Cattle Production Systems

Question 1

CTS?

Answer 1

cattle tracing system

Question 2

deadline for fitting first tag for dairy cow?

Answer 2

within 36 hours of birth

Question 3

deadline for fitting second tag for dairy cow?

Answer 3

up to 20 days from birth

Question 4

deadline for getting passport application to BCMS for dairy cows?

Answer 4

within 27 days of birth

Question 5

Intensive systems?

Answer 5

mainly housed - some animals may be housed their entire life
food brought into them
increased productivity
reduced cost of production - scale
smaller methane footprint

Question 6

Extensive systems?

Answer 6

outdoor grazing-based system
housed part of the year (late autumn to end of winter)
farming grass, not animals…
lower input, lower output
larger methane footprint

Question 7

deadline for fitting first tag on a beef cow?

Answer 7

up to 20 days from birth

Question 8

deadline for fitting second tag on a beef cow?

Answer 8

up to 20 days from birth

Question 9

deadline for getting passport application to BCMS for a beef cow?

Answer 9

within 27 days of birth

Question 10

types of housing?

Answer 10

loose housing
free-stall systems
cubicles

Question 11

free-stall systems

Answer 11

restricting the way they lie down
controls where the excretion goes - more efficient to clean and more hygienic

Question 12

types of cubicles?

Answer 12

super dutch comfort cubicle
newtown rigg cubicle
fixed cantilever cubicle

Question 13

test for comfortability?

Answer 13

drop on knees with no support, pain?

Question 14

reduction in lying time reduces?

Answer 14

production

Question 15

lie down for how many hours a day?

Answer 15

14

Question 16

sleep for how many hours a day?

Answer 16

4

Question 17

drowse for how many hours a day?

Answer 17

8

Question 18

DMI?

Answer 18

dry matter intake

Question 19

Rumen?

Answer 19

fermentation chamber

Question 20

when feeding a cow, what are you actually feeding?

Answer 20

microorganisms - produce stuff that ends up feeding the cow
YOU ARE FEEDING THE RUMINAL FLORA

Question 21

meaning of ruminate?

Answer 21

swallow the grass, regurjitate and then chew on it
chewing the cud
further processing it so that they can swallow and microorganisms can degrade it

Question 22

What is nutrient used for?

Answer 22

Basal metabolism (mostimportant)
Activity
Growth
Basic energy reserves
Pregnancy
Lactation
Additional energy reserves
Oestrus cycle and fertilisation
Excess body reserves (least)

Question 23

What stomach is the largest in a cow?

Answer 23

rumen

Question 24

Reticulorumen?

Answer 24

contains a numerous and diverse flora
digestion of fibre to extract nutrients

Question 25

Describe cow’s activity?

Answer 25

they are light active animals

Question 26

when do cows have a higher intake of food?

Answer 26

early mornings and late afternoon meals

Question 27

what % of rumination activity occurs when lying down?

Answer 27

63-83%

Question 28

What is a cows natural behaviour?

Answer 28

Foraging –> >9 hours
Eating –> 5 hours (dawn+dusk)
Ruminating –> 9-11 hours

Question 29

TMR?

Answer 29

Total mixed ration

Question 30

what is good about TMR?

Answer 30

Optimises feed intakes and minimises rumen pH changes
Also, gives greatest flexibility in number and types of feed given

Question 31

start grazing and stop grazing at?

Answer 31

start 2700kgDM/ha, and stop at 1500kgDM/ha.

Question 32

digestibility goes down as…

Answer 32

grass becomes more fibrous

Question 33

excess grass?

Answer 33

it is cut and then stored as hay or silage and is used as feed material in the winter months