cattle industry Flashcards
what is a dairy cow kept for?
milk production
what is a beef cow kept for?
- meat production ( can be native or continental)
define crossbred
an animal that is a produce of the crossing of 2 or more breeds
what is the lifecycle of a dairy cow
pre- weaning calf->weaned->bulling heifer->bred heifer->springer heifer-> calving -> fresh cow ->high group -> mid group-> low group -> far- off dry cow-> transition cow -> calving-> fresh cow
life cycle of a beef cow
pre weaning calf-> weaned calf-> goes yo either store animal and then fattening animal or goes from weaned calf to breeding heifer -> block service of cows -> close up cow
how many cattle in the UK DEFRA 2021?
aroud 9.4 million
how many breeding beef cows?
around 1.4 million
how many tonnes of beef exported AHDB 2021
112,000
what % of people in the uk regularly eat/drink dairy products?
98%
how many milking dairy cows are there?
around 1.9 million
how many dairy farms are there?
around 13,200
how many beef farms are there
around 26,000
how much £ are dairy heifers compared to dairy cows?
dairy heifer = £1500
dairy cow = £1100
how much does a cull cow weigh?
500-800kg
what is the price of a dairy cull cow compared to a beef cull cow?
dairy cull cow = 155p/kg
beef cull cow = 188p/kg
why do milk prices drop in the spring?
a lot of milk at that time so value decreases
what is involved in organic cattle production?
Free range (at pasture whenever conditions allow, average 200 days/year)
Fewer pesticides and no artificial fertilisers
Strict rules on antibiotic use (in US can’t use any)
Reduced production in milk and meat
Higher market value (milk 40p/l)
What is the Farm Assurance Scheme?
Red Tractor (accepted by all major buyers)
Monitor what consumers value and translate into on-farm standards (welfare, food safety, traceability, environmental protection)
name ome farm accredidation schemes
- premium cattle heath scheme
- BVD free
- CHeCS- cattle health certification standards
What zoonotic organism causes bovine TB/bTB?
mycobacterium bovis
What zoonotic organism causes bovine TB/bTB?
mycobacterium bovis
What animals can carry bTB?
Badgers
Deer
Goats
Pigs
Camelids (llamas, alpacas)
Other mammals
What are the signs of bTB in cattle?
Chronic respiratory symptoms (clinical signs rare)
How can you reduce the number of human bTB infections?
Routine pasteurisation of milk
