Dairy Cattle Husbandry

Question 1

What is a dry cow?

Answer 1

Not milking (far off/transitio 3-4 weeks)

Question 2

What is a suckler cow?

Answer 2

Beef cow until weaning

Question 3

What is a barren cow?

Answer 3

Failed to conceive

Question 4

What is a steer/bullock/stirk?

Answer 4

Castrated male

Question 5

What is a heifer?

Answer 5

Young female

Question 6

What is a maiden heifer?

Answer 6

First calf

Question 7

Why do cows need an area to lie-down?

Answer 7

To rest and ruminate

Question 8

What are the advantages of straw bedding?

Answer 8

Comfort, choice of lying position, decreased lameness

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of straw bedding?

Answer 9

More bedding required, increased mastitis

Question 10

How is bacteria controlled in straw bedding?

Answer 10

Compost effect kills, daily top up needed

Question 11

How should water/food be positioned with straw bedding?

Answer 11

Separate with concrete/matting to stop faeces and straw

Question 12

What is the minimum lying space per cow?

Answer 12

7.5m squared

Question 13

What lying space is recommended?

Answer 13

1.25 m squared per 1000l of milk

Question 14

How much extra space should be given as a loafing area?

Answer 14

3m squared

Question 15

What are the advantages of cubicles?

Answer 15

Higher cleanliness, more efficient, individual lying space, lower mastitis

Question 16

Why is a rectangular space better for straw bedding?

Answer 16

Cows like lying against walls

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of cubicles?

Answer 17

Lameness increased

Question 18

How much lunging space is needed at the front of the cubicle?

Answer 18

70-100cm

Question 19

What is the minimum cubical lengths?

Answer 19

2.3m if open, 2.6m if closed

Question 20

What should a cubical width be?

Answer 20

1.2m

Question 21

How high should a cubical kerb be?

Answer 21

15-20cm

Question 22

What does a brisket board do and where does it go?

Answer 22

Stops the cows lying too far forward 1.6m-1.8m

Question 23

What can be used for bedding in a cubical?

Answer 23

Straw, sand, sawdust, manure solids, water bed

Question 24

What is the legal minimum number of cubicles?

Answer 24

1 per cow

Question 25

What is the recommended number of cubicles?

Answer 25

15-20% extra

Question 26

What is the comfort quotient and what should it be over?

Answer 26

% engaging with cubical and should be over 80%

Question 27

How can you test padding?

Answer 27

Knee drop test

Question 28

What can improve grip of the floors?

Answer 28

Grooved flouring- hexagonal best

Question 29

What are the disadvantages of automatic scrapers?

Answer 29

Wave of faeces, cows can get caught

Question 30

How much feeding space is needed?

Answer 30

10cm per 1000l

Question 31

How should a feeding area in cubicles be positioned?

Answer 31

Either lifted up or space for 1 foot forwards with smooth surface at bottom

Question 32

How much space is needed for single passage, directional and a feed passage?

Answer 32

1.2m single, 2.4m directional, feed passage 4.6m

Question 33

How much water is needed per cow?

Answer 33

100l per cow

Question 34

What should the water top up rate be?

Answer 34

15-20ml/min

Question 35

How much colostrum should a calf have before 12 hours?

Answer 35

10% BW before first 2 hours 10% in next 6-12 hours Force feed if necessary

Question 36

If colostrum harvested from cow how long can it be kept in the fridge/freezer?

Answer 36

Fridge less then 24 hours | Freezer less the 1 year

Question 37

How can colostrum intake be tested?

Answer 37

Test blood from 24 hours-7 days- 55g/l protein

Question 38

What is the usual amount and recommend amount of milk given to a calf?

Answer 38

usual- 2l twice a day | recommended- 5-6l in two freed (15% of BW)

Question 39

What % of milk replacer should CP and fat be?

Answer 39

CP- 20-26% | Fat- 18-20%

Question 40

How much extra milk should be given for every 5 degrees below 15 for under 3 week old calves and below 10 degrees for calfs over 3 weeks old?

Answer 40

0.3l per 5 degrees

Question 41

Why is water important during weaning?

Answer 41

For rumen growth and development- should always be available

Question 42

What needs to be considered for calf housing?

Answer 42

``` feeding- milk and rumen development health- calf contact Ventilation Hygiene Welfare- social interactions/movement ```

Question 43

Why might a ventilator be needed for calf shed?

Answer 43

Animals not big enough for stack effect

Question 44

What is the minimum amount of space a calf should be given individual or in groups?

Answer 44

Individual- 1.8m x 1m Groups- 1.5m² up to 150kg 2m² 150-200kg

Question 45

What should the minimum size of feeding space be?

Answer 45

0.35m

Question 46

What should the max air speed, and ideal inlet and outlet be?

Answer 46

Air speed- 0.25m/s inlet- 0.05m² Outlet- 0.04m²

Question 47

What are the disadvantages and advantagesof group housing?

Answer 47

Dis- 10-15% less growth from competition, diseases spread more easily, navel suckling Adv- lower labour more social interaction

Question 48

What is the target DLWG before weaning?

Answer 48

0.7-0.8kg

Question 49

What should mortality rate be below?

Answer 49

5%

Question 50

What weight should calfs be when weaning?

Answer 50

70kg

Question 51

When 12 MO(puberty), 15 MO (first service), 24 MO (calved) what % of expected adult weight should cow be?

Answer 51

12 MO- 45-50% 15 MO- 65% 24 MO- 85-90%

Question 52

When should tagging take place?

Answer 52

1st before 36 hours 2nd before 20 days Passport before 27 days

Question 53

When should disbudding be done?

Answer 53

Before 2 MO under anaesthetic

Question 54

When should castration be done?

Answer 54

Rubber ring under 1 week | Stock person under 2 months

Question 55

What is the DLWG from weaning to 4 MO, 4 MO-breeding, pregnancy and last 2 month of pregnancy?

Answer 55

weaning- 4MO 0.9kg 4 MO- breeding 0.7kg Pregnancy- 0.9kg Last 2 Months- 0.6kg