We all must try to minimise the risk of cows going down. It happens occasionally and the key thing is to step back and look at some symptoms and manage these cases carefully. By definition, a true down cow is one that has been down for longer than 24 hours.

To minimise cows going down managing milk fever, disease and particularly the environment of the cow is very important. Moving cows also can play a role. Remember, a cow will naturally move at 3km/hour, so any time we rush or spook cows we risk injuries. There are four main reasons why a cow will be down:

  • A metabolic issue such as milk fever, grass tetany or clinical ketosis.
  • Injuries around calving, bulling injuries or slips and falls are most common.
  • Severe illness such as acute toxic mastitis, grain overload and scours (weakness).
  • Then we can have things such as prolapses and misadventures.
  • These are often what we call the primary causes of the downer cow, the reason they went down in the first place. However, when cows have been down for a while, secondary injuries to muscles and nerves complicate the situation. This is why the first thing often with a downer cow is to assess where she is lying and how suitable the area is.

    Heavy or fat cows present an extra problem when down – the extra weight puts additional pressure on muscles and nerves. The more damage done to nerves and muscles, the less chance of a full recovery.

    When putting on ropes for a hard calving, always ask yourself if it is worth risking it.

    First reactions

    Always step back from a downer cow and seek professional advice from your vet. Examine the reasons she might be down and make no presumptions. If cow isn’t bright and alert, then it is often a veterinary emergency as time might be a big factor.

    E coli or toxic mastitis is often something missed in these cows and all four quarters need to be drawn and assessed. If the cow is bright and alert and eating but just not getting up, an injury must be top of the suspect list or secondary damage to the initial cause of her being down.

    Look at where she is lying – is it soft and comfortable? Then try to sit the cow up or prop her up. Cows on their side should be propped up, where possible, to stop them aspirating gut contents into the lungs. Try to tuck their front legs under them if possible.

    Initially, the downer cow needs to be monitored regularly and once stable, moved to a place where they can lie in comfort.

    Moving the cow

    Once cows are stable, they can be moved, They should only be dragged very short distances at a slow, steady pace. It is best to do this with a good head halter but only slowly and for a maximum of 4m to 5m. When using straps to lift them, a sling works best with at least straps behind the elbows and in front of the hips.

    The hard call

    When cows stop eating and are down, it is never good to wait and see. The best option is getting your vet out to clinically reassess the cow.

    When the initial cause for the downer cow has been treated and they are still down, nursing becomes very important. Every downer cow will have some pain and inflammation, so administering an anti-inflammatory is critical. This will take any swelling around nerves and muscles and keep the cow eating.

    When cows are down longer than 48 hours, they benefit from being moved gently from side to side to allow the pressure come off the legs/muscle

    Where the cow is lying is important – outside works well if the weather is mild, but in adverse conditions they are better indoors on a deep bed. When housed indoors, use gates to make a pen, about 4m2, to confine them from struggling too much.

    Always have water and feed in front of the downer cow, in practice I always pumped fluids and high-energy tonics into these cows to keep them eating.

    When cows are down longer than 48 hours, they benefit from being moved gently from side to side to allow the pressure come off the legs/muscles.

    If a cow can’t take her weight when being lifted, there is little point keeping her standing

    Lifting cows can help but it needs to be done very carefully. There are lots of options but we must remember that a downer cow can easily be injured by lifting. The two options I have used are a hip clamp and a strap behind the elbows. This helps to spread the weight across the cow.

    The key thing is to apply clamps correctly and lift slowly and steadily, making sure clamps are well-padded around the hips. You should use large straps. Only keep a cow standing if she is able to take some of her weight, eg 50% of weight for two to three minutes. If a cow can’t take her weight when being lifted, there is little point keeping her standing.

    How often we lift cows and for how long can be a hard call as it is down to how much progress the cow is making. My advice is to lift once daily and assess how much progress the cow is making.