Thermometer: Spot Illness in Livestock at an Early Stage
One quick reading tells you early on whether an animal is going down. Digital thermometers for rectal use and an infrared unit for surfaces.
Kerbl BigScreen Digital Fever Thermometer for Animals, Waterproof
Regular price: €18.03
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Kerbl topTemp Digital Fever Thermometer for Animals, Rectal
Content: 0.5 Litre (€65.44 / 1 Litre)
Sale price: €32.72 Regular price: €33.99 (3.74% saved)
Thermometer: The Fastest Check in the Shed
An animal eats less well, stands apart or looks dull. Rather than guessing, you take a reading. The thermometer gives you a solid figure in seconds and tells you whether you can wait or need the vet. Note the value down and you can also follow the course of things and judge a treatment sensibly.
Rectal readings with a digital display
In livestock the reading is taken rectally, because that figure is the most reliable. The waterproof thermometer with a reading time of around ten seconds is made for a quick check, while the model with a flexible probe bends with the animal and is kinder on restless stock. The topTemp digital is a solid standard unit for the daily round, and the BigScreen shows the value on a large display that stays easy to read in a dark building. For cows and breeding sows the large animal version with a 14 cm probe is the one to pick, because it lets you work more safely and deeper.
Infrared and making sense of the figures
Alongside these there is an infrared thermometer with three modes for contact free measurement. It gives you the surface temperature and suits milk for feeding, lying areas or the shed environment. For judging a sick animal, the rectal reading remains the benchmark. As a guide: cattle usually sit between 38.0 and 39.0 degrees, calves a little above that, sheep and goats around 38.5 to 39.5 degrees and pigs between 38.0 and 39.5 degrees. Young stock always read higher. What counts is the deviation from the normal value together with the overall impression the animal gives.
Frequently asked questions
How do I take a reading in cattle correctly?
Hold the animal, ease the thermometer in with a little lubricant gel and lay the tip against the gut wall. Wait for the signal and only then pull it out. If there is dung in the rectum, the reading often comes out too low.
When do we talk about a fever?
In cattle a value well above 39.0 degrees counts as raised, while in sheep, goats and pigs the threshold sits a little higher. Heat, stress and transport lift the temperature for a short while. When in doubt, take a second reading later.
How do I keep the thermometer hygienic?
Clean and disinfect after every animal so that you do not carry anything on. Waterproof units can simply be rinsed off for that. Store it dry and keep an eye on the battery, so that it is ready when it matters.
Thermometers for Cattle, Pigs, Sheep and Goats
In livestock the reading is taken rectally, because that figure is the most reliable. For a quick check there is the waterproof thermometer with a reading time of around ten seconds, and for restless animals the version with a flexible probe that bends with them. The topTemp digital covers the daily round, while the BigScreen scores with a large display that stays easy to read in a dark building. With cows and breeding sows you work more safely using the large animal version with its 14 cm probe. The infrared thermometer with three modes measures without contact and suits milk for feeding, lying areas and the shed environment. Clean and disinfect after every animal and you carry nothing on. Note the values down, then you can follow the course and judge a treatment better.