The Impulsbetriebe Tierwohl (Animal Welfare Initiative) is well aware that feeding, health and animal welfare are closely linked, and that careful observation of animals is essential for assessment. But can the implementation of the feed ration be determined solely by observing cows, without having to consult data from milk yield testing or blood and urine samples? French veterinarian Bruno Giboudeau has spent decades developing the Obsalim^® method for this very purpose, which allows feeding diagnostics to be carried out by observing ruminants and also enables recommendations for adjustments to be derived. The network participants did not want to miss out on this self-help tool and were introduced to the method by veterinarian Dr Andreas Striezel at the network meeting.

Importance of the rumen microbiome

At the beginning of the seminar, he discussed the importance of the rumen microbiome. The composition of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms in the ruminant stomach is of great importance for the performance and health of the cow. Only they are able – as a kind of small bioreactor – to produce high-quality nutrients for the host from plants. In addition to the important factors of water and heat, they need a regular supply in terms of timing and a certain stability in terms of composition in order to function well. The trick is to balance the feed so that ration changes are made before diseases develop. To do this, the adaptation symptoms shown by the animals must be recognised before an absolute deficiency or absolute oversupply occurs. The difficult task of controlling what is converted from the feed ration is a challenge, especially with grazing and dry cows. It is precisely in these areas that the method shows its particular strength, as it works purely through animal observation.

The participants listened eagerly as the system was explained, which delivers results based on the assessment of herd homogeneity and the "knee cross" as well as rumen stability.

The entire herd is taken into account. Body condition, vitality, herd rhythm and cleanliness, as well as the condition of the coat, are assessed. The aim is to achieve a homogeneous herd. The more homogeneous the herd is (and this does not yet address whether the entire herd is, for example, undernourished or overfed), the easier it is to make any necessary adjustments to feeding. Inhomogeneous herds always have potential for change. At Obsalim^®, a herd is always defined as the group that is kept in the same compartment and fed the same diet.

The knee cross is used to assess both feeding and the environment. The speaker explained how the knee cross is allocated. An imaginary line between the cow's shoulder joint and knee and a vertical line at knee height form the so-called knee cross. This can be used to assess whether the cows may have problems adapting to external or internal conditions.

Laying the cards – experience instead of esotericism

Based on the symptoms, over 60 Obsalim^® cards were developed, listing observations for the areas of hair, skin, faeces, urine, eyes, nose, hoof diseases, feed intake/rumination, milk and reproduction, as well as general observations (e.g. body condition or behaviour). Conclusions about feeding can then be drawn using the criteria of energy (fermentable, global), nitrogen (fermentable, global), fibre (fermentable, structural) and rumen stability. On each card, the symptom is then assigned a value between -2 and +2 for the seven Obsalim^® criteria. To get an overview of the herd, the most noticeable and frequently occurring symptoms described on the cards are identified. The principle is as follows: at least three body regions or at least three cards per animal group are selected that apply to at least two-thirds of the herd. The totals for each Obsalim^® criterion are then calculated, and the one with the greatest deviation (positive = excess or negative = deficiency) is given priority for ration correction. In this context, it is important to note that the criterion of rumen stability must always be given priority when deviations are found.

It quickly became clear that it is not possible to learn the method purely through online training, and so the participants were very interested in trying out the method in practice in the barn during the first face-to-face meeting.