Cattle Husbandry Flashcards
Are Dairy cattle in general safe?
They are big animals but have a lot of human contact compared to beef cattle
Are Beef Cattle in general safe?
They are less familiar and usually handled in groups. They are strong and well built so less domesticated
Are Cows with calves in general safe?
No, should be extra careful. Don’t get in between a cow and a calf. Restrain the cow if the calf needs to be worked on
Are Bulls in general safe?
no such thing as a safe bull (Dairy bulls more dangerous than beef bulls)
How do you handle cows in a group?
You need to plan before hand and look for flow and escape routes. Once a few cows are in the rest will follow
How do you handle cows individually?
work quietly and confidently, usually easier to take some other cows with them. Anticipate it is going to be stressful because they are herd animals. Use your voice to let it know where you are.
When kinching a halter what pieces of halter do you loop together?
Loop the free end with the loop under the chin
What are the steps of the Wyoming slip halter?
- Make loop on end of rope
- put other end around neck
- put free end through loop (but not all the way)
- put loop made around the nose
- make sure that under chin runs to the free end
Where do you approach a cow when putting a halter on?
from the side
What are different types of anti-kick methods?
- tail jack
- hobbles
- anti-kick bar
- udder cinch
- belly cinch
- Hock Twitch
How do you cast a young calf?
- make sure there is space behind you
- stand close to calf with one leg behind shoulder and one behind its flank
- catch the head with thumb in corner of calfs mouth or muzzle
- push head well away from you to bend neck at shoulder, keep nose high
- step backwards while pushing nose into body while simultaneously pushing loins down or lift precrural fold
- calf will go down gently. it cannot raise if its head is kept down and lower legs extended
Why do you cast an adult animal?
- medical treatment
- the cow to be rolled
- obstetrics- sort out a twisted womb
- foot care
- surgical procedures
When using the Reuff’s method on a male what should happen?
padding should be used to protect penis from damage (also be aware of prominent milking veins) - can use another technique instead
If the line of rope going across is on the right side of the cow what side will the cow fall?
fall on its left
Where does the cow drop relative to where you stood to tie the casting bowline nots?
the cow drops to the opposite side of where the knots are made
What are the two methods of casting a cow?
- Reuff’s method
- Crisscross method
What are the steps of the Crisscross method?
- a 12 m rope is divided into half and the center of the rope is placed on the neck in front of the withers
- pass each end under the front legs and over to the opposite side and up side of animal to middle of back
- then ropes pass between hind limbs and pulled from under
- goes down on what ever side?
Where are blood sampling sites on cows?
- tail vein
- jugular vein
- mammary vein (not advisable due to tendency to form haematomas)
Where are good sites for IV injections in cows ?
- jugular vein
- mid neck
- tail vein (1-2mLs) (caution: can loose tail)
Where are good sites for IM injections in cows?
- Anterior Gluteal region (don’t damage sciatic nerve) (No young animals)
- neck muscles **
Why is the neck muscle ideal for injections?
not an expensive cut of muscle and lined by a triangle to mark the spot
What are the borders of the triangle around the neck muscle of a cow?
dorsal- nuchal ligament
cranial - cervical vertebrae
caudal - scapula
Where is the best place for subcutaneous injections?
- area of loose skin behind the shoulder is useful
- area of neck in front of shoulder
What is drenching?
the oral administration of medicines - uses a bottle or gun that aim at back of tongue (allow animal to swallow as drenched (DON’T go to fast) and tilt nose upwards)
