Cymraeg

Health and Welfare of Farm Animals
Session 4 - Signs of Health and Disease in Livestock

This resource is suitable to support Level 2 Agriculture courses.

Introduction

When looking after livestock it is important that animals are checked regularly, and any signs of ill health are recognized, and that action is taken quickly.

Image of sheep

Routine for Checking Stock

The routines for checking livestock will vary depending on the animal species.

  • Dairy cows are inspected twice a day in the milking season. The udder and feet can be checked during milking.
  • Sheep tend to live outside most of the year and should be inspected once a day but twice at critical times of the year.
  • Pigs indoor and outdoor systems should be checked once a day.
    • Image of cows being inspected

    Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Behaviour

    Signs of Health

  • Interested in surroundings and alert.
  • With the flock / herd (cows/ewes may go off on their own at calving/lambing).
    • Image of sheep

    Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Behaviour

    Signs of Ill Health

  • Dull, listless.
  • On its own, not with flock or herd.

    • Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Posture

    Signs of Health

  • Weight evenly spread between all four legs.

    • Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Posture

    Signs of Ill Health

  • Hunched up e.g. lambs with hypothermia.
  • Head low with neck outstretched with breathing difficulties.
  • Weight not evenly spread, or kneeling; foot or leg problems.
  • Unable to rise, or lying flat out.
    • Image of pig with bad posture

    Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Movement

    Signs of Health

  • Co-ordinated.
  • Normal movements (speed and type) for the species and surroundings.
    • Image of cow standing up

    Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Movement

    Signs of Ill Health

  • Stiff lame and uncoordinated.

    • Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Legs and Feet

    Signs of Health

  • Animal moves soundly with all feet on the floor.

    • Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Legs and Feet

    Signs of Ill Health

  • Swelling.
  • Hooves overgrown or mishapen.
  • Lameness.
  • Strong unpleasant smell.

    • Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Appetite

    Signs of Health

  • Feeding and drinking behaviour.
  • e.g. attracted to feed, calves drinking their milk.
    • Image of cows eating

    Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Appetite

    Signs of Ill Health

  • Not attracted to feed, young stock not drinking their milk.

    • Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Condition of the Skin or Fleece

    Signs of Health

  • Glossy coat, with lick marks (cattle).
  • Clean fleece.
  • Skin flexible, not damaged.
  • Pink mucus membranes e.g. by eyes and gums.
    • Image of cow with clean coat

    Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Condition of the Skin or Fleece

    Signs of Ill Health

  • Loss of fleece or hair.
  • Scratching.
  • Soiling (dirt/muck).
  • Skin red, scaly, scabby or broken.
  • Lumps/abcesses.

    • Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Body Condition

    Signs of Health

  • Compare with the rest of the group: often looking for condition score 2-3 but varies with the production cycle (difficult to assess accurately without handling the animals).
    • Image of cow body

    Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Body Condition

    Signs of Ill Health

  • Thin; consider the condition of the whole group of animals, and individuals within the group.

    • Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Condition of the Dung and Urine

    Signs of Health

  • Colour and consistency for the type of stock.
  • No difficulties in passing faeces or urine; passed regularly.
    • Image of dung

    Points to Look Out For When Inspecting Stock - Condition of the Dung and Urine

    Signs of Ill Health

  • Scouring.
  • Strong unpleasant smell.
  • Bleeding.
  • Animal having difficulty in passing faeces/urine.
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