Dairy Cattle Husbandry

Question 1

What is the aim of the UK dairy industry?

Answer 1

to produce profitable milk that is safe to consume under high standards of welfare

Question 2

Side by side systems vs herringbone systems for milking

Answer 2

In herringbone systems, you can’t finish until the cow in front is done

Question 3

What is the average age of breeding in a cow?

Answer 3

15 months

Question 4

What is the average age of calving in a cow?

Answer 4

24 months

Question 5

How long is the average cow pregnancy?

Answer 5

9 months

Question 6

What is the average length of lactation?

Answer 6

10 months

Question 7

What is the average dry period?

Answer 7

2 months

Question 8

What causes Milk Fever?

Answer 8

Insufficient speed of adaptation so not enough calcium is released for milk production

Question 9

What is the first option when a cow has milk fever?

Answer 9

Give them a low-calcium diet pre-calving to improve the efficiency of absorption

Question 10

What is Milk Fever?

Answer 10

They are producing too much milk but they don’t have enough calcium to support it

Question 11

Why does reducing potassium work?

Answer 11

Helps them mobilise more calcium from their bones

Question 12

What is the role of magnesium in Milk Fever?

Answer 12

Helps prevent staggers by changing a parathyroid receptor to mobilise more calcium from bones

Question 13

How long is the average oestrus cycle of a cow?

Answer 13

21 days

Question 14

What is the average heat detection rate?

Answer 14

70%

Question 15

How long is the average calving to conception?

Answer 15

80 to 150 days

Question 16

How can you tell when a cow has been mounted?

Answer 16

Chalk/Paint rubs off, increased activity on pedometer

Question 17

When can a vet diagnose pregnancy?

Answer 17

Around 30 days

Question 18

How do you treat mastitis?

Answer 18

Inject Antibiotics

Question 19

What is correct parlour hygiene?

Answer 19

Wash teats only if necessary with warm sanitized water, Ensure the teats are dried and that you wash your hands frequently

Question 20

How can you tell if a cow has mastitis?

Answer 20

Rapid Milk test, test all 4 quarters, Somatic Cell Count, In-line filters

Question 21

What is the purpose of pre-milk teat dipping?

Answer 21

to achieve an acceptable level of decontamination of teat skin before the milking

Question 22

What is the purpose of post-milk teat dipping?

Answer 22

To remove bacterial pathogens from skin and skin lesions

Question 23

What are some ways you can teat dip?

Answer 23

Manually, Automatically, or by manually spraying

Question 24

what is Dry-Cow Therapy?

Answer 24

Cure of existing intra-mammary infections present at drying off

Question 25

What is the profitable lifetime index?

Answer 25

How much £ a bull is expected to return from each of its daughters over her lifetime

Question 26

What is ‘flushing’

Answer 26

collection of the embryos on days 6-8

Question 27

What is the avg voluntary waiting period?

Answer 27

45 days

Question 28

How much magnesium should a cow have per day?

Answer 28

40g, this can be hard on spring grass as it does not contain a lot

Question 29

What is the point of balance in a cow?

Answer 29

its shoulder

Question 30

What are some environmental issues on farms?

Answer 30

Faeces, Urine and Water management as well as methane and CO2 production

Question 31

What is the problem with the production of phosphorous, methane and nitrogen

Answer 31

Damages the ecosystems when it gets into the water

Question 32

What are some key things to look for in milk?

Answer 32

Volume, Low SCC, Milk solids (proteins and fats)

Question 33

What is the benefit of rotary feeding?

Answer 33

Cows can enter and leave whenever they want