Dairy cattle

Question 1

Define the following:

• Cow
• Dry cow (far-off and transition)
• Lactating cow

Answer 1

Cow = female that has given birth at least once
Far-off dry cow = not milking, between lactation’s, early into dry period
Transition cow = last 3-4 weeks of dry period (pregnancy)
Lactating cow = milking

Question 2

Define the following:

• bull
• terminal sire
• bull beef
• stock bull

Answer 2

Bull = entire male
Terminal sire = his offspring reared for meat
Bull beef = entire males fattened for beef
Stock bull = breeding bull

Question 3

What is an advantage and a disadvantage of a straw yard?

Answer 3

Adv = cow comfort/lying position - decreased lameness
Dis = more bedding required, less choice - higher mastitis risk

Question 4

How is bedding management maintained in a straw yard?

Answer 4

• compost effect, generates heat so bacteria don’t survive
• daily top up
• complete clear out every 3-6 weeks

Question 5

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of cubicle housing

Answer 5

• easier to keep clean
• higher choice of bedding options
• more efficient use of space
• less mastitis
• more lameness

Question 6

What are some flooring factors that need to be considered?

Answer 6

• provides grip
• slopes aren’t too steep
• avoid right angles (gentle curvature)
• can be easily cleaned

Question 7

In an open pasture what factors need to be considered?

Answer 7

• effective fencing
• injury risks
• predators
• biosecurity
• weather shelter

Question 8

How much colostrum should have been ingested by

1) 2 hours old?
2) 6-12 hours old?

Answer 8

1) 10% of body weight
2) another 10%

• force feed, legal requirement if haven’t fed by 6 hours old

Question 9

What would a cuddle box be used for?

Answer 9

When snatching cows allows initial bonding for dam and helps disease control

Question 10

When must a blood sample be taken from a calf to assess colostrum intake? What concentrations do you use to monitor this?

Answer 10

between 24 hours - 7 days old

conc of total protein or immunoglobulins

Question 11

What is the milk per head/day that calf’s need

Answer 11

5-6 litres in a minimum of 2 feeds

- 15% of body weight in milk every 24 hours

Question 12

What are the crude protein, fat and temperature requirements for milk replacer?

Answer 12

20-26% CP
18-20% fat
37-39 degrees

Question 13

What are required in the diet for rumen development?

Answer 13

Forage for rumen growth

Grain for papili development

Question 14

What is the minimum space requirement for calves?

Answer 14

1.8 x 1.0m

Length x withers

Question 15

What factors need to be considered for good housing hygiene?

Answer 15

1) Bedding - clean, dry
2) Staff
3) Equipment
4) no contact with older cattle: airspace, faeces
5) all in, all out system

Question 16

What is the target DLWG?

Answer 16

0.7-0.8 kg

Question 17

At what weight/age are calves:

1) weaned
2) at puberty
3) service
4) 1st calving

Answer 17

1) >70kg, 2 months
2) 45-50&, 12 months
3) 65%, 15 months
4) 85-90%, 24 months

Question 18

How do growth rates of bulling and dairy heifers differ?

Answer 18

Dairy require optimal growth rates - measured not maximal

Question 19

For how many days after a calf is born can the dams milk not be sold?

Answer 19

3

Question 20

What is the target age for 1st calving?

Answer 20

24 months

Question 21

For how long are cows dried off for before birth?

Answer 21

2 months

Question 22

What is the VWP?

Answer 22

Voluntary waiting period
- not going to try and get her pregnant, need to wait for the uterus to return to pre-pregnant size (involute) and resume cycles

Question 23

How many days of the year do cows lactate?

Answer 23

305

Question 24

Name some common dairy breeds

Answer 24

Holstein
Friesian
Brown swiss
Ayrshire
Jersey
Guernsey

Question 25

Which breed is a high performer but has high husbandry requirements?

Answer 25

Holstein

Question 26

What is the definition of a lactating heifer?

Answer 26

female bovine that has given birth for the first time and is now producing milk

Question 27

How long does it take to establish hierarchy within a herd?

Answer 27

7 days

Question 28

How long is the oestrus cycle of a cow?

Answer 28

21 days, 2 days oestrus

Question 29

What are the main behavioural signs indicating a cow is in oestrus?

Answer 29

Sniffing
Rump and flank rubbing
Mounting
Standing to be mounted
More often at night

Question 30

What is mastitis?

Answer 30

Infection of the mammary gland - contagious

Question 31

What is a high input - high output style of housing?

Answer 31

Housed all year round

Zero grazing

Question 32

Compare the milk yield per cow when intensively farmed vs extensively farmed

Answer 32

intensive = 12,000L
extensive = 4,000L

Question 33

What can be tested that would indicate mastitis?

Answer 33

Somatic cell count

- high number of WBC’s in milk

Question 34

How many more X maintenance requirements does a dairy cow need?

Answer 34

4