Dairy Flashcards
Ungulates
Mammals with hooves
Cattle can live up to
25 years old
Gestation time in cattle is
283 days (9 months) +/- 14 days
Calves weigh
25-45 kgs
Smaller breed cattle weigh
270-450 kgs
British cattle weigh
450-900 kgs
Large breed cattle weigh
630-1130 kgs
Cattle are used for
-meat
-milk
-hide
Three main dairy breeds are
-Holstein Freisan
-Brown Swiss
-Jersey
Two main types of Dual Purpose cattle breeds are
-Normande
-Fleckvieh
Define Bull
Uncastrated male cattle that is breeding
Define Steer
Castrated male cattle
Define Cow
Female cattle that is breeding
Define Heifer
Female cattle that has not calved yet
Define Dry Cow
A cow that is 7+ months pregnant and CANNOT be milked
Define Springer / Close up / Transition
Dry cow on last 3 weeks of calving
A Dry Cow on her last 3 weeks of calving is called
-Springer
-Close-up
-Transition
Define Fresh Cows
A cow that is 40 days post-calf
Define first-calf heifer and how to handle
-heifer experiencing her first birth
-more likely to kick; be more gentle
Define Freemartin
The female in a set of twins - has reduced reproductive capacity
Cattle Senses include
-sensitive hearing (less able to localize sound)
-four primary tastes (preference for sweet and salty)
-vision
Vision in cattle is
-the dominant sense
-wide field view of 330 degrees
Cattle can see everywhere except
Directly behind them
The cattle’s pupil is
Oval shaped - in line with the horizon
Narrow Binocular Vision utilizes
Two eyes
Panoramic vision utilizes
One eye
Blind spot is located
Directly behind the cow
PALS in cattle handling stands for
-Patience
-Angle
-Location
-Speed
Cattle will try to protect
Their head and neck
You should not approach cattle
Head on
Pressure Zone is
Region where cattle will begin to move away from
Flight Zone is
The area where the cattle will run or do damage
Cattle will move ____ when the handler crosses the _______
Forward; Point of Balance
Four positive behaviours for cattle handling include:
-gentle hit
-predictable movements
-soft talking
-voice commands
5 Negative behaviours for cattle handling include
-abrupt movements
-cattle prod
-loud shouting / yelling
-hitting with a metal object
-tail-twists
Negative behaviours can lead to (3)
-high fear
-low production
-poor welfare
Cattle Restraint can be
Chemical and/or Mechanical
Mechanical Restrain includes (3)
-cattle crush/chute
-head halter
-nose pliers/grips
A cattle crush/chute can be
-manual or hydraulic
-squeeze or not
First cows arrived in Australia in
1788 in NSW
Dairy Industry began in QLD in the
1890s
First milking machines were introduced in
1900
First calf born by Artificial Insemination was in
1944
The world’s 3rd largest dairy exporter is
Australia
About ____% of milk production is exported in Australia
36%
Most dairy industries are located
In coastal areas
Market Milk is (3)
-processed immediately for drinking
-short shelf life
-mainly produced in QLD and NSW
Manufactured milk is (3)
-used in the manufacturing of dairy products
-has a longer shelf life
-mainly made in Victoria
Australian milk prices are based on these two components
-milk fat
-protein solids
The main dairy breed used in Australia is
Holstein
Holstein Breed (5 facts):
-account for 75% of dairy cows in Australia
-black and white
-large breed
-horned
-high volume, low components
Jersey Breed (5 facts):
-second most common breed in Australia
-smallest dairy cow
-fawn colour
-horned
-low volume, high components
Brown Swiss Breed (6 facts):
-second most common dairy breed worldwide
-light brown to grey and darker shades
-horned and polled
-large size
-average production, high components
-longer pregnancy (290 days)
Pregnancy usually lasts
283 days
Ayrshire Breed (5 facts):
-mostly in Victoria and NSW
-shade of red or brown with white (can be all white)
-long, curved horns
-medium size
-average production
Guernsey Breed (4 facts):
-popular in all states but mainly in South Australia and Victoria
-fawn, red, and white with yellow pigmentation of skin
-medium size
-average production
Illawarra Breed (6 facts)
-developed in Australia
-mix of 3 breeds: Ayrshire, Devon, and Milking Shorthorn
-red, white, roan
-horned
-medium sized
-average production
Main Cattle housing system in Australia is
Pastoral
What housing system is not allowed in Australia
Tie-Stalls
Main source of cattle feed is
Pasture
Pastoral or pasture based feeding is (3)
-cheap
-takes 8-8.5 hours to maintain weight and production
-cons: environment factors / hazards
A feedpad is used to
Bring food to the cow to decrease eating time (2 hours) and increase production
Feedpads have a low height to
Increase saliva production which aids in rumination
Define Calf
Young male or female cattle
Define Bobby Calf
Young male calf usually destined for veal
Define Dam
Female parent in a pedigree
Define Sire
Male parent in a pedigree
Define Empty Cow
Not pregnant
How can you tell if a cow is close to heat and in heat
Close to heat = jumping
In heat = standing
Define Colostrum
First milk following calving
Define Lactation and how long it should last
Period of milk production (ideally 305 days)
DIM stands for ___ and means ____
-Days in Milk
-from calving to present day
A non-lactating cow is dried off around
7 months pregnancy
Dry Cow Therapy involves
Milking the cow out and putting antibiotics in the utter
Define Cull Cow
Cow to be removed from the herd (not necessarily going to slaughter)
A cow unable to rise is called a
Downer Cow
Define Milking Parlour
Specialized area of the farm where milking is performed by hand or machine
Define Cluster
The four parts of the milking machine that take the milk from the utter to deliver to the vat
Inflammation or infection of the cow’s mammary glands is called
Mastitis
SCC stands for ____ and represents _____
-Somatic Cell Count
-number of white blood cells per mL of milk
Somatic Cell Count (SCC) can be used
As an indication of infection
Define Bulk Milk Tank
An on farm refrigerated, stainless steel storage vessel in which milk is cooled quickly to 2-4 degrees C and is constantly agitated
To agitate the milk means
The milk does not separate
Calves cannot
Regulate their own temperature properly
Colostrum (4 points):
-provides passive immunity
-mostly protein
-given as soon as possible (first 6 hours of life and again before 24 hours of life)
-best from the 3rd to 7th lactation (1st calf colostrum is rarely used)
Calves are separated from their mothers for two reasons
-decrease risk of pathogens
-breed out maternal instinct
Colostrum intake depends on three factors:
-timing
-quality
-quantity (10-15% of body weight)
Calves are weaned off milk when
They are double their birth weight
Cows can start breeding at
15 months of age
Ideally, a heifer should be calving at
21 months of age
Identification of Cattle can be done through 6 ways:
-ear marking/notching
-ear tattoo
-freeze branding
-photography
-ear tagging (both ears)
-radio frequency identification devices (RFID)
Ear tattooing of cattle is (4 points)
-permanent
-used in pedigrees
-time consuming
-difficult to read
Ear marking/notching of cattle is (3 points):
-permanent
-welfare issue
-not really used in dairy
Freeze branding in cattle is (4 points):
-permanent
-not useful on white cows
-uses liquid nitrogen
-easier to read than fire branding
Ear tags are
Not permanent
Photography of cattle is used for
-stud cattle (especially Holstein) with high genetic value
Define Disbudding
-removal of horn producing cells in calves less than 2 months
Define Dehorning
-removal of horn and horn processing tissues
The cattle’s horn is attached to
The skull
Dehorning will leave
The sinus exposed
Disbudding is a welfare issues because it is
Painful and unnecessary
Which is preferred: disbudding or dehorning
Disbudding
Castration of cattle is
-not a common husbandry procedure in dairy
-can be surgical or non-surgical
5 diseases Cattle should be vaccinated against:
-Clostridial Diseases
-Leptospirosis
-Botulism
-Bovine Ephemeral Fever
-Tick Fever
Clostridial Diseases include (5):
-tetanus
-malignant oedema
-blackleg
-enterotoxaemia
-black disease
A cattle 5 in 1 vaccine is used for
Clostridial diseases
A cattle 7 in 1 vaccine is used for
Leptospirosis and Clostridial Diseases
5 in 1 or 7 in 1 vaccines are given at
First Dose: 3-6 months
Second Dose: 4-6 weeks later
Annual Booster
BEF vaccine protects against
Bovine Ephemeral Fever
Four main health issues in cattle include
-mastitis
-calving issues
-lameness
-metabolic disease (hypercalcemia)
PMR stands for
Partial Mixed Ration (pasture + extra feed)
TMR stands for
Total Mixed Ration (no pasture)
Grass pros (3) and cons (4):
Pros:
-cheap
-cow is designed to eat it
-less disease
Cons:
-difficult to control/monitor intake
-irrigation needed
-depends on weather
-supplements needed
Supplements are (3 points) ; pros (4) and cons (3):
-high energy feeds to increase production
-usually given during milking
-can be grain, hay/silage, or by products
Pros:
-increased production
-less reliance on rainfall
-cheap
-easier to monitor intake
Cons:
-fluctuating supplies
-variable prices
-can increase likelihood of acidosis
PMR and TMR pros (3) and cons (2):
Pros:
-increases production
-not reliant on weather
-better nutritional control (in TMR)
Cons:
-increased cost
-increased risk of Management Diseases (mastitis, LDA, RDA, Acidosis, Lameness)
2 Welfare issues in the milking/holding yard
-poor ventilation
-cramped (increased risk of mastitis and lameness)
Most calf growth occurs in the last _____ of gestation
2 months
Peak lactation occurs
6-8 weeks post-calving
Why is milk from the first 6-8 milkings withheld?
Colostrum curdles milk
Cows are milked
Two times a day
Most costly disease of dairy cattle worldwide is
Mastitis
Clinical signs of Mastitis
-pain
-swelling
-redness
-milk changes
Mastitis can be caused by two factors
-contagions through milking
-environment
Mastitis results in
-reduced volume
-reduced quality
Why Dry Off cows? (2)
-increased production during the next lactation
-best chance to remove infection
Dry Off Period should last
50-60 days
Incidence vs Prevalence
How often vs How many
How to Dry Off:
-once a day milking
-decrease feed to maintenance only
-insertion of antibiotic
-application of teat dip
Define Open Days
Period from calving to conception
Conception rate is higher in _____ than _____
Bulls ; AI
Three types of Calving Patterns:
-Seasonal
-Split/Batch
-Year Round
Seasonal Calving Pattern (4 points):
-Victoria and New Zealand
-calving occurs once a year during August - September at the same time for all cows
-manufacture milk
-most common production system
Split/Batch Calving Patterns (3 points):
-two distinct calving periods through spring and summer
-maximizes production
-increasing in popularity
Year Round Calving Pattern (5 points):
-non-seasonal
-cows are milked year round (even supply)
-market/white milk
-mainly in QLD, WA, and Northern NSW
-less efficient
Define Lameness
Impairment of the locomotor system
Prevention of Lameness includes
-risk factor evaluation of environment
-hoof trimming
-foot baths
Lameness can be caused by three factors
-environment
-poor management/handling
-animals with wider hips and low BCS
Five M’s that relate to a Downer Cow
-Mastitis
-Metritis (inflammation of uterine)
-Musculoskeletal
-Metabolic Disease (hypocalcemia)
-Massive Infection
If the head is up then ______ is lame
Front foot
If the head is down then _____ is lame
Back foot
BCS stands for ____ and is used for ____
Body Condition Score (1-5)
-indication of the amount of fat cover on a dairy cow
Body condition scoring is
A visual assessment (subjective) of the amount of muscle and fat covering the bones of a cow
3 Goals of BCS include:
-early detection of health problems
-identify area for improved feeding management
-improve herd health, production, reproduction, and profitability
Ideal BCS targets at calving and at mating are
Calving: 3.25-3.75
Mating: 2.75-3.25
