Calf Thermometer

MOFarmer2013 · Oct 3, 2016

Can you use just a regular thermometer to check the temperature on calves? I know cows need a large animal thermometer, but I didn't know about calves.

Fire Sweep Ranch · Oct 3, 2016

I use a human digital thermometer on all of my cattle, including cows. I buy them at walmart, like $3 each! When they die, I just trash them and buy new. In cows, I make sure I hold it up against the anal wall when checking, so I get an accurate reading.

wbvs58 · Oct 4, 2016

There is no difference in thermometers for humans or calves or cows or dogs or horses. My preference has always been a mercury thermometer but some people have difficulty reading them if they are not used to them. I used them everyday of my working life.

Ken

MOFarmer2013 · Oct 4, 2016

That's exactly what I needed to know. Thank you. I know they are the same, but I have been told that when using a thermometer in a cow, you need a large animal thermometer because a regular human thermometer will not reach far enough to get an accurate reading. I don't know if that is accurate though.

Koffi Babone · Oct 5, 2016

When taking the temp, you have to make sure the thermometer is not in the middle of the rectum (ie, you don't need to know the temp of the manure). Place it against the side of the rectum to get the temp of the animal or you can also angle the thermometer so that the tip touches the rectal membrane.

It is the same for oral temp taking in humans. If it is in the middle of the mouth, you are measuring the air temp in the mouth. You gotta make sure it is under the tongue, so that the thermometer is actually touching a part of the body.

wbvs58 · Oct 5, 2016

Koffi Babone":2z3rs8ft said:
When taking the temp, you have to make sure the thermometer is not in the middle of the rectum (ie, you don't need to know the temp of the manure). Place it against the side of the rectum to get the temp of the animal or you can also angle the thermometer so that the tip touches the rectal membrane.

It is the same for oral temp taking in humans. If it is in the middle of the mouth, you are measuring the air temp in the mouth. You gotta make sure it is under the tongue, so that the thermometer is actually touching a part of the body.

Just give it a bit of a wipe before taking the kids temperature.

Ken