Miniature cattle

Bloat

SignsLeft flank suddenly swells and becomes tight as a drum, labored breathing, drooling, unable to stand

PreventionDo not suddenly feed large amounts of young legumes or wet grass. Do not increase grain abruptly. Feed hay before turning out to pasture

Displaced abomasum

SignsReduced appetite, lower milk yield, little manure, a metallic pinging sound when the left flank is tapped

PreventionAfter calving, do not increase grain abruptly and give plenty of hay. Manage condition around calving

Mastitis

SignsOne quarter of the udder is hot, hard or swollen; milk is watery or contains clots; fever; resists milking

PreventionDisinfect teats before and after milking. Keep bedding dry and clean. Do not leave udder wounds untreated

Hoof disease / foot rot

SignsLameness, swollen foul-smelling interdigital space, reluctant to stand, overgrown hooves

PreventionTrim hooves twice a year. Do not leave mud or boggy ground. Install a footbath

Traumatic pericarditis (hardware disease)

SignsLoss of energy, arched back, standing with front legs spread apart, distended jugular vein, rumination stops

PreventionThoroughly remove wire, nails and other metal from feed and pasture. Ask the vet about giving a rumen magnet

Rumen stasis / impaction

SignsNo cud chewing, rumen stops moving, less manure, belly distension

PreventionAvoid sudden feed changes; keep good-quality hay and clean water available at all times

Wounds from horns and butting

PreventionAsk the vet about dehorning horned animals. Keep space between animals at feeding time

First aidPress a clean cloth on the bleeding site; deep wounds and large lacerations need the vet the same day. Also check for human injuries

Falls and fractures after escaping the fence

PreventionCheck fence strength. Do not chase on pavement, ditches or slopes. Trim hooves to reduce slipping

First aidDo not force the cow to stand or move her. Keep the area quiet; if a leg is deformed or she will not bear weight, call the vet immediately

Swallowed metal (hardware disease)

PreventionThoroughly remove nails and wire from pasture and feed. Check regularly with a magnet. Repair old fences

First aidVomiting cannot be induced. If she is listless or stands with front legs apart, see the vet the same day. Ask about a rumen magnet

Down cow after a fall

PreventionAvoid mud and icy ground. Manage nutrition around calving to prevent metabolic disease

First aidProp her up sternal (chest down) and support both sides with hay bales. Lying flat on her side is dangerous. Call the vet immediately

Bovine tuberculosis / brucellosis

RouteRaw milk; contact with aborted fetuses or discharge

PreventionHave the legally required periodic tests done. Do not drink raw milk. Wear gloves when assisting calving

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli

RouteOral infection from hands that touched manure

PreventionWash hands after work. Always wash hands after children touch the cattle. Wear gloves when handling manure

Cryptosporidium

RouteWater or hands contaminated with diarrheic feces

PreventionHandle calf diarrhea with gloves. Do not let manure contaminate drinking water

Dermatophytosis (ringworm)

RouteContact with hairless skin patches or fences

PreventionIf there are round hairless scabs, do not touch and see the vet. Disinfect fences and equipment

Food

• Good-quality hay free choice; about 2–3% of body weight in dry matter
• Pasture grass and forage are the basis. Grain in small amounts, never increased abruptly
• Keep a cattle mineral block and salt available at all times

Water

• Drinks 30–60 L or more a day. Never run out of fresh water
• Prevent freezing in winter; in summer scrub algae from the trough and wash it daily

Toys & play

• Install a brush post or rubbing post for scratching
• Pasture with varied terrain and shade to explore
• Companions of the same species. Avoid keeping one alone

Nest, bed & hideout

• Provide a three-sided barn or shelter against wind and rain
• Secure a lying area with deep, dry bedding

Bedding & litter

• Spread a thick layer of straw, sawdust or rice hulls
• Remove manure and urine daily and replace bedding to keep it dry
• Design drainage so that mud and puddles do not form

Cage / housing material

Wooden or steel-pipe fencing and a barn. Electric fencing only as a supplement

Size & space

At least 4 m² of barn per head plus pasture. Keep at least 2 head

Layout

• Separate the water trough from the feed trough, placed where manure cannot foul them
• Provide a handling alley and a chute for catching and restraint
• Separate shade and windbreak from a dry resting area

Placement notes

• In residential areas, manage odor, flies and noise and secure neighbors' understanding
• Confirm a vet can make farm calls and that you have registered with the Livestock Hygiene Service Center

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Turn out daily. Provide grassland for several hours of free walking in the daytime
• Walks use a halter and lead rope, basically within an escape-proof fence
• Avoid paved roads and crowds; keep children away

Temperature & humidity

Temperature5–25°C is comfortable. Heat stress above 25°C

HumidityDry bedding is essential. High humidity causes hoof disease and mastitis

Summer & winter

• Summer: secure shade, airflow and water. Avoid midday work
• Winter: windbreaks, dry bedding and freeze-proof water

Nail trimming

Hoof trimming twice a year by a hoof trimmer or vet. Overgrowth causes lameness

Brushing, skin & coat care

Daily with a stiff brush; more thoroughly during shedding. Check skin for hair loss and scabs

Other care

Fit and check ear tags, care for horns, watch for teeth grinding, and plan tick and lice control with the vet

Protection from predators

• Keep out stray dogs, wild boar and bears with fencing and a barn
• Insect netting and repellents against horseflies and stable flies
• Crows may peck at wounds or calves

Foreign-body ingestion

Remove wire, nails, plastic and rope from pasture. Swallowed metal causes traumatic pericarditis. Ask the vet about a rumen magnet

Being stepped on

Being stepped on breaks human bones, and you cannot push the cow off. Never stand behind a cow or at her feet; wear steel-toe boots

Getting pinched

People are often crushed between the cow and a wall at fences or chutes. Keep an escape route and do not stand at the cow's head with your back to a wall

Falls

Falls on slopes, ditches and pavement cause fractures. Fill holes and level steps in pasture. Avoid icy ground

Escape

An escaped cow means traffic accidents and injuries. Check fences daily; if she escapes, do not chase, lure with feed, and notify the police and the Livestock Hygiene Service Center

Safe release procedure

1. Move sideways while staying in the cow's field of view, and get behind a fence or obstacle
2. Spread your arms and urge her to stop in a calm, low voice
3. Restrain the head with a rope while a second person guides from the side
4. Get children and other people out of the fence first

After the release

Human bruises or fractures: seek medical care at once. Keep away from the cow until she calms down, and look for the cause (pain, heat)

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Report the ear tag number, weight, feed intake and whether she is ruminating, manure condition, time of onset, and any changes in feed

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Check consciousness by calling her name and watching ear movement and the blink reflex
• Breathing: count flank movements; 10–30 per minute is normal
• Heartbeat: place a hand inside the left elbow; 60–80 per minute

Stopping bleeding

• Press firmly with a clean cloth for at least 5 minutes
• Leg bleeding: apply a pressure bandage, not too tight
• Bleeding from a broken horn is hard to stop; call the vet

Transport

• Use a livestock trailer or have the vet make a farm call. Do not force her to walk
• A down cow is moved on a board or sling, kept sternal