How to tell if a cow is healthy? Remember these three key points

1. A strong appetite is the most reliable sign of good health in cattle. In general, illness first affects a cow's appetite, so checking whether there is leftover feed in the trough each morning when you feed is very important for detecting disease early.

2. Rumination is a good indicator of a cow's health. A healthy cow ruminates for about 8 hours a day, especially more at night. In general, as long as a sick cow starts ruminating again, it shows the condition is improving.

3. A normal cow defecates 10 to 15 times a day and urinates 8 to 10 times. A healthy cow's dung has a suitable firmness and comes out in segments, though fattening cattle have slightly softer dung and usually defecate a little more often; the urine is generally clear with a slight yellow tint.