# Normal Temperature, Heart Rate & Respiratory Rate of Cattle (Cows & Calves)

> Normal vital signs of cattle: rectal temperature (dairy cow 38.0–39.3 °C, beef cow 36.7–39.1 °C), heart rate (dairy cow 48–84 beats/min), respiratory rate — three references and calf values compared.

- Source page: https://wevet.in/normal-values/cattle-2/
- Type: Normal values
- Publisher: WeVet
- Updated: 2026-11-01
- Audience: veterinarians and veterinary students

Reference ranges for the vital signs of cattle from the MSD Veterinary Manual tables, adapted from *Dukes' Physiology of Domestic Animals* [1][2][3], compared with Virginia Cooperative Extension [4] and the UC Davis California Veterinary Emergency Team [5], including calves.

## Reference ranges

| Parameter | Cattle | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rectal temperature — dairy cow | 38.0–39.3 °C (100.4–102.8 °F) | [1] |
| Rectal temperature — beef cow | 36.7–39.1 °C (98.0–102.4 °F) | [1] |
| Resting heart rate — dairy cow | 48–84 beats/min | [2] |
| Resting heart rate — ox | 36–60 beats/min | [2] |
| Resting respiratory rate — dairy cow | 26–50 breaths/min | [3] |

## How the references compare

Published reference ranges differ between sources. Each range below is printed as its source gives it; °C values marked * are converted from the source's °F.

| Parameter | MSD Veterinary Manual [1][2][3] | Virginia Cooperative Extension [4] | UC Davis CVET [5] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature, adult | Dairy cow 38.0–39.3 °C; beef cow 36.7–39.1 °C | 100.4–103.1 °F (38.0–39.5 °C*) | 100.5–102.5 °F (38.1–39.2 °C*) |
| Heart rate, adult (beats/min) | Dairy cow 48–84; ox 36–60 | 40–70 | 40–80 |
| Respiratory rate, adult (breaths/min) | Dairy cow 26–50 | Beef 10–30; dairy 18–28 | 12–36 |

## Calves

| Parameter | UC Davis CVET [5] |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 101.5–103 °F (38.6–39.4 °C*) |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | 100–140 |
| Respiratory rate (breaths/min) | 30–60 |

## Measuring

- Temperature: a veterinary thermometer in the rectum, removed after 2 to 3 minutes or after the interval recommended by the manufacturer [4].
- Pulse: the external maxillary artery, which crosses the lower edge of the jaw just in front of the masseter (cheek) muscle [4].
- Respiration: count flank movements or breaths at the nostrils for one minute at rest [4]; respiration rate is influenced by stress, exercise, temperature and other factors [4].
- The UC Davis chart lists rumen contractions with a soft rumen as normal [5].

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the normal temperature of a cow?

The MSD Veterinary Manual table gives 38.0–39.3 °C (100.4–102.8 °F) for dairy cows and 36.7–39.1 °C (98.0–102.4 °F) for beef cows [1].

### What is the normal heart rate of a cow?

48–84 beats per minute for a dairy cow and 36–60 for an ox in the MSD table [2]; Virginia Cooperative Extension gives 40–70 [4] and the UC Davis chart 40–80 for adults [5].

### What is the normal respiratory rate of cattle?

The MSD table gives 26–50 breaths per minute for a dairy cow [3]; Virginia Cooperative Extension gives 10–30 for beef and 18–28 for dairy cattle [4].

### What are normal vital signs in a calf?

The UC Davis chart lists 101.5–103 °F, a heart rate of 100–140 beats per minute and a respiratory rate of 30–60 breaths per minute for calves [5].

## References

[1] Normal Rectal Temperature Ranges (table) — MSD Veterinary Manual. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/normal-rectal-temperature-ranges
[2] Resting Heart Rates (table) — MSD Veterinary Manual. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/resting-heart-rates
[3] Resting Respiratory Rates (table) — MSD Veterinary Manual. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/resting-respiratory-rates
[4] Monitoring Livestock Vital Signs — Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech and Virginia State University) (2020). https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/APSC/APSC-169/APSC-169.html
[5] Normal Vital Signs (vitals chart) — California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET), University of California, Davis (June 2024). https://cvet.sf.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk13661/files/inline-files/CVET%20Vital%20Signs%2006_2024.pdf

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Numbers in [brackets] cite the references above. For veterinary professionals. Information supports — never replaces — clinical judgement; always check the current product label and local regulations.
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