Animal Husbandry: Cattle Flashcards
What is the standard lactation period of a dairy cow
305 days
When does milk yield peak in a dairy cow
2 months after calving
What is the average gestation period of a cow
282 days
What is the transition period for a dairy cow
The 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after calving when the animal is at a high risk for metabolic disease
List 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of feeding total mixed rations
Adv:
1. Stable rumen pH
2. Flexibility in ration formulation
Disadv:
1. Less individual attention to the animal
2. Problems with high concentrate levels
List 3 ways of good oestrus detection
- Good record keeping
- Using heat detection aids
- Observing for 3 periods of 30min each
What is the EBV
A measure of the expected performance of an animal relative to the population average
What is the predicted transmitting ability
The transmission of a genetic trait to offspring
Describe 3 concepts of organic farming
- Requires a 2 year conversion period to get paid the premium prices
- Routine antibiotics and dewormers are not allowed
- Product can be sold at a higher price but it costs more to make
List 3 traits selected for in dairy cattle
- Milk yield
- Milk composition
- Conformation
What are 4 cow management aims
- Clean and dry bedding
- Clean and comfortable cows
- Free access to feed and water
- Freedom of movement
At pasture, a cow spends ___ hours lying down and __ ruminating
12 hours lying
7 hours ruminating
How much space do you need for an 8,000L cow (average) in a straw yard housing system
10m2 per cow
A straw yard system is __ to install and __ to maintain
Whereas a cubicle system is __ to install and __ to maintain
Straw: cheap to install, expensive to maintain
Cubicle: expensive to install, cheap to maintain
How much space do you need for a 700kg cow in a cubicle housing system
2.4m x 1.2m
What is the most common type of bedding used in cow housing systems, and what are some other types
Straw is most common
Others: mats, sand, shavings
Why is good ventilation important in cattle sheds
Cows are naturally ‘damp’ animals and they produce a lot of condensation, so ventilation is important to keep a dry and clean environment to prevent bacterial overgrowth
Which season of calving is associated with the highest costs of production and why
Fall, because you have to feed concentrates at peak lactation
Which seasons of calving take advantage of higher milk prices
Autumn and summer
In milking, when does the ACR fall off the teat?
When milk flow falls below 0.5kg-0.2kg /min for 20 seconds
What are the 3 main categories of milking parlours
- Static parlors
- Rotary parlors
- Robotic milkers
What is the pulsation rate of the milking machine
The number of pulsation cycles per minute
What is the pulsation ratio of the milking machine
The length of the milk out phase compared to the massage phase