2 – Dairy Production Cycle

Question 1

When do heifers normally calve?

Answer 1

• 22-24 months of age

Question 2

When do you breed after giving birth (days in milk)?

Answer 2

• 60 days in milk

Question 3

When do cows continue to lactate before calving?

Answer 3

• 60 days before calving

Question 4

How many days in milk are cows normally?

Answer 4

• 300-360 days in milk

Question 5

How long is the dry period?

Answer 5

• 60 days

Question 6

Body condition

Answer 6

• methods for determining body reserves
• important management tool for
  o nutrition
  o reproduction
  o post-partum
  o milk production
• *corrective action if BCS <2

Question 7

What are the different housing options during lactation? (4)

Answer 7

• Free-stalls
• Tie-stalls
• Pasture
• Bedding packs
• *all about maintenance

Question 8

Free-stalls

Answer 8

• Most COMMON system
• NA and Europe

Question 9

Tie-stalls

Answer 9

• Welfare concerns, becoming UNPOPULAR with producers

Question 10

Pasture

Answer 10

• New Zealand
• West coast of UK and Ireland (‘warmer’ than they should be)

Question 11

Bedding packs

Answer 11

• Low initial cost, high maintenance

Question 12

What must the milking machine minimize?

Answer 12

• Trauma to mammary tissues
  o *pulsation prevents damage to teat end
• Pathogen spread between animals

Question 13

Milking systems

Answer 13

• ‘static’ facilities
• Rotary/carousel facility
• Robotic milkers

Question 14

Number of dairy milkings: 2x vs. 3x per day

Answer 14

• Get more milk with 3x/day
  o *10-15% increase in milk production
• Cows want to get milk: 2.8x/day

Question 15

What is the bulk tank storage temperature?

Answer 15

• <+4 degree C

Question 16

Milk pickups

Answer 16

• Every other day in SK
  o Each pickup tested (Antimicrobials, water, other contaminants)
• More frequent on larger facilities (pay more)
  o Directly into truck in future? (big facilities in the US, 3000 cows)

Question 17

Dry cows

Answer 17

• Prepare for parturition
• Cell turnover in mammary gland
• Colostrum production
• **Dry period: usually 60d
• *old research into short dry periods are FLAWED

Question 18

What are some reasons for shorter dry periods?

Answer 18

• Due to HIGH milk production
• Increased milk production in lactation before dry period
• NO demonstrated adverse effects if >40days

Question 19

What are some ‘problems’ with drying cows off?

Answer 19

• Stopping milking
• Cow still may have higher production

Question 20

Drying cows off abruptly

Answer 20

• Stop milking immediately
• Discomfort issues
• Less risk of mastitis

Question 21

Drying cows off gradually

Answer 21

• Less discomfort
• Increased risk of mastitis
  o Bacteria needs time to colonize and adhere to surface
  o If increase to more than 12hrs=give bacteria more time

Question 22

Drying cows off: feeding

Answer 22

• Do NOT remove
• Do NOT make extreme changes

Question 23

Drying cows off: water

Answer 23

• Should always be available
• Do NOT restrict water intake

Question 24

What happens if you have a high cow culling rate + high heifer mortality?

Answer 24

• INSUFFICENT SUPPLY

Question 25

Which cows are most efficient?

Answer 25

• Those in LATER LACTATIONS

Question 26

What is the culling rate in Canada?

Answer 26

• 30%

Question 27

What is the higher mortality rate?

Answer 27

• 8%

Question 28

What are the fates of the bull calves?

Answer 28

• Rarely: breeding
• Common: raised for beef
• *cross-breeding=better beef quality

Question 29

What is the common practice for breeding semen choices?

Answer 29

• Best heifers and cows=sexed Holstein semen=Holstein heifer born
• Beef seme for animals with lower genetic merit or previous issues
  o Ex. angus, speckle park, shorthorn, wagyu
  o High beef production and calving EASE

Question 30

What are the economics of dairy production?

Answer 30

• Average farm: $307/cow/year
• Range from -$677 to $1,409/cow/year

Question 31

Least costs vs. maximize margin

Answer 31

• Margin=return in profit over costs
• Common strategy=minimize costs
• *efficiency to maximize margin
  o Has herd size gets bigger, income increases=profit margin increases
• Cutting costs often decrease efficiency

Question 32

Dairy ownership

Answer 32

• Small dairy: sole proprietorship
• Larger: family corporation (multiple people with stakes)

Question 33

What are the 3 important factors for keeping good records?

Answer 33

• Production
• Cow parameters
• Precision farming systems (ex. activity monitors, eating, laying)

Question 34

What is the dairy recording system in Canada?

Answer 34

• Lactanet

Question 35

What is the ‘herd health cycle’?

Answer 35

• Operational goals
• Execute the programme, monitor process evolution
• Make decisions and take actions
• Evaluate farm performance in various areas
• Adjust farm processes
• Adjust operation goals

Question 36

What are the ‘rules’ for record keeping?

Answer 36

• Useful
• Readily converted into info
• Simple
• Avoid duplication
• Take action on records