Dairy Cattle Flashcards

1
Q

How much on average do dairy cows produce daily?

A

6.5 gallons/day

24-25L

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How far into pregnancy do we “dry off” cows (after their first pregnancy)?

A

7months

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What happens to bull calves?

A

Usually sold as day-old calves

–>veal or dairy beef

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Life span of a dairy cow?

A

20 years.. but usually only live to about 8.

Only profitable for about 3-5 lactations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Milk production is limited ____% by heredity and ____% by environment.

A

25% hereditary;

75% environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

When do we want a heifer to have her first calf?

A

About her 2nd birthday

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

A cow in lactation and fed CORRECTLY will use what portion of feed for maintenance and what portion for milk production?

A

Half and half! (No pun intended…)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

In a dairy cow and in the first 5 weeks of lactation, what happens to the fat content of milk?

A

It’s going to decrease, but the volume produced will increase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

In which part of the lactation curve do cows produce the highest amount of milk per day?

A

4-10 wks…

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Most common roughages used as basis of rations on dairies?

A

Hay and silage!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What do dairy cattle have to be supplemented?

A

Concentrate feeding

And grains!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

ADF?

A

Acid detergent fibre

ADF= cellulose + lignin + ash

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

NDF?

A

Neutral detergent fibre

NDF= hemicellulose* + cellulose + lignin + ash

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

DM = ?

A

(Dry weight/fresh weight) x 100

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

In dairy cattle, what percentage of DM should come from roughages?

A

60-80%

The rest ->grain/concentrates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

When poor quality hay is used, how do we compensate?

A

More concentrates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

As a green chop crop matures, how do cows’ eating behavior change?

A

They eat less of the green chop!! So they’re taking in LESS energy!!!*

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What cows would we feed straw to?

A

Dry cows or older heifers ; it’s a cheap alternative and just adds fiber, keeping them from getting fat because it’s low in nutrient contents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Limiting factor in milk production?

A

Energy content

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Oats have higher _____ content, but corn has higher _____ content.

A

Protein;

Energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Barley is higher in protein, but has the same overall energy value for dairy cattle, than what other grain?

A

Corn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Regarding protein supplements for dairy cows, what is more important?

A

QUANTITY!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What do fish meal, meat meal, and blood meal have in common as protein supplements in dairy cows?

A

They are NOT recommended

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What should the Ca:P be for dairy cows?

A

1.2:1 to 2:1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What type of Nitrogen supplement is feed-grade urea?

A

A NON-protein nitrogen supplement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Adequate calcium sources for dairy cows mentioned in class are…

A

Limestone and dicalcium phosphate!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

How much of milk is water?

A

85%

28
Q

What VFAs are desirable to be absorbed and used as energy sources?

A

Acetate, propionate, and butyrate

29
Q

Advantages of rumen micro organisms

A

Digest/ferment hemicellulose and cellulose–>VFAs

Convert inexpensive non-protein N sources –> protein

Make their own B-vits (remember Polioencephalomalacia)

Break down some toxins

30
Q

Normal pH in the rumen of a dairy cow?

A

6.5

31
Q

Most adequate (high quality) forage for high-yield lactating dairy cows?

A

Corn silage!

32
Q

What will feeding high level of soluble carbohydrates to dairy cows lead to?

A

Acidosis, low milk fat

33
Q

What level of soluble carbohydrates is recommended to feeding lactating dairy cows?

A

30-35%

34
Q

Most expensive part of the ration in feeding lactating dairy cows?

A

Grains and protein supplements

35
Q

Dairy cow feeding can be divided into 4 different phases according to production status. Peak production occurs during phase ___, while highest DM matter intake occurs during phase ___.

A

1;

2.

36
Q

Which phase in the lactating dairy cattle would have the highest needs in nutrients?

A

Phase 1

37
Q

How is colostrum composition regulated?

A

Hormones (estrogen + progesterone)

38
Q

How much colostrum does a dairy calf need?

A

2 gallons by 12 hours!

*1st gallon in the first 2 hours!

39
Q

What is absolutely essential to avoid failure of passive transfer?!

A

Colostrum!

40
Q

What’s the deal with artificial colostrum?

A

Nutritionally “correct” but it doesn’t include Ig’s

41
Q

What are some signs of failure of passive transfer?

A

Scours,
Discharge (eyes and nose),
Polyarthritis (joints/stance),
Depression

42
Q

What are the essential characteristics of milk replacer (fat and protein)?

A

20%+ fat

>20% protein

43
Q

When do we wean calves from artificial rearing?

A

6-8 weeks

introduce palatable pellets gradually from week 1

44
Q

How long do heifers take to reach maturity and be serviced?

A

400 days

45
Q

What is the basis of heifer nutrition?

A

Good quality forage (hay or pasture)

46
Q

When using the Penn State Shaker box, the TMR (% of total weight) in the upper sieve is_____, whereas the TMR in the lower sieve is ____.

A

2-8 in upper;

10-20 in lower

47
Q

When using the Penn State Shaker box, the TMR (% of total weight) in the Middle Sieve is _____, whereas the bottom pan is ____.

A

Middle: 30-50;
Bottom: 30-40

48
Q

What is the BCS range for dairy cows?

A

1-5

beef cattle is on a scale of 1-9

49
Q

What should the BCS of a dairy cow be in early lactation (end of phase 1)?

A

2.0-2.5

50
Q

What should the BCS be for a dairy cow in mid lactation?

A

3.0

51
Q

At the end of lactation, what should a dairy cow’s BCS be?

A

3.5 (should be building reserves for the next lactation)

52
Q

3 C’s in Manurology?

A

Color
Consistency
Content

53
Q

Cattle feeding on TMR should have what color feces?

A

Yellow/olive

54
Q

What does the Penn state shaker box tell us?

A

Proportions of how the TMR “shakes out” /related to fiber content and particle size

55
Q

At mid-lactation, what should a dairy cow’s BCS be?

A

3.0

56
Q

Which side is the abomasum more likely to “float up” ?

A

Left

57
Q

How do we treat ketosis when cows are in this negative energy balance?

A

IV dextrose! Use the jugular vein!

58
Q

How do we treat grass tetany?

A

Injectable Mg2+ sulphate under the skin

59
Q

What will lactic acidosis lead to?

A

Laminitis

60
Q

Which breed is notoriously susceptible to milk fever?

A

Jerseys

61
Q

How do we treat milk fever?

A

IV calcium salts

62
Q

In a drought, what metabolic disorder would we worry about most?

A

Nitrate poisoning

remember: methemoglobin/brown blood because nitrite cannot be converted to ammonia- reacts with hemoglobin

63
Q

Which MD is related to low fiber and HIGH grain intake?

A

Acidosis

64
Q

Which MD is caused by calcium deficiency?

A

Milk fever

65
Q

Which MD is caused by Magnesium deficiency?

A

Grass Tetany