Cattle Nutrition

Question 1

What is the average milk yield per cow per year

Answer 1

8169l in 2022

Question 2

What are the characteristics of dairy cows

Answer 2

Herbivores
Herd creatures
Need company of own kind
Linear hierarchy
Creatures of habit
Inquisitive

Question 3

How long does it take to establish hierarchy in a herd

Answer 3

7 days

Question 4

What is oestrus behaviour

Answer 4

21 day cycle
15 hours
Sniffing, restless, flank rubbing, mounting, clear mucus from vulva, standing to be mounted more often at night

Question 5

What are the stages of oestrus

Answer 5

Coming in 6-24 hours, standing oestrus 6-18 hours, going out 12-24 hours

Question 6

What is the voluntary waiting period and how long is it

Answer 6

Waiting for a cow to recover from birth before servicing
42-65 days

Question 7

What does AYR stand for and what is block calving

Answer 7

AYR - All year round calving
Block calving - seasonal calving it’s split into blocks

Question 8

What are aids to heat detection

Answer 8

Tail paint
Kamar
Pedometers
Heat time - activity monitors
Teaser bull
Synchrony programs - ovsynch so induced at same time (works well for AI)

Question 9

What’s the vets role in fertility

Answer 9

To do post calving checks
Check if oestrus can be observed
Pregnancy diagnosis

Question 10

What are the two main components to cow nutrition

Answer 10

Roughage
Supplementary feeds - for additional

Question 11

How can we assess nutrition in cows and how much should a cow and bull weigh

Answer 11

Body condition score
1-5
Adult cows weight - 500-800kg
Adult bulls weight - 750-1250kg

Question 12

What are the 2 feeding and housing options of cows

Answer 12

High input high output - housed all year (zero grazing) and housed in winter grazing in summer (intensive may be 12000L a year)
Low input low output - extended grazing (extensive may give 4000L per year)

Question 13

What are the two common feeding options for cattle

Answer 13

TMR - total mixed ration (all food in barrier 24hours a day)
Traditional silage at barrier and concentrates in parlour

Question 14

What are the energy requirements of cattle

Answer 14

Suckler cow - 2x maintenance energy
Holstein producing 50L milk production - 4x maintenance energy

Question 15

What is the negative energy balance

Answer 15

At calving = depressed appetite
Vast energy demands of milk producing
Cows will mobilise own body reserves to make up for shortfall energy loss
If the balance is very severe it can cause ketosis - can lead to immunosuppression and poor fertility

Question 16

What is the average prevalence of lameness in dairy cows

Answer 16

33%

Question 17

What are important factors to ensure a cow eats

Answer 17

Quality, quantity and access to food

Question 18

Which takes more energy - milk production or pregnancy

Answer 18

Milk production
So far off dry cows are fed less than lactating cows, if fed the same dry cows may become overweight
If over conditioned when calving may have more problems - and are more likely to suffer from ketosis (more adipose supply)
Want to feed dry cows cheap and low energy density diet - fibre. To keep the rumen happy