Farmers and vets look for positive behaviours to know if a cow is happy and healthy. Signs include cud chewing, walking freely, grazing well, and having bright eyes and a shiny coat. Happy cows tend to produce healthier milk, so their wellbeing is closely monitored.

Since cows can’t tell us directly how they feel, farmers, vets, and dairy professionals rely on various behavioural signs to assess their wellbeing.

Positive indicators that a cow is feeling well and 'happy' include: 

• Cud chewing and rumination (check out this video to learn more)
• Walking freely
• Social interaction
• Grazing and eating well
• Bright eyes, a clean shiny coat, and a wet, shiny nose
• Good body condition (not too skinny or too fat)
• Consistent faeces
• Self-licking and stretching (especially in 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.

Resources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21787920, accessed 10 April 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_v9vH2jwtk, Cow chewing the cud, accessed 10 April 2019