Dairy Cattle Life Cycle Flashcards
“Complete” management system
Perform all aspects of dairy management including: calf-rearing , growing food for cows, milking
(Most farms in north east follow this system)
“Specialized” management system
Milking operation only Sell all calves, buy replacements Buy food In stated like Cali where land is scarce (south west, far west) Larger # of cows
“Heifer farms” management system
Take heifer calves from milking operations, raise them, breed them, return or sell just before calving
It is essential that a calf receives what
Colostrum
What is colostrum
First milk produced by the dam. Contains moms antibodies and nutrients
How much colostrum should a calf consume
At least 4 quarts within first 24 hrs of life (ab10%of body weight)
Ideally 1/2 of this within 6 hours
Why a calf needs colostrum
Anti bodies in colostrum stimulate immune system
After 24 hours, calf unable to use antibodies
What happens to bull calves
Sold for veal (under 3 months old), sold to be raised for beef, occasionally kept for breeding occasionally
What happens to heifers
Usually kept as replacements for farm, sometimes sold to be raised as replacements, sometimes sent to heifer farms to be raised and returned
Heifers less than 2 months old are kept in what and why
Hutches or individual stalls in barns.
They are separated to prevent disease transmission and to monitor food intake
What does it mean for a calf to be weaned
Taken off milk diet and fed adult food
Heifers are weaned at ____ months old
2
After heifers are weaned they are moved to
Pens of similar size group housing (so no cows eat more than others)
First estrous cycle begins at approximately ____ months
12 months (puberty)
Yearling heifers are usually bred at _____ to _____ months
12-15
How is pregnancy diagnosed
Rectum palpitation
Once a heifer is bred she a called a
Bred heifer
Gestation period of a cow
Upon calving (freshening) she is called
She then becomes a
9months (280 days)
A “first calf heifer”
Cow
A cow is usually bred her second time ab how many months after the first
2-3 months
2 months before 2nd calf is born, she won’t be _____ for a period of time.
This is called
Milked Rest period (aka dry period)
Lactation lasts ab _____ months
10 months
The time from one calf born to the next is known as the _____
Optimally this period is ____ months long
Calving interval
12-13 months
Define an open cow
Not pregnant, usually first two months after calving
Define a dry cow
Not lactating
Define dry (rest) period
Period not lactating, usually last 2 months of pregnancy
Why are dry (rest) periods important
Allow udder to rest and prepare for next lactation
Define lactation
Production of milk. (10 month optimum)
