Cow-Calf Operations Flashcards
MO ranks ___ of cow-calf states
top 3
Average number of cows on MO farm
30 cows/farm
MO + US average fewer than ___ cows/farm
50
define Calf Crop % Weaned
how many calves survived until weaning
Spring Calving
Feb-Apr
-more common in US
Spring Calving Advantages
-increasing temp
-growth of grass
Spring Calving Disadvantages
snow, rain, mud
Fall Calving
Aug-Oct
Fall Calving Advantages
-weaned calves market more in spring
-less heat stress
-less toxins in the grass (fescue)
-more likely calving ease (low calf wt)
Fall Calving Disadvantages
-calves in winter
-manage lactating cow in the cold
-lower calf weight
3 Stages of Parturition
- prep stage
- delivery (2-4 hrs)
- clean up (placenta)
When are most calves lost?
majority of calves are lost during the first 1-3 days of life
Passive Transfer
temporary protection from Dam
–> colostrum
Active Immunity
acquired immunity from own exposure
–> infection, vaccines
Naval/Joint Ill
bacteria settles in joints, eyes, brain, liver, heart
–> dip umbilical cord and keep environment clean to prevent this
Identification Methods
-ear tag (RFID=radio frequency identification)
-branding
–> hot or freeze
Castration
less than 90 days
–> castrated sells for more
-band
-surgical
-chemical
Dehorn/Disbud
less than 3 weeks, earlier the better
–> for the safety of humans and other cows
-caustic paste
-hot iron
-surgical
– breed polled animals
Clostridial Disease
bacteria from environment, muscle, liver, intestine, “blackleg”, malignant edema (tissue swells and ruptures)
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)
highly infectious, cause: bovine herpesvirus, upper respiratory, virus lives in the brain and is never fully gone
Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD)
resp + repro issues, economically important, passed to calf in utero, supportive therapy + cull
Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV)
*syncytial cells=one nucleus
–>cause lung damage
Parainfluenza Virus 3 (Pi3)
upper resp mucosa, resp disease, susceptible to IBR
Brucellosis
bacterial disease, highly contagious, calf membranes – repro fluids, zoonotic
vector
pass disease from animal to animal
fomite
object carries disease
Modified Live Vaccine
organisms are alive and replicate
–> weakened
Killed Vaccine
organisms are dead
–adjuvant to trigger immune reaction
–booster
Implants
go on the ear
–provides exogenous hormone
–>helps growth, concern with leaner meat and hormones in meat (FDA approved)
Dewormer
pour on, injectable, oral - drench
Calf Nutrition
calf graze at 3 months
–> creep feed
Weaning Age
7 months of age (BCS)
3 Types of Weaning
-Traditional – separate mom and calf
-Fence-Line – calves on one side of the fence, mom on the other
-Two-Step – Step 1: nose piece, Step 2: separate
