Understanding Cattle Health Basics

A lactating cow producing 10–15 litres/day needs approximately 25–30 kg green fodder, 5–7 kg dry fodder (straw/hay), and 3–4 kg concentrate mix. For every additional 2.5 litres of milk, add 1 kg of concentrate. Ensure fodder is fresh, mold-free, and stored in dry conditions.

Add 50g mineral mixture containing calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and selenium daily. Common salt (30g/day) is essential for digestion. Vitamin A deficiency causes night blindness and reproductive failure — feed orange/yellow fodder (carrots, yellow maize) or injectable Vitamin AD3E quarterly.

Cattle need 4–5 litres of water per litre of milk produced. A 15-litre cow needs 60–75 litres of clean drinking water daily. Dirty or insufficient water directly reduces feed intake and milk yield. Install automatic water bowls if possible — cattle drink 30% more from freely available sources.

Good fodder smells fresh and feels slightly moist. Reject any feed with visible mold (white/black spots), foul smell, or excessive heat on touching. Aflatoxin from moldy feed causes liver damage and enters milk — a safety hazard for consumers and a rejection risk for dairy cooperatives.

Symptoms: Excessive drooling, blisters on tongue/feet, reluctance to eat, lameness. Spreads rapidly through the herd. No cure — only supportive care (antiseptic mouth wash, soft feed). Prevention: Vaccinate every 6 months. A single outbreak costs ₹50,000–2,00,000 in lost production per herd.

Symptoms: Swollen, hot, painful udder quarters. Milk appears watery, contains clots or blood. Causes: Poor milking hygiene, incomplete milking, teat injuries. Treatment: Intramammary antibiotics (consult vet). Prevention: Pre/post-milking teat dipping, clean bedding, proper milking technique. Cost: ₹8,000–15,000 per episode.

Symptoms: Sudden high fever (106–107°F), swelling on throat/neck, difficulty breathing, death within 12–24 hours if untreated. Peak season: Monsoon (July–September). Prevention: Vaccinate before monsoon annually. Treatment: High-dose antibiotics (Oxytetracycline) only effective if caught within first few hours.

Symptoms: High fever, enlarged lymph nodes, pale/yellow mucous membranes, dark red/brown urine (Babesiosis), rapid weight loss. Cause: Tick bites transmitting blood parasites. Prevention: Regular tick control using pour-on acaricides every 15–21 days during monsoon. Treatment: Buparvaquone injection (Theileriosis), Diminazene (Babesiosis).

Symptoms: Sudden distension of left flank, difficulty breathing, restlessness. Cause: Excess legume fodder (Lucerne, Berseem), fine-ground grain, or sudden feed changes. Emergency: Trocar puncture of rumen (vet only). Prevention: Introduce legume fodder gradually, mix with dry straw, avoid feeding wet/frosted green fodder.

FMD: Every 6 months (all ages). HS & BQ: Once yearly before monsoon (June). Brucellosis: Female calves only, once at 4–8 months (Strain-19). Theileriosis: Endemic areas, once at 3 months. Rabies: High-risk areas, annually. Anthrax: Endemic areas, annually before monsoon.

Calves: First at 15 days old, then monthly until 6 months, then every 3 months. Adults: Every 3–4 months. Use broad-spectrum dewormers (Albendazole 7.5mg/kg or Fenbendazole 5mg/kg). Rotate dewormer class annually to prevent resistance. Deworm all new animals before mixing with the herd.

Quarantine new animals for 21 days before introducing to the herd. Keep sick animals isolated. Disinfect visitors' footwear at farm entry. Don't share equipment with neighboring farms during outbreaks. Dead animals must be buried deep (6 feet) with lime or burned — never left in the open.

Call the vet immediately if you see: Temperature above 104°F (40°C), inability to stand, blood in urine/stool/milk, severe bloat with breathing difficulty, prolapsed uterus after calving, continuous straining without delivering calf for more than 2 hours, sudden collapse or convulsions.

Every farm should have: Digital thermometer, antiseptic solution (Povidone Iodine), cotton wool and gauze bandages, wound spray (Topicure/Himax), calcium borogluconate bottle (for milk fever), bloat relief oil (turpentine + linseed oil), trocar and cannula (for severe bloat — trained use only), clean rope and nose ring.

Occurs within 48 hours of calving, especially in high-yielding cows. Symptoms: Cow lies down, can't stand, cold ears, S-shaped neck curve. Treatment: Slow IV infusion of Calcium Borogluconate (must be body temperature — warm the bottle in hot water). Rub ears and limbs to stimulate circulation. This is the #1 preventable death in dairy cattle.

Normal calving: Front hooves and nose visible, delivery within 30 minutes of water bag breaking. Call vet if: Only one leg visible, tail coming first, no progress after 2 hours, excessive bleeding. Never pull the calf with a vehicle or tractor. Ensure the calf breathes by clearing nostrils and rubbing the chest with straw. Colostrum within first hour is critical.

Check appetite — is the animal eating normally and eagerly? Observe rumination (cud chewing) — healthy cattle chew cud 6–8 hours/day. Look at the nose — it should be moist. Check eyes — clear and alert, not dull or watery. Notice posture — standing square on all four legs, no arching of back.

Check milk appearance — normal color, no clots or blood. Feel the udder — no heat, swelling, or pain on touch. Monitor milk yield — a sudden drop of 20%+ indicates illness. Post-milking, observe teat condition — no cracks, sores, or injury.

Check dung consistency — firm, flat 'plate' shape is normal. Observe breathing — 15–30 breaths/minute at rest. Look for any discharge from nose, eyes, or vulva. Check for limping or reluctance to walk. Ensure all animals are accounted for (especially in free-range grazing).

Smart collars track temperature, activity, and rumination 24/7 — catching deviations 72 hours before visible symptoms. The app sends daily health reports at 6 AM summarizing which animals need attention. Photo-based diagnosis lets you get AI-powered health checks anytime from your smartphone.