Dairy Cattle Lab Flashcards
1
Q
CA and Dairy
A
- top dairy state in US in terms of annual milk production
- # 1 agricultural commodity in CA is milk
2
Q
Dairy Cattle
A
- generally purebred
- intensive operation (more confining)
- most commonly bred through artificial insemination (AI)
3
Q
Holstein
A
- majority of dairy cattle in US
- black/red and white
- 680 kg (1500 lbs)
- 10,791 kg milk (23,791 lbs)
- 3.7% fat, 3.1% protein
4
Q
Jersey
A
- light gray, mouse, dark fawn colors
- 454 kg weight (1000 lbs)
- 7848 kg milk
- 4.8% fat, 3.6% protein
5
Q
Guernsey
A
- light red/fawn w/ white
- 499 kg
- 7028 kg milk
- 4.5% fat, 3.4% protein
6
Q
Brown Swiss
A
- Swiss Alps origin
- originally triple-purpose (milk, meat, draft)
- officially dairy in 1906 in US
7
Q
Milking Shorthorn
A
- dual-purpose breed
- red and white, or roan
- 567 kg weight
- 6491 kg milk
- 3.6% fat, 3.1% protein
7
Q
Ayrshire
A
- lighter colored band around muzzle; gray or brown coat
- 635 kg weight
- 8484 kg milk
- 4.1% fat, 3.4% protein
8
Q
Weaned
A
- 6-8 weeks
9
Q
Bred
A
- 15 mo
10
Q
First Calf
A
- 24 mo
11
Q
Milking
A
- 305 days (10-14 mo)
- highest production 60 days post calving
12
Q
Breeding
A
- 90-120 days post-calving (3 mo)
13
Q
Dry Off
A
- 60 days before calf is due
14
Q
Calving
A
- 280 days after breeding
- 1 year after first calf is born
15
Q
Bull Calves
A
- sent off for harvesting
16
Q
Cow Production Cycle
A
- 305 day lactation (when they’re milked)
- 45-60 day dry period
- 1st calf at 2 yrs
- mated at 15 mo
- once she calves, she is open for 45-60 days before rebred
- calves once a year (305d + 60d)
17
Q
Heifer
A
- young female dairy bovine that has yet to give birth to a calf
18
Q
Bull
A
- adult uncastrated male
19
Q
Lactating Cow
A
- cow producing milk, usually for 305 days after birth
20
Q
Calf
A
- young female dairy bovine before puberty
- young male = bull calf
21
Q
Dry Cow
A
- cow that is not producing milk
- dry period lasts 45-60 days before calving
22
Q
Fresh Cow
A
- cow that has recently given birth
23
Q
Springer
A
- heifer within 2-3 mo of calving
- belly and udder are “springing” into shape
24
Q
Strip Cups
A
- to check for clinical mastitis
- milk goes through screen into cup and clots – will stay on top of screen if clinical mastitis present
25
Q
CA Mastitis Test (CMT)
A
- helps detect mastitis before clinical
- includes paddle and mastitis test reagent
- degree of gel formation indicates leucocyte count of milk
26
Q
Mastitis
A
- infection within udder, typical due to bacterial infection that enters via teat canal
- pathogens: contaminated bedding materials, mud, transfer from infected animals during milking procedures
- detect through CMT (somatic cells in milk using reagent)
- prevention: housing management, hygiene in milking parlor, culling of cows that are chronically infected
27
Q
Calves
A
- should be in dry, draft-free housing
- must receive colostrum for at least 1 day (preferably 2-3 days) to transfer immunity from dam to calf
28
Q
Scours
A
- diarrhea in calves
- can be deadly
- caused by bacteria, viruses, environmental conditions, overfeeding, parasitism
- leads to loss of water, sodium, and potassium; dehydration
29
Q
Dairy Cow External, Rumen, and Udder Anatomy
A
- see lab manual pg. 47
30
Q
Udder
A
- consists of 4 quarters
- suspended by medial suspensory ligament
- milk is removed from teats
- epithelial cells lining alveoli secrete milk into hollow lumen of each alveolus
- groups of alveoli = lobules
- groups of lobules = lobes
- milk travels from lumen of alveoli to gland cistern, then removed from teat cistern
31
Q
Puberty
A
- 9-14 mo (heifers)
- 10-12 mo (bulls)
32
Q
Estrous Cycle
A
- 21 days (19-23 days)
- polyestrous
33
Q
Estrus
A
- 2.5-28 hours
34
Q
Signs of Heat
A
- stands to be mounted, may mount other cows, highly vocal, nervousness, mucus discharge from vulva
35
Q
Gestation
A
- 281 days avg
36
Q
Nutrition
A
- roughages and concentrates
- primary concern is to provide enough energy to produce large quantity of milk
- dry cows fed hay or fresh pasture
37
Q
Feeding Rules of Thumb
A
- feed a cow 3.5% DM of her body weight
- 50% of DM should come from roughage
- lactating cattle require 120-160 L of water per day
38
Q
Housing
A
- housed intensively, though sometimes pastured on the coast
- free-stall barns and dry lot corrals where cows are bedded on sand (CA, UCD)
- calves in polydome plastic hutches
39
Q
Bloat
A
- not considered actual disease, but can cause discomfort and death
- signs: abnormal swelling on left side
- legume pastures, alfalfa, and high-concentrate feeds are more likely to produce bloat
- can be relieved by working animal, passing tube down esophagus, or puncturing rumen using trocar
40
Q
Milk Fever
A
- occurs shortly after calving due to deficiency of calcium brought on by rapid demand for milk production
- IV injection of calcium to treat
41
Q
A
