How do you know if a cow is happy?

Last updated 17/01/2024

Since cows are unable to tell us if they are happy or not, farmers, vets and other dairy professionals rely on behavioural signs to tell them if anything is wrong.

Positive behavioural signs we look for in cows to know that they are feeling well include:

• Cud chewing and rumination (check out this video to learn more)
• Walking freely
• Interacting socially
• Grazing and eating well
• Bright eyes, clean and shiny coat and wet shiny nose
• Body condition score (not too skinny, not too fat) – something to note – dairy cows store fat and muscle differently to beef breeds
• Consistency of their faeces (not too hard, not too runny)
• Self-licking + stretching (calves)

The old saying that happy cows produce healthy milk is true! Lactating dairy cows are milked every day, which allows us to watch and check on them regularly. The milk is also tested every day which is another way to assess the health and wellbeing of the cow. For example, high levels of somatic cells in the milk indicate a possible infected udder. Farmers act immediately to ensure the milk from that cow is separated from the milk to be sold, and that the cow is treated appropriately.