Cow Husbandry Flashcards

1
Q

What is rumination

A

Food broken down by chewing and blouses are regurgitated &I chewed 40-50 times before swallowing again

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2
Q

Time spent laid down

A

12-14

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3
Q

Time spent ruminating

A

7+ he

  1. 5 laid down
  2. 5 stood
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4
Q

Rumen pH

A

6-7

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5
Q

Feed types

A

Forage

Concentrates

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6
Q

Age of cull cattle

A

Over 30mnth

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7
Q

What cows are used for beef

A

Purebred dairy bull
Dairyxbeef
Purebred beef calf

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8
Q

What is innate behaviour

A

Instinctive unlearned behaviour

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9
Q

What is acquired behaviour

A

Learnt actions

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10
Q

What poor husbandry can cause off behaviour

A

Inadequate trough space

Inadequate lying time

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11
Q

How can exploration lead to issues

A

They lick smell and attempt to eat new things so can eat wire batteries plastic etc

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12
Q

Problems with the cattle hierarchy

A

Excessive competition
Intro of heifers to the herd
Mixing at markets

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13
Q

Why is good quality housing important for reproduction

A

Usually better demonstration of sexual behaviour so better reproduction efficiency as easier to identify on heat

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14
Q

Calving interval/index

A

365 days

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15
Q

Gestation period

A

282 day

9mnth

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16
Q

Calving-conception interval

A

83 day

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17
Q

Oestrus intervals

A

21 day (17-25)

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18
Q

Oestrus duration

A

16hr

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19
Q

Ovulation

A

12hr after oestrus ends

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20
Q

Oestrus signs

A
Restless
Bellowing
Grouping
Scoff marks flanks and tail head
Standing to be mounted
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21
Q

+ve AI

A

Accurate breeding record
Precise calving date
Good herd management

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22
Q

Beef v dairy insemination

A

Beef mainly natural

Dairy mainly AI

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23
Q

Who can do AI

A

Trained operator

Trained farm staff

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24
Q

What diseases may AI contain

A

Venereal

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25
-ve AI
Correct ID of cow in oestrus
26
Way to enhance oestrus detection
Incr freq & duration of observation Good records Heat detection aids Sync oestrus
27
Freq of oestrus observations
3 x 30 min esp post 10pm
28
Way to confirm pregnancy
No oestrus within 18-24 days Rectal palpation 6-8 wk post conc Ultrasound 4wk post Hormone assay 24 day after
29
AI choice characteristics
``` Milk yield Milk composition Confirmation Disease resistance Calving ease ```
30
What is estimated breeding value
Measure of expected performances of animal relative to pop average
31
What is predicted transmitting ability
Transmission of the genetic merit of EBV
32
Profit index
Expected incr in revenue per lactation
33
Profitable life index
Like PIN but takes lifespan into account
34
Total overall performance
Takes into account overall view of breeding program | NOT a financial index
35
Levels of farm assurance schemes
Baseline | Higher/premium
36
What is Red Tractor
Provide retailer and consumer with confidence about safety and quality of milk Failures have 90 days to address the failure
37
Standard of red tractor assessment
``` Hygiene Food safety Housing Equipment Feed Water Herd health Staff training Contingency plans Enviro measures ```
38
Organic conversion period
2yr
39
Organic farm standards
Artificial chemical not used Organic food ration (60% of dry grass/conserved forage) Closed flock Set housing etc standard Routine medical allowed only treatment of one off specific prob
40
Disease prevention on organic farms
Select breeds Husbandry practices High quality feed, exercise, pasture etc Livestock density
41
What is a ruminant and what is special about them
Microbial fermentation of food in reticulorumen before exposure to body's digestive enzymes They can digest fibrous plant matter
42
Calving patterns
All yr Autumn calving Spring calving Summer calving
43
+ve to autumn calving
Higher milk price oct/nov (Though feed price higher) Nutritional imbalance minimised High milk yield on spring to use spring grass
44
+ve spring calving
Spring grass at peak lactation so lower feed costs
45
+ve summer calving
Higher milk price August-dec, but poor UK weather Silage used to buffer grass quality variation Can become too fat as dry on spring grass
46
Housing aims
Clean dry bedding Clean comfortable cows Free access to feed water Freedom of movement
47
Consideration for choosing housing types
``` Building layout Space req for lying cow, etc Bedding mat availability Slurry system Labour Costs ```
48
Straw yard space allowance
1.25m2 per 1000l per cow + 2m2 feeding area for each cow
49
Straw yard dimensions
Max 7.3 m deep bedding area | Max 3.7m wide loafing/feeding area
50
Barrier straw yard
30cm tall | 1:60 slope for drainage
51
Water/feed accessibility straw yard
Only from loafing area
52
Straw yard complete clean out freq
4-6 wk
53
Daily straw yard clean out
Bed with fresh straw | Scrape loafing area (2x daily)
54
Cubicle space allowance
6-7m2 per cow
55
Conseq of incorrect cubicle design
``` Decr lying time Reduced rumination time Dirty beds Injury Mastitis ```
56
Cubicle dimensions
Determined for largest cows of herd 700kg 2.4m long (2.25 in double fronted cubicles) 1.2m wide
57
Partition of cubicle design
Not verticals bars at rear Lunging space Lower rail 55cm from base
58
Head rail in cubicle
At least210cm from rear on the diagonal
59
Brisket board in cubicle
Base should be 1.7m from rear kerb
60
Kerbstone height
No more than 13cm
61
Bedding options
Straw Mattresses Sand Sawdust
62
Passageway in cubicle shed
2.4 m wide | Cleaned 2x aday
63
Cubicle numbers
10% more than cow number
64
No of Calving boxes for an autumn calving herd
5/6 per 100
65
Cow track features
Good drainage Surface Robust surface Planning
66
Standard lactation
305 day
67
Dry period
60day
68
First post calving service
45day
69
Peak yield
About 5th wk/40 day
70
Peak yield calc
1.1xyield at 2wk
71
Annual yield calc
200xpeak yield = annual yield
72
Weight loss post calving
Max 0.5kg a day (30-50kg in total)
73
Body cond at calving
2.5-3.5
74
Body cond at service
No less than 2
75
Clear cow ID
Freeze branding Tagging Transponders Short term ID with colour tape/paint
76
Essential records
Milk yield Fertility Health
77
Herd health objective
Incr efficiency Incr longevity Reduced culling