Observation File on the Farm

NB Significant if in sufficient numbers
Observation of the Whole Herd
Labo Solidago Inc.
Farm Facts

EMail, adress, Tél. Fax.
Number of Heads Total Milking
Average Age, Average Production
% remplacement
Calving interval
Electric interferences
Average Leucocytes
Drinking Water Physico-chemical analysis
Quality, odor
Filter type
pH /minérals/bactérias

1.1.2 Behavior

Agressive
Excited
Sleepy
Calm
Tired
Hunger Noises (chains)

1.1.3 Flesh State

Thinning Thin Front,Fat Hips
Shoulder Blade
Deep intercostals
Backbone
Fattening Fat Front, Thin Hips
Covered Ribs
Down Neck, Head = Week Vitality
Ballooned Flank
Quivering Skin Too Much Energy
Falling Belly

2.2.1 Odor of Premisses

Ammoniac
Caramel Sillage
Insufficient Bedding
Diarrhea
Insufficient Ventilation

2.2.2 Skin and Hair

Parasites mycosis, darts, ringworm, scabies
Fat-Dry Skin
Hair Loss
Vertical Hail Line under Shoulder Blade Chronic Rumen Instability
(Wet-looking tuft of Hair) Week Vitality
Open Hair on Backbone Fan-like Hair on Backbone
Curly Hair, Humidity
Bristling Cheeks
De-structured Coat Hair in All Directions
Shining Coat Sign of Good Health
Licking and pHG PHG = 6” Licked Spot by Shoulder Blade
Fringed Spots Gray Fringes around Colored Spots

2.2.3 State of Feces

Solid and Glossy
Laying down Cows Feces while Laying down
Grains & fibers
Diarrhea

2.2.4 Urines

Color
Volume
Jerky Kidney-bladder

2.2.5 Eyes

Flow Coulor of deposits(yellow, red, blak)
Swelling
Third Eyelid

2.2.6 Nose

Flow (Snot) Clair ou blanc
Color of nose Red, Yellow
Dusty mustache

2.2.7 Feet/Members

Angled
Congestion
Cramp, (arthritis) Shaking
Scale, swelling
Carrot, odor
Panaris
Pierced Sole
Big Knees Fo/Back
Red on Hoof
Hard Walls
Streaked Walls
Pousse rapide
Hard, Soft Sole

3.3.1Feed Sequence

Sequence, order of présentation
Number of meals
Type of feed RTM nomber of groups
Individual
Dry fodder
1st cutting, %protein
2nd cutting, %protéine
Sillage % protein
Type of Hay
Grains, Quantity Given,%,
Supplément protéique Dry Corn Humid Corn
Barley Wheat
Oats Soya
% protein
Minerals
Others Commercial Formula or Special
(charcoal, seaweed, salt, soda)

3.3.2 Ingestion

Number of chewing
Time
Regularity
Refused, triage
Eats while ruminating

3.3.3 Rumination

Number of Periods
75% of cows laying down
Nomber of chewings 50+

4 Udder & Milking

Swelling and Coloration
Milking :2-3X/j Quick/Slow
Teat Bath w. Iodine?
Quarters
Teats White Tips, Hard,Cauliflower-form,wounded

4.1 Types of Mastitis

1-Leucocytes between 300 and 1.5M, lumps, no swelling.
2-Inflammation, lumps, leucocytes, 1.5M and more.
3-Yellow milk, watery milk.
Milk Analysis :

5 Reproduction

Calving Interval. Insemi, bull, transplantation
Miscarriage
Silent Heat
Heat Return
% Fertility
Placentary Rétention
Early Womb Infection
Late Womb Infection
Kystes

6 De-minéralisation

Clear Tail Flow
Clear Nose Flow
Relaxed Sphincter Milk falls on the Ground
Milk Fever

7 Manure

Management, storing Solid, liquid, compost,roof, additive,
Spreadind Piles, spreading season,

Exercise space outside. Y/N period and season :___________________________

Method of Use :

Note all signs on Observation File.
With marker, underline observations on Metabolic Types.
Give a double value for underlined signs.
If more than one type dominates, check if sufficient fibers are given every meal 20-30 minutes before grains&supplement-silage.

Example : High for types 1, 9 and 12.