Cattle Housing Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 categories of housed cattle?

A

Dairy calves
Fattening cattle
Adult dairy cattle
Adult beef suckler cows

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2
Q

Why may cows be housed in colder/wetter months?

A

Poor quality/ Growth of grass or damage to pastures

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3
Q

What may indicate poor housing?

A

The initial design and the behaviour of the animals/ how they react

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4
Q

What are some things to consider with housing design?

A

Ventilation/ air flow, space, drainage, bedding, flooring Waste disposal, water/feeding

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5
Q

What is Ventilation?

A

Replacement of air in a given space

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6
Q

What does appropriate ventilation result in?

A

Removal of heat and Co2, and a reduction in humidity

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7
Q

What is the effect of ventilation on microorganisms/ bacteria?

A

Clearance of bacteria and atmospheric load

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8
Q

What are 3 ways bacteria can be reduced?

A

Sedimentation, Ventilation and Death

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9
Q

What are some ways of measuring stocking density and ventilation?

A

Airflow and ventilation – smoke bomb
Stocking density and airspace -tape measure or laser pointer
Relative humidity - Dry/wet thermometer

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10
Q

What are the advantages of Individual calf pens?

A

Can monitor food and wtaer intake and reduces risk of disease

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11
Q

What are the disadvantages of Individual calf pens?

A

The ability to express normal behaviour is limited

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12
Q

What is necessary if you are to use individual calf pens?

A

They must be able to touch/see/smell other calves and be under 8 weeks old

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13
Q

What is the benefit of lifting buckets of milk off the floor for calves?

A

Increases the likelihood that the milk will enter the abomasum rather than the rumen

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14
Q

What do we use straw yards for?

A

Dairy cattle
-Winter housing
Fattening cattle
-Winter housing or intensive rearing
Suckler cows
-Winter housing

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15
Q

What are the benefits of slats?

A

No bedding is used, all waste goes straight to underground waste disposal system

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16
Q

What are the benefits of feed barriers?

A

Feed barriers to allow animals to eat unhindered by other cattle.
Also prevents food tossing which may put the feed beyond reach

17
Q

What are some important factors to consider for cubicles?

A
  • Cubicle design and bedding (Straw, saw dust, rubber mats)
  • Cubicle numbers
  • Lay out of the cubicles and escape routes
  • Flooring – none slip
  • Passage way - slurry management
    – Scrappers-manual/automatic
18
Q

What are some good design features for cubicles?

A
  • Provide individual space – without cross-lying
  • Be able to get in and out easily without injury
  • Comfort-increase lying times
  • Clean and dry
  • Maximise the use of expensive housing
19
Q

Why is it important that cubicle kerbs are not too high?

A

Cows do not like large step-downs