Bovine

Question 1

How long is a dairy cow’s lactation?

Answer 1

300days

Question 2

What is the general behaviour of cattle?

Answer 2

hierarchal social herd structure (isolation vry stessful)
strong flight instinct
can become aggressive when cornered/threatened, cow w/ calf, bulls

Question 3

What type of environment are cattle in, what type of environment do newborn calves need?

Answer 3

tolerant of many w/ acclimatization

Cold weather - inc feed, winbreaks, heavy bedding
Hot weather - fans, sprinklers, shade

newborn calves - heavy bedding, specialized calf shelters, heated barn

Question 4

Why type of nutrition does cow-calf, dairy and feedlot cattle need. Any supplements?

Answer 4

cow-calf - inc nutrition in 3rd trimester
dairy - total mixed ration specific to lactation period
feedlot - well-controlled gradual adjustment from forage based to grain based diet

cobalt/copper mineral block

Question 5

What is the most important nutrient? What type of water can cattle have

Answer 5

WATER

25-65 L per cow/day

ground water - test for mineral conc
surface water - caution for summer use (algae blooms, sulphate)

Snow only never acceptable

Question 6

What are transportation requirements for weaned cattle?

Answer 6

36 hr w/o FWR, 8 hrs offloaded, fit for transport

Question 7

How do you transport downers?

Answer 7

only for vet treatment, NEVER dragged

humanely euth’d

Question 8

What is important information about cattle repro? Fertility? Type of breeders? Traits?

Answer 8

Excellent fertility
year round breeders
traits - easy calving/udder conformation/sperm quality

beef - carcass quality, weight gain, good mothers
dairy - milk prod, good feet

Question 9

Describe reproduction in bulls, 2nd sex chara, penis type?

Answer 9

bulls selected by proven pedigree, sound limbs and feet, libido, semen quality - breeding soundness exam

2nd sex - well-developed musculature, thick crest neck, enlarged head, deep vocalization

fibroelastic penis, unpredicatable

Question 10

Describe reproduction in cows. Estrous? Estrus?

Answer 10

Estrous - 21 days
estrus - 20 hrs

signs of estrus - restless, bawling, swollen vulva, vulvar discharge, standing to be mounted

body condition important

Question 11

Describe cattle breeding. Long duration breeders or short?

Answer 11

short -ejaculates into vagina. Will breed many times a day

Question 12

Describe pasture breeding

Answer 12

cow-calf operations
bull to cow ratio 1:20-30
hard work for bulls (inc risk of injury, transmission of dz)

Question 13

describe AI breeding

Answer 13

in dairy operations, closly monitor for cows in estrus, avoid managing dangerous bulls on dairy - semen collected at specialized bull studs, access to superior genetics

Question 14

Describe a cow’s pregnancy, placenta type

Answer 14

Gestation of 283 days
cotyledonary placentation’minimal transfer of maternal antibodies to fetus
twin conception undesirable bc of freeemartinism

Question 15

What are some parturition problems?

Answer 15

dystocia common 10% primiparous, 5% multiparous

b/c of maternal-fetal disportion most common, malposition, bull calves, prolonged gestation, over/under conditions cows

^^ body condition when breeding important

Question 16

What are the 3 stages of parturition?

Answer 16

1) 2-6 hrs - early labor, weak uterine contractions, calf moves into normal dorsal-sacral position, cervical plug, choroallantois becomes visible at vulva
2) 1-2 hrs - rupture of membranes to delivery of fetus
3) 6-12 hrs - weight of placenta encourages detachment

Question 17

Describe dystocia and when you should intervene/call a vet

Answer 17

difficult birth

intervene when >2 hrs since appearance of amniotic sack, feet at vulva but no progress 30 mins later, active labor but no feet or amniotic sac, two hooves pointing up, 3/4 hooks at vulva, two hooves no nose, tail only

call vet - difficult to correct presentation, no progress after 15 min of pulling

Question 18

Describe the neonate period in a calf

Answer 18

must consume colostrum <6 hrs of birth
4-6L in first 24 hrs
serum total protein
>5.5g/dL = adequate transfer
<5.0g/dL = failure of passive transfer
serum chemistry - <10 mg/mL globulins = adequate transfer

monitor for diarrhea, pneumonia, umbilical infections, septic arthritis

Question 19

What id tags are used for cattle?

Answer 19

dangle tags
CCIA tags - specific to animal and registered to herd of origin

Question 20

What type of things are used for physical restraint

Answer 20

chutes + raceways, halter + rope, tail jack, nose tongs, casting

Question 21

What type of chemical restraint is used

Answer 21

alpha 2 agonist (xylazine, detomidine) for short minimally invasive and painful procedures (20mg/mL)
alpha 2 agonist + opioid - longer more invasive procedures
bovine stun (20mg ketamine + 10mg butorphanol + 5 mg xylazine for average cow) - longer more invasive procedure, IM for longer effect

Question 22

What are some routine invasive procedures

Answer 22

castration w/ elastrator rubber ring, burdizzo, surgical (analgesics and local anesthetic always indicated)
Dehorning/disbudding (calves ONLY) analgesics + local anesthetic always indicated

Question 23

What does the physical exam include?

Answer 23

cardiovascular, GI, MM, digital pulses, temp, feces/urine, udder

Question 24

What are some withdrawl times from vx/s we should keep in mind?

Answer 24

must follow label withdrawal times - greater for meat than milk

extra-label use only by vet
NEVER use certain drugs (aminoglycosides, phenylbutazone, enrofloxacin

Question 25

What zoonoses should we be concerned about?

Answer 25

neurological ones like rabies, listeriosis (always wear gloves)
abortion - brucellosis, listeriosis, leptospirosis, q-fever (never handle aborted tissues if pregnant)
skin - dermatophytosis

Question 26

Ways to humanely euth a cattle

Answer 26

lethal dose of barbiturates - burial or rendering

gunshot to brain
penetrating captive bolt
extended bolt + pitching - not safe for human consumption’
exsanguination - for human consumption