BeefTalk: Prevention and Early Intervention Are Keys to Unlocking the Sick Pen
By Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service
What’s Normal? Vital Signs for Cows What’s Normal? Vital Signs for Cows
If a calf is dragging, a colt missing a jump or the feed bunk is not cleaned up, there is a reason.
Understanding the sick pen is difficult until one gets placed there. Caring for sick cattle, horses or any other animals is best understood by being sick and noting the process. The onset of a sickness usually is known.
Day one is business as usual, but things don’t seem right. The old body just seems a little sluggish. One doesn’t get up as fast, eats less and moves slower.
Day two is still business, but active camouflage is deployed. “Don’t let the world know” is the motto. Early morning scouts are saying that things have not improved and an invasion is eminent.