Bovine

Question 1

General behaviour of bovine

Answer 1

Hierarchal social herd structure
Isolation is very stressful
Strong flight instinct
Can become aggressive
Cornered/threatened
Cow with calf
Bulls

Question 2

Environment for bovine

Answer 2

Tolerant of many different climates with appropriate shelter and acclimatization
Cold weather–increased feed, windbreaks, heavy bedding
Hot weather–fans, sprinklers, shade
Newborn Calves
Heavy bedding, specialized calf shelters, heated barn

Question 3

Nutrients given to cow-calf opperations

Answer 3

Increased nutrition requirements in third trimester

Question 4

Nutrients given to dairy cows

Answer 4

Total mixed ration (TMR) specific to lactation period

Question 5

Nutrients for feedlot cattle

Answer 5

Well-controlled gradual adjustment from forage based to grain based diet

Question 6

Mineral blocks for cattle

Answer 6

Mineral lick/block specific for cattle
Cobalt, copper
Nutritionist designed diets

Question 7

Water needed for cattle

Answer 7

Water is the most important nutrient!
Clean, fresh, always available
25–65 L per cow a day!
Heated in winter
Ground water
Test for mineral concentration
Surface water
Caution for summer use
Algae blooms, sulphate
Snow alone is NEVER acceptable

Question 8

Transportation of weaned cattle

Answer 8

36 hours without water, food, and rest
8 hours offloaded
Fit for transport

Question 9

Transportation of down cattle

Answer 9

Cannot be transported except for vet treatment
NEVER dragged
Humanely euthanized

Question 10

What type of breeders and how is there fertility cows

Answer 10

Excellent fertility
Selected for reproduction
Year round breeders
Not influenced by season

Question 11

Traits of cattle reproduction

Answer 11

Easy calving, udder conformation,sperm quality
Beef–carcass quality, weight gain,good mothers
Dairy–milk production, good feet

Question 12

Bulls reproductive characteristics

Answer 12

Proven pedigree, sound limbs and feet, libido, semen quality
Breeding soundness exam
Secondary characteristics
Well-developed musculature
Thick crest neck
Enlarged head
Deep vocalization
Fibroelastic penis
Unpredictable

Question 13

Estrous in cows

Answer 13

21 days

Question 14

Estrus in cows

Answer 14

Restless, bawling, swollen vulva, vulvar discharge
Allowing other cows to mount most important indicator
Body condition important

Question 15

What type of breeders are cows

Answer 15

Short duration breeders
After courtship, bull mounts cow, obtains erection just prior to intromission, ejaculates into vagina
Will breed many times a day

Question 16

Pasture breeding of cattle

Answer 16

Cow-calf operations
Bull to cow ratio 1:20-30
Hard work for the bulls!
Increased risk of injury to bulls
Transmission of disease

Question 17

AI in cattle

Answer 17

Artificial insemination
Dairy operations
Closely monitor for cows in estrus
Avoid managing dangerous bulls on dairy
Semen collected at specialized bull studs
Access to superior genetics

Question 18

Average gestation of cattle

Answer 18

283 days (9.5 months)

Question 19

What type of placenta do cows have and how does this affect antibiotic transfer

Answer 19

Cotyledonary placentation
Minimal transfer of maternal antibodies to fetus
Twin conception undesirable
Freemartinism
Share hormones between a male and female fetus which causes future issues

Question 20

Dystocia in cows percentages and casues

Answer 20

Dystocia relatively common
10% primiparous
5% multiparious
Causes
Maternal-fetal disproportion most common
Malposition
Bull calves
Prolonged gestation
Over or under conditioned cows

Question 21

Stage 1 of parturition in cattle

Answer 21

2-6 hours
Early labour
Weak uterine contractions, calf moves into normal dorso-sacral position
Cervical plug
Chorioallantois becomes visible at vulva

Question 22

Stage 2 of parturition in cattle

Answer 22

1-2 hours
Rupturing of membranes to delivery of fetus

Question 23

Stage 3 of parturition in cattle

Answer 23

6-12 hours
Weight of placenta encourages detachment

Question 24

When to intervene in cattle births and when to call a vet

Answer 24

> 2 hours since appearance of amniotic sack
Feet at vulva but no progress after 30 min
Active labour but no feet or amniotic sac
Two hooves pointing up
Three or for hooves at vulva
Two hooves, no nose
Tail only
When to call a vet
Difficult to correct presentation
No progress after 15 min of pulling

Question 25

When do calves need colostrum and how much do they need

Answer 25

Calves must consume adequate colostrum within 6 hours of birth
4-6 L in first 24 hours
Serum total protein
>5.5 g/dL = adequate transfer
<5.o g/dL = failure of passive transfer
Serum chemistry
>10 mg/mL globulins = adequate transfer
Frozen colostrum from herd

Question 26

Common calf diseases

Answer 26

Diarrhea
Pneumonia
Umbilical infection
Septic arthritis

Question 27

How to identify cattle

Answer 27

Dangle tags
CCIA tags
Specific to the animal
Registered to the herd of origin

Question 28

Handling and safety with cattle

Answer 28

Low stress handling
Flight zone
Point of balance

Question 29

Physical restraint for cattle

Answer 29

Chutes and raceways
Halter and rope
Tail jack
Nose tongs
Casting

Question 30

Chemical restraint for cattle

Answer 30

Alpha-2 agonist (xylazine, detomidine)
Use minimally invasive and painful procedures
Use only ⅕ the dose you would use for a horse
20mg/mL
Alpha-2 agonist + opioid
Longer more invasive procedures
Bovine stun (20 mg ketamine + 10 mg butorphanol + 5mg xylazine for the average cow)
Longer more invasive procedures
IM for longer effect

Question 31

Castration of cattle

Answer 31

Elastrator rubber ring
Burdizzo
Surgical
Analgesics and local anaesthetic always indicated

Question 32

Dehorning/debudding of cattle

Answer 32

Breed for polled whenever possible
Calves only (NEVER adults!)
Increased risk of hemorrhage infection
Analgesics and local anaesthetic always indicated

Question 33

Physical exam on cows

Answer 33

Start at the heart and work around (find out numbers and regular values)
Cardio
Gastro
Mucous membrane
Digital pulses
Temp
Feces and urine
Udder

Question 34

Vaccinations for cattle herds

Answer 34

Tailored to each herd and production type
Proper vaccine storage and handling just as important as vaccine selection

Question 35

Withdrawal times in cattle

Answer 35

Must follow label withdrawal times
Greater withdrawal times for meat then milk
Extra-label use only by vet
Never use certain drugs
Aminoglycosides
Phenylbutazone
Enrofloxacin

Question 36

Zoonotic disease in cattle

Answer 36

Neurologic
Rabies, listeriosis
Always wear gloves
Abortion
Brucellosis, listeriosis, leptospirosis, Q-fever
NEVER handle aborted tissues if pregnant!
Skin
Dermatophytosis

Question 37

Humane euthanasia for cattle

Answer 37

Lethal dose of barbituates
Burial or rendering
Gunshot to the brain
Penetrating captive bolt
Extended bolt- not for human consumption
Pithing- not for human consumption
Exsanguination- for human consumption
Slaughter
Stunned prior to exsanguination
Proper restraint
Specified risk materials
Brain
Spinal cord
Ileum

Question 38

How to take a cows temp

Answer 38

1.Apply lube or vaseline to the tip of the thermometer.
2.Approach the cow safely, with the cow restrained in a head gate and a pole behind the cow’s hindquarters. From the side of the chute, lift the tail or move the tail to the side to expose the anus.
3. Insert the thermometer into the anus until the digital window is contacting the anus. Feces on the window is expected.
4. Remove the thermometer when it beeps.
5. Release the tail

Question 39

Normal temp of cattle

Answer 39

38.5 +/- 0.5°C.

Question 40

How to get a HR in cattle

Answer 40

listen to the heart under the triceps muscle of the left limb, at a location halfway between the point of the elbow and the point of the shoulder. Count how many beats in 15 sec and multiply by 4 to obtain a HR/min

Question 41

Normal HR of cow

Answer 41

50-80 beats/min (cattle 100-120bpm)

Question 42

How to get RR for cow

Answer 42

You can listen for respirations with your stethoscope over the trachea/lungs, or by watching the rise and fall of the flank. The lung field in cattle is a triangular region bordered by the triceps muscle cranially, the ventral surface of thoracic vertebrae dorsally, and a diagonal line from the dorsal aspect of the 11th intercostal space to the point of the elbow. Count respirations for 30 sec, and multiply by 2 to obtain a RR/min.

Question 43

Normal RR in cattle

Answer 43

15-50 brpm

Question 44

Where to listen to rumen sounds

Answer 44

You would listen for rumen contractions in the left paralumbar fossa (the indentation of the abdomen caudal to the last rib and ventral to the wing of the ilium). The sound is a gurgling/fluid sound similar to a toilet flushing. Listen for 2 minutes

Question 45

Normal ruminal contraction in cattle

Answer 45

2-4/2min

Question 46

How to collect urine in a cattle

Answer 46

I. Have a sterile container ready to collect urine (a sterile, empty syringe case works well).
II. Approach the cow from the side, with your shoulder against her hip. Stand parallel to her, and face yourself the same direction her hind end is pointing.
III. Run your hand down her caudal thigh, and stroke the back of your hand along her perineal area below the vulva. Continue for 1-2 minutes, until she urinates.
IV. Allow a small amount of urine to drain, then using your free hand catch some urine in the sterile container.
V. You WILL get urine on your hand.
VI. A common reason to collect urine is to test for ketones using the urine dipsticks. Presence of ketones indicates ketosis (an indication of excessive fat breakdown in cattle with negative energy balance).

Question 47

Tail brace on cattle

Answer 47

a. The tail brace is a quick method to prevent a cow from kicking during a brief, mildly uncomfortable procedure or examination.
b. Speaking quietly so the cow knows you are there, approach a cow from behind who is properly restrained in a headgate.
c. Grasp the tail near the base and raise the base of the cow’s tail straight dorsally over her back until you feel resistance. Do NOT raise the tail until it is completely vertical.
d. Be wary of the mobile distal end! You can hold it so that the manure or mud-covered end does not hit you in the face.
e. Once you feel the resistance hold it there until the uncomfortable procedure is completed. The cow may dance around but will not be able to kick.
f. Once the procedure is completed lower the tail and step away from the cow’s hind end

Question 48

How to use halter on cattle

Answer 48

a. Estimate the poll piece length so that it will not touch the cow’s eyes when being placed or tightened. You can make the poll piece shorter or longer by pulling the free end (to make it shorter) or pulling the poll piece (to make it longer).
b. Adjust the chin piece by pulling on the free end to make the chin piece smaller, or feeding some free end through the loop to make the chin piece larger. It should be slightly larger than the size of the cow’s nose. The loop and free and should end up on the left side of the patient.
c. Get the poll piece around the far ear first, then the near ear.
d. Loop the nose piece over the cow’s muzzle by “fishing” for the muzzle. Toss the nose piece over the muzzle until the muzzle settles loosely in the opening made by the nose piece and the long chin piece.
e. Tighten the chin piece by pulling on the free end. Ensure the halter is placed with the free end on the left side of the patient, not touching the cow’s eyes, and the poll piece just behind the ears.
* If you have to adjust the halter once it is on the cow, be VERY CAREFUL. Do not place your fingers between the rope of the halter and the cow or you may get badly injured if the cow decides to throw her head. You can try pinching the sides of the rope to adjust, but the risk of getting your hand crushed is still present.
f. The free end can be tied to a metal eye or hook on the head gate to immobilize the head