Signs are recorded and cows are marked accordingly. Green is used for okay status. Red is used for treated or sick status. Yellow is used for monitored status. The following flow chart can be used for determining the color marking and treatment protocol.
Marking begins forward on the left rump, near the hook bone as viewed from behind the cow.
Each mark denotes one day postpartum. The day five mark crosses the previous four days from hook to pin. The day six mark begins on the right side in similar fashion. Any time the cow receives three green marks on three consecutive days, she is ready to leave the fresh pen. Some chalk the tail head orange to further emphasize the cow is ready to assimilate into the milking herd.