🐄 General Health Terms
Difficulty or pain when walking, often caused by hoof problems. A major issue in grazing herds due to long walking distances.
A scoring system (usually 1–5) used to assess if a cow is under- or over-conditioned. Critical around calving and breeding.
The time around calving when cows shift from dry to milking. High-risk period for metabolic and health issues.
Uterine infection after calving, usually with smelly discharge. Can delay return to cycling and reduce fertility.
Inflammation of the udder, usually caused by bacteria. Can be clinical (visible signs) or subclinical (no outward symptoms).
A disease or condition present without visible symptoms (e.g. subclinical mastitis, ketosis).
A disease with clear signs and symptoms (e.g. swelling, discharge, fever).
metabolic disorder caused by energy imbalance after calving. Cows may go off feed, lose condition, or act dull.
Low blood calcium around calving. Causes weakness and risk of downer cows.
A digestive disorder where the cow’s stomach moves out of place, affecting appetite and digestion.
In Summary
On a spring-calving, grass-based dairy farm, managing health is all about prevention, early detection, and timely treatment. Knowing these common terms helps keep the herd healthy, productive, and profitable — especially during the busy calving and breeding seasons.