DOWNER COW CARE
Spring is a busy time of year for all, and it pays to be organised ahead of the peak to help things run more smoothly.
Often overlooked, nursing care is the biggest factor that influences downer cow survival. Having facilities and procedures organised early is key to providing appropriate nursing and can make all the difference to your herd.
Appropriate nursing helps increase the chances of a cow’s survival by preventing the development of secondary complications such as muscle and nerve damage.
Secondary damage is just as likely to be reason for a down cow as the original ailment affecting the cow; in these cases, the fence at the top of the cliff is much more effective than the ambulance at the bottom.
There are six essential areas to downer cow nursing on top of treating the primary condition as shown in the diagram.
This graph shows the impact that good nursing of downer cows can have on survival rates. Without proper nursing, cows have an even slimmer chance of recovery. Euthanasia is always an option in non-responsive cases, and if a cow has been down for more than 12 hours, the chances of recovery are already below 50%.
KEY POINTS:
• Set aside a downer cow area in advance (now!)
• Treating the primary condition is great, but this is worthless unless you prevent secondary damage.
• A half-hearted approach will yield poor results. All or nothing!