Dairy Herd Manure Key Health Indicator

According to a USDA dairy forage scientist, a lot can be learned about a cow’s health from its manure. Manure can often share insights on the interactions between a cow and her diet. Manure can often share insights on the interactions between a cow and her diet. Dairy producers should look for these abnormal manure signs when considering diet changes for the herd:

≥≥ Manure that appears foamy, could be due to excess fermentation in the hindgut.
≥≥ Excessive manure can result from ruminal acidosis or digestive upset from spoiled feed or disease.
≥≥ Undigested feed in a small amount is okay, but if it is enough to be identifiable, it means the feed is escaping the rumen.

USDA says a group of cows on the same diet should have no more than 5% variation in manure.

Read more on health indications in dairy herds here.