Chapter 3

Question 1

1. What is the target Average Daily Gain (ADG) for a continental cross suckler male calf from birth to weaning?

Answer 1

1.2Kg

Question 2

. What is the target Body Condition Score (BSC) of a spring Suckler cow at calving?

Answer 2

Question 3

What is the recommended bull: cow mating ratio for a mature bull at breeding?

Answer 3

Question 4

What type of ration is the most important for finishing cattle?

Answer 4

Question 5

Explain what is meant by biological efficiency?

Answer 5

Question 6

List two (2) breeding targets for the Suckler cow?

Answer 6

A calf per cow per year and a 10 to 12 week calving spread

Question 7

What are two (2) advantages of a bull beef production system?

Answer 7

Question 8

When does compensatory growth occur?

Answer 8

When calves are young, particularly in the first 6 months of life. They will retain that extra weight for the rest of its life. If young calves on milk do not gain weight during the first 6 months there is no compensatory growth later in life to make up for this lack of thriving.

Question 9

List two (2) disadvantages of Artificial Insemination (AI)?

Answer 9

Question 10

List two (2) heat detection aids used in Suckler herds using Artificial Insemination (AI)?

Answer 10

Tail painting and transponders.

Question 11

. A calf needs to eat _____________ kg of dry matter to produce 1 kg of live weight gain?

Answer 11

1-2kg

Question 12

What does the acronym ‘I.C.B.F.’ stand for?

Answer 12

The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation

Question 13

What are the two (2) most common mineral deficiencies in suckler herds?

Answer 13

Magnesium and copper

Question 14

What is the total amount of livestock manure (in kgs) that can be applied in nitrogen (N) per hectare in any calendar year before applying for derogation?

Answer 14

170kg nitrogen per hectare.

Question 15

What are two (2) main parasites that can cause serious problems in calves during their 1st summer grazing at grass?

Answer 15

Hoose/Lungworm
Stomach Worms

Question 16

. Is the following statement True or False. “The recommended replacement rate in a Suckler herd is 30%.”

Answer 16

False. It is 20%.

Question 17

List two (2) common traits associated with replacement index used by ICBF?

Answer 17

Question 18

18. What are two (2) advantages of a spring calving system?

Answer 18

Question 19

19. What are two (2) advantages of using a stock bull running with cows during the breeding season?

Answer 19

Allows the bull to pick up on any cow showing silent hears.
Allows the bull to pick up any cow that is not holding to AI.

Question 20

. Describe best practice when weaning a suckler calf?

Answer 20

Age at weaning. There should be a minimum of 7 months of a suckling period to maximise milk production from summer grass.

Cow condition. Aim should be to have a body condition score of 3 at weaning.

Suckler calves should gain 1.1-1.3 kg I’ve averaged from birth to weaning.

Question 21

21. Is the following statement True or False. “FCE” stands for Food Conversion Efficiency”.

Answer 21

True.

Question 22

22. “A weanling offered silage ad-lib will consume approximately 0.75 tonnes of silage per month or 3.75 tonnes over a five month winter’’. Is this statement true or false?

Answer 22

True.

Question 23

Two disadvantages of a beef bull production?

Answer 23

Question 24

Two disadvantages of a beef bull production?

Answer 24

Question 25

List two advantages of artificial insemination (AI)

Answer 25