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1. Stretch – if the calf is lying down when you walk into a field, approach slowly and look for an obvious stretch when the animal rises. A strong stretch is an indication of a healthy animal.
2. Head – the animal's head will tell you a lot. If it's standing with its head below the level of the shoulders there could be an issue, particularly if the animal is also standing with a hump in its back. Are the ears drooping? That's another bad sign. Is there evidence of mucous on the animal’s nose? Is the nose dirty?
3. Scour – look at the animal’s backside. In an ideal world the calf will pass dung when standing up after a long period of sitting. If this happens, see whether it is loose and check for blood. If the animal doesn’t pass dung, look for signs of caked hair on its rump, an indication that it has scoured recently. If the calf is displaying these symptoms consult with your vet.
4. Navel – look at the animal’s navel (point where umbilical cord was attached to the body). If an infection has gotten in it will swell to two or three times its normal size. If you suspect this, bring the animal in and feel it with a gloved hand. If the navel is hard, you should consult with your vet.
5. Dam – look at the cow and see if her quarters have been sucked out. If not, they will look visibly full and might even be dripping in milkier cows. There may also be dirt on the teats.
Blowing – look out for animals that appear to be panting. More than one breath per second indicates an animal under respiratory pressure.
Coat – an animal with a rough coat is a sign that it is not grooming itself, one of the first things an animal will do when health is compromised. Alternatively, it’s a sign that its dam is potentially neglecting the calf.
Good ventilation critical in calf rearing
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