cattle Flashcards
breeds
several are found in North America
dual purpose
bread for milk and meat
pedigree
has written record of animals ancestral background
purebred
offspring of 2 purebred
breed
genetically similar in colour ans confirmation
crossbred
offspring from 2 different breeds
dairy cattle
angular body, many skeletal structures exposed through her hide, long legs, slender neck
dairy anatomy
large abdomen, udder is large, attached high and wide, 4 teats placed equally
dairy common breeds
ayreshire, brown swiss, guernsey, holstein-frisian (most popular), jersey
beef cattle
rectangular in stature, very few skeletal structures revealed, shorter legs, shorter, fleshly neck
beef anatomy
dewlap, loose skin that covers the brisket and portion of the neck. Poll is the top of the cows head between the ears
beef common breeds
angus, hereford, polled hereford
bull
mature male
cow
mature female
calf
young, under 1yr
yearling
approx 1yr
steer
male castrated at young age
stag
male castrated after maturity
heifer
female old enough to be bred, but not yet calved
dairy housing
several types, free stall (not confined), loose or pen-type (1 lrg open pen), stachion (restrained and confined)
beef housing
confinement (more costly&labour intensive-not practical), open range (hunt for food on unimproved land), pasture (graze on land)
feeding
ruminant herbivores- stomach compartments rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum
chewing cud- rumunation
bolus ball of regurgitated food from the stomach (rumen). Chew cud over and over until all fibrous roughage is broken down