Cattle are resilient animals but, like all livestock, they hide the early signs of illness instinctively — a behaviour that evolved to avoid appearing vulnerable to predators. By the time an animal is showing obvious distress, the disease has often been present and progressing for days. Developing sharp observational skills during daily checks, and knowing specifically what to look for, is one of the most valuable skills a livestock keeper can develop.

This guide covers the most common and most important warning signs in cattle in Australian conditions. None of these signs is a diagnosis — they are indicators that require closer assessment, possibly veterinary advice, and prompt action.

1. Separation from the mob

Cattle are strongly social and naturally maintain close group contact. An individual cow or steer consistently separating from the herd, standing alone with a hunched posture and dull expression, is showing one of the earliest and most reliable signs of illness or pain. Check these animals the same day — early detection consistently improves treatment outcomes.

2. Reduced or absent feed intake

A cow that does not come forward at feeding, does not move toward water when the herd does, or has not been seen ruminating (chewing cud) during periods when healthy cattle are ruminating may be anorectic. Take rectal temperature (normal: 38 to 39.5°C) — a fever above 40°C confirms systemic illness and increases the urgency of veterinary consultation.

3. Scours in calves

Calf scours (neonatal diarrhoea) is the leading cause of calf death under one month of age in Australian beef herds. The key early signs are a wet tail and hind end, loose faeces, and increasing depression. The lethal mechanism is dehydration and metabolic acidosis — calves that are still bright and suckling can be managed with oral electrolytes; calves that cannot stand or have lost the suck reflex need intravenous fluids urgently. See our full calf scours guide for the complete treatment protocol.

4. Respiratory signs

Coughing, nasal discharge, laboured breathing, and fever in cattle — particularly in recently weaned calves or feedlot cattle — suggest bovine respiratory disease (BRD). BRD is the most economically significant disease in Australian feedlots and a significant issue around weaning time in paddock-based systems. Early treatment (appropriate antibiotic under veterinary guidance within the first 24 hours of signs) is critical to preventing lung scarring that permanently reduces growth performance.

5. Bloat

Rumen bloat in cattle presents as distension of the left flank — visible and palpable — with the animal showing discomfort, reluctance to move, and laboured breathing as the distension increases. Bloat can progress to death within hours. Walk the animal gently and contact your vet immediately for severe bloat. Frothy bloat (common on lush legume pasture) can be treated with a bloat drenching agent (poloxalene or vegetable oil) if caught early; free gas bloat may require a stomach tube or, in extremis, trocar puncture by a vet.

6. Lameness

Lameness in cattle has multiple causes — foot rot (foul in the foot, caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum between the claws), sole abscess, foot and mouth disease risk (check for oral lesions), or joint ill in calves. A lame cow not treated promptly loses condition rapidly, as she is reluctant to travel to feed and water. Examine the foot carefully — the foul smell of footrot is diagnostic; treat promptly with appropriate antibiotic under veterinary guidance.

7. Pinkeye

A weeping, squinting, or cloudy eye in cattle suggests infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (pinkeye, caused by Moraxella bovis). Early cases show a small central ulcer with a white ring and watery discharge; untreated cases can progress to deep ulceration and permanent blindness. Treatment with antibiotic eye preparations (oxytetracycline or similar, administered under the eyelid) in the first 24 to 48 hours is highly effective.

8. Bottle jaw

A soft, fluctuant swelling under the jaw (submandibular oedema) in cattle indicates severe protein loss, most commonly from heavy liver fluke burden or, in young cattle, heavy gastrointestinal worm burden. It is a late clinical sign requiring prompt investigation and treatment. Cattle with bottle jaw should not be drenched with standard roundworm products — confirm fluke involvement with a faecal egg count before selecting the appropriate treatment.

9. Neurological signs

Cattle showing incoordination, circling, apparent blindness, head pressing against fences, star-gazing, or recumbency with paddle movements have neurological disease. Causes include polioencephalomalacia (thiamine deficiency, particularly in cattle on high-grain diets), listeriosis, lead poisoning, and grass tetany (hypomagnesaemia). Grass tetany in cows on lush autumn or spring pasture — particularly after rain — is a genuine emergency requiring immediate intravenous magnesium treatment.

10. Pregnancy and calving problems

A cow that has been in the first stage of labour (restless, getting up and down) for more than 4 to 6 hours without progressing to delivery, or has been in the second stage (actively straining with feet or head visible) for more than 30 to 45 minutes without progression, needs assistance. Do not wait longer — prolonged difficult birth (dystocia) kills calves and can seriously damage cows. If the presentation is abnormal or you cannot safely assist, call your vet.

When to call a vet

Any single animal showing multiple symptoms simultaneously, any situation involving multiple animals affected at once, any sign of neurological involvement (incoordination, circling, seizures), or any rapidly deteriorating animal should prompt immediate veterinary contact. Do not wait to see if the animal improves — the time lost in delay is frequently the margin between a treatable problem and a dead animal. Keep your vet's contact number saved in your phone and know the after-hours emergency number before you have an emergency.

For more on cattle health, see our Health Guide and FAQ page.

For more, see our Beef Cattle Breeds in Australia: Choosing the Right Breed for Your Property and Grass Tetany in Cattle: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention in Australia.