Down Cows

Down cows are an emergency and must be treated as a top priority on-farm. A cow that is down is often in pain, uncomfortable, and under significant stress, and prompt action is critical. It is important to make timely, informed decisions so she receives the right care and is as comfortable as possible.

Getting a down cow back on her feet and returned to the herd quickly is the best outcome for the cow and a positive result for the farm. Achieving this requires correct diagnosis, early treatment, and a consistently high standard of nursing.

With the increased pressure of calving and early lactation, it’s essential that down cow management is well planned for before spring. Having clear protocols that the entire farm team can act on, as well as the right equipment ready, helps ensure rapid response when it matters most, improving recovery outcomes and supporting good animal welfare during the busiest time of the year.

Preventing down cows

Many of the factors that cause cows to go down are preventable. Minimise your chance of down cows by managing your transition cows correctly with good springer management, careful mineral supplementation, accurate body condition scoring, and feed allocation, to ensure cows are not too fat or too thin at calving. Appropriate bull selection is also an integral part of prevention that should be considered.

Consider seeking veterinary advice if the number of down cows is higher than usual for your farm. The ‘Pattern of two’ is a useful rule-of-thumb on when to seek advice.

Podcast - Thriving after calving: Key cow care and recovery tips

In this Talking Dairy episode, host Jac McGowan and Mitch Cooper, veterinarian and DairyNZ’s Senior Technical and Policy Advisor, discuss how to prevent and manage down cows during calving season. Get practical tips on how to recognise early signs, treatment and care .

Dedicated nursing area:

Think about what you want when you’re sick - somewhere comfortable to lie that’s dry and warm, palatable food, and lots of water. For cows, it’s no different.

Building your nursing area should include:

• A warm, safe, dedicated area with shelter and barriers, such as a spare bay in a shed or shed on its own. It’s important to keep her in a confined area so she doesn’t crawl with her front legs - this can cause significant damage.
• Plenty of clean, soft bedding to reduce the pressure on her hind legs as much as possible.
• A non-slip surface for when the cow tries to stand.
• A continuous supply of clean water and good feed (tap nearby or trough if available).
• Adequate access for a tractor or similar machine to use lifting devices to get her to her feet if needed.

When to roll, when to lift

A cow should only be lifted if it is highly likely she will be able to bear her own weight. Lifting cows before they’re ready to stand can do more harm than good.

The wings of the pelvis, where hip lifters are attached, are not designed to bear the cow’s weight. Cows that can’t hold their own weight are at risk of skin, muscle, and bone damage during lifting.

Assist the cow to stand if she:

• Is bright and alert.
• Is not trembling or twitching.
• Doesn’t appear severely weak or diseased.
• Appears to have normal, functioning limbs.

If in doubt, roll her instead of lifting- it takes less time and is less risky to the cow.

Using hip lifters

Be sure to thoroughly check the cow for dislocations or broken bones before using hip lifters. They should only be used to assist a cow into a standing position, not to suspend a cow that is unable to stand. Hip lifters must not be used to move a cow, as this can cause more damage to her and negatively impact her chances of recovery. All four limbs should stay in contact with the ground during lifting.

A breast strap under the brisket, in conjunction with hip clamps, is good practice as it helps the cow up onto her front legs as her hips are raised. The additional support also minimises discomfort for the cow and provides some additional restraint, making the process safer for you and the cow.

Using a full sling to stand a cow up is not recommended, as the pressure on the cow's abdomen causes the muscles in the hind leg to relax. Using a breast strap along with hip clamps is good practice.

Watch the animation below on correct use of hip lifters.

Follow this process to ensure you’re doing everything possible to minimise pain and discomfort for the cow and make lifting safe and stress-free for you:

• Ensure the cow has grip under her feet. Add straw, hay, or baleage for added grip.
• Apply padded hip clamps securely to her hip bones.
• Adjust the clamps to ensure a firm fit but do not overtighten the clamps.
• Add a breast strap behind her front legs.
• Raise the cow slowly using a frontend loader or hoist.
• Slacken off the chain and strapping once you see the cow taking weight on all four feet.

Using hip clamps

Watch the video below to see how to correctly use hip clamps to lift a down cow.