Cattle handling

Question 1

Age of calf

Answer 1

Up to 6 months old

Question 2

Define bobby calf

Answer 2

Surplus bull calf from dairy herd

Question 3

Define pail-fed calf

Answer 3

Reared artificially on milk or milk substitute.

Question 4

Define suckled calf

Answer 4

Reared on a cow

Question 5

Define weaned/speaned

Answer 5

Calf off milk/away from mother

Question 6

Define stirk

Answer 6

(Inexact term) animal between 3mo-1y

Question 7

Define store cattle

Answer 7

Young animals being fed for growth prior to fattening & slaughter

Question 8

Fattening/finishing cattle

Answer 8

Cattle being fattened for slaughter. Usually beef breeds/beef crosses.

Question 9

Define bull

Answer 9

Uncastrated male of at least 6mo

Question 10

Define bullock/steer.

Answer 10

Castrated male

Question 11

Define cow

Answer 11

Officially, an animal after the start of her first lactation. On farms, an animal after completion of her first cycle of lactation.

Question 12

Define beef cow/suckler cow

Answer 12

Beef breed cow or crossbreed whose progeny is fattened for meat.

Question 13

Define dairy cow

Answer 13

Cow kept for milk production

Question 14

Define cull cow

Answer 14

Cow transferred out of herd, usually for slaughter but may be sold to elsewhere

Question 15

Define heifer

Answer 15

Female until first lactation

Question 16

Define maiden heifer

Answer 16

Female which has not been served/inseminated.

Question 17

Define bulling heifer

Answer 17

(Variable) 14mo to mating/artificial insemination

Question 18

Define in-calf heifer

Answer 18

Heifer confirmed pregnant

Question 19

Normal temperature for cattle

Answer 19

38-39 degrees C

Question 20

Normal respiratory rate of cattle

Answer 20

12-25 breaths/min (varies w/ age)

Question 21

Normal pulse rate for cattle & where is it taken ?

Answer 21

50-60 bpm in adults.
Taken at angle of jaw, inside foreleg or under tail.

Question 22

Signs of heat (oestrus)

Answer 22

• Standing to allow mounting
• Mounting other cows from front
• Restlessness/alterness
• Increased respiratory rate & body temperature
• Vocalising
• Clear copious stringy mucus from vulva (dries on legs/tail)
• Blood stained mucus 2 days post oestrus
• Tail rubbed or licked
• Decreased milk yield

Question 23

1st set of adult teeth at which age?

Answer 23

1y9m

Question 24

2nd set of adult teeth at which age?

Answer 24

2y3m

Question 25

3rd set of adult teeth at which age?

Answer 25

2y9m

Question 26

4th set of adult teeth at which age?

Answer 26

3y3m