Downer cow

A downer cow is a live cow that cannot walk. Another term for this condition is "non-ambulatory". This state can be caused by disease or injury. In nearly all cases it is considered by most farmers to be both humane and cost-effective to slaughter the animal when it becomes a downer, rather than keeping it alive and unhealthy. A "splitter" cow is a live beef or dairy animal that the hindquarters have done the complete splits and looks spraddle legged upon initial viewing. The cattle that go down that are able to still sit somewhat up on their briskets have a better chance of recovery than the cattle that are laid out on their side. Recovery is a study in patience.

There are many possible reasons for a cow staying down, including:
*Mastitis
*Metritis
*Hypomagnesaemia
*Hypocalcaemia
*Ketosis
*Dystocia
**Nerve Damage
**Pelvic Fracture
*Long bone fracture
*Neurological disease

Different jurisdictions have different rules about what can be done with a downer cow. In some jurisdictions the cow may be slaughtered without question. In others, downer cattle may not be slaughtered even if the cause is a physical injury. In the United States, meat inspection is usually an interstate commerce issue, and is regulated by the Federal Meat Inspection Act. Now all livestock auction barns are not allowed to take sick or downer cows because of the rulings that boiled down from the "BSE mad cow" crisis.

In Canada, transportation of animals is federally regulated. The Health of Animals Regulations (link: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cr/C.R.C.-c.296/bo-ga:l_XII//en#anchorbo-ga:l_XII) state cleary, that an animal has to be fit for the intended journey and that a non-ambulatory animal (another term for a "downer") cannot be transported because transport would cause additional suffering.It is desirable to euthanise such an animal, rather than subject it to transport. In many cases, the meat can still be salvaged, provided the animal is otherwise healthy and can be humanely slaughtered on-site.The Canadian authority responsible for the welfare of animals that are transported is the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (link: http://www.inspection.gc.ca) and relevant animal welfare policies and links are also provided (link: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/transport/indexe.shtml).

This agricultural term became more well known to the general public after the emergence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow disease"). Cows with advanced cases of mad cow disease may become downers.