Cow Signals - Trouw Nutrition Hifeed

Cow Signals
Hifeed Distributors’ Days 2015
Frans van Bohemen
Verona, November 2015
Introduction
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Cow Signals
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Cow Signals
Cows never lie!
• Observe…
• Look again…
• Relate your observations…
• Interpret them…
• Don’t know? No problem! Look it up!
You have to observe everything, you don’t need to know
everything!
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Observe…
What to pay attention to? Everything!
• The animals
• The building
• Feed
• Water
• Manure
• Air circulation
• Light
• …
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Observe…
1. Look at the individual cow:
• Physical state
• Individual behavior
2. Look at a group of cows:
• Physical state
• Group behaviour
• Do you see similarities?
3. Look at the building:
• Cubicles
• Feed, water
• Hygiene
• Ventilation… etc. etc.
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Body Condition Scoring
• Don’t just look… feel
• A single observation has no function. Relate to time!
• Check:
• Lactation phase
• If possible, make multiple observations: what
changes?
• If not, ask: how does BCS change over time?
• Dry: how did BCS change during the dry period?
• Age of cow
• Production level
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Manure scoring
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Manure Scoring
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•
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What group of animals?
What stage of lactation?
How many animals with what manure score?
How dirty are the animals?
Etc…
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Picture Puzzle (1)
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What do you see?
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Picture Puzzle (2)
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Locomotion scoring
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Picture puzzle (3)
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Picture puzzle (3)
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Picture puzzle (4)
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Picture puzzle (4)
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Picture Puzzle (5)
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Picture Puzzle (6)
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Picture Puzzle (7)
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Picture Puzzle (8)
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Picture Puzzle (9)
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Picture Puzzle (10)
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Conclusions
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•
•
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Look at the cows, they never lie!
Observe everything, look up what you don’t know;
Relate your observations;
A single observation in time is of no use. Focus on the
changes that happen over time;
• Not one farm is perfect, there will always be room to
improve!
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Thank you
Any questions?
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