How to choose a Holstein cow? Remember these eight points to look at

First, look at appearance. A good-quality Holstein cow has a tall, large frame, well-developed hindquarters, and a body that forms an inverted triangle; the milk veins are thick, large and mostly winding, and the udder is well developed; the coat color is clearly defined black-and-white patches, with a white star on the forehead in many cases, and the lower parts of the legs, the underside of the belly and the tail tuft are white.

Second, look at milk production. A good-quality Holstein cow has a lactation period of 305 days, with milk production generally above 5000 kg, and daily milk production of no less than 15 kg.

Third, look at the muzzle. A healthy cow's muzzle is moist and has water droplets. A sick cow's muzzle is cyanotic and hot.

Fourth, look at rumination. A healthy cow ruminates normally, and apart from cows in estrus, rumination will not disappear; even in a cow in estrus, rumination does not stop completely, whereas pain, hunger and disease can all cause rumination to stop.

Fifth, look at the feces. The feces of normally housed cows are yellowish brown, while those of grazing cows have a yellowish-green tint. If the feces contain feed particles or have a foul odor, it indicates hidden problems in the feed processing method or the cow's digestive function.

Sixth, look at feed intake. A healthy cow has a good appetite and eats normally, while a sick cow has reduced appetite and shows severe picky eating.

Seventh, look at mastitis. The test method is: titrate fresh milk with 75% alcohol (medical disinfectant alcohol). If the milk clings to the cup or precipitates, the cow has mastitis or subclinical mastitis, and such a cow should not be selected.

Eighth, look at endometritis. In cows with endometritis, the outer wall of the vagina often has clear, white or yellow purulent mucus, and such cows are generally unsuitable for breeding and conception. When buying dairy cows, try to choose healthy young cows.