illness in the animal. It can be infectious diseases, heart problems; you should contact your veterinarian.

Respiration normal

Respiratory rate decreases with age. Small calves breathe more often than adult animals. Breathing of pregnant cows is more frequent than that of dairy cattle. It can become 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. Increased breathing is observed when cattle overheat in hot weather, this is a natural way of thermoregulation. Breathing quickens if the cow walked or ran quickly, under the influence of fear, when the animal feels pain.

Normal respiratory rate is 15-30 breaths per minute for cows, 15-25 breaths per minute for bulls, 30-50 breaths per minute for calves up to 14 days old, 25-45 breaths per minute for calves 3-12 months old.

Experienced farmers note that if the animal is he althy, the cow's productivity can be judged by the respiratory rate. The highest milk yields are typical for 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, respiratory rate of the cow and behavioral characteristics are reflected daily. This allows you to judge the dynamics of treatment.

What is a normal temperature

Fever 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. Temperature increase noted:

for pasture poisoning;
development of infectious diseases;
inflammatory processes in the animal's body (mastitis, joint inflammation);
Mistakes in maintenance and nutrition;
complications after calving.

Increased to +41 ° C, signals an acute form of the disease. A decrease in temperature (at the same time, the ears of a cow become cold) is noted with generic paresis. In each of these cases, the assistance of a veterinarian is required.

The diseased animal is isolated from the rest of the livestock, TPD (temperature, pulse, respiration) must be recorded. With the same symptoms in several animals from the herd, be sure to report to the district veterinary service.

How to measure an animal

To measure the pulse of a cow or calf, you need to put your palm on the subscapular region and count the number of heart beats. The second way: measure the heart rate through the jugular vein in the animal's neck. The respiratory rate is determined by counting the number of cow breaths per minute.

The temperature of animals is measured by the rectal method. The animal is tightly tied. A mercury or electronic thermometer is taken, treated with alcohol, and then with petroleum jelly, and inserted into the animal's anus to a depth of 2-3 centimeters. Temperature measurement time: mercury thermometer - 6 minutes, electronic - 1 minute. After removing the thermometer, wash it with soap and water and wipe it with an alcohol solution.

Reason for deviation from the norm

Changes in heart rate and breathing rate can be triggered by various factors:

fast run;
stress;
overheating.

These indicators are changing for pregnant cows. If a rapid pulse and confused breathing are accompanied by fever, 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 poor-quality (rotten or frozen) feed is consumed, in which case the 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 diseases. Careful care and attention to animals will definitely result in high productivity.