Dairy (Exam 2)

Question 1

What changes have occurred in the dairy industry over recent decades?

Answer 1

Technology added = less human labor
Housing changes = easier to feed and monitor cows
Feed = unlimited = improve to well-rounded feed = growth and milk production
Mechanization = feed improvement, storage, processing; economies of scale = reduce cost

Question 2

How has cow production changed in the dairy industry over time?

Answer 2

Reproduction = mostly AI to promote genetic improvement and use a small number of bulls to inseminate large number of animals
Estrous synchronizing and timed insemination
Increased milk production/cow

Question 3

How has herd size/number changed in the diary industry over time?

Answer 3

Decreased with additional technology

Question 4

What are the top 5 states for the dairy industry?

Answer 4

California, Wisconsin, Idaho, New York, Pennsylvania

Question 5

Define: Pasture Based Cow Housing

Answer 5

Used for most of the year due to weather and feed/pasture availability
More efficient use of land (harvesting forage more efficient than grazing)
Minimize parasitism, toxic plants, environmental risks, heat/cold stress, and improper animal management (calving, breeding, feeding)

Question 6

Define: Tie Stall Cow Housing

Answer 6

NE
Stall for each cow, younger cows grouped together (higher risk for disease)
Disadvantage = more weather exposure, higher pathogen exposure, dusty when dry (pneumonia)
Advantage = comfortable for people, traditional good animal restraint, good fit for SMALL dairies (<80)

Question 7

Define: Dry Lot Cow Housing

Answer 7

W
Disadvantage = more weather exposure, higher pathogen exposure, dusty when dry (pneumonia)
Advantage = good welfare, good footing, VERY LOW COST

Question 8

Define: Free Stall Cow Housing

Answer 8

Cows can move in and out of facility, individual stalls, socialization, sand
Cross ventilation bars = new development, pulls air from one side of barn to other, good in hot environment
Disadvantage = concrete floors (hard on feet, slip), opportunity for injury
Advantage = movement, freedom, feed access
Laying area = appropriate size, comfortable

Question 9

What is the best cow bedding material?

Answer 9

Sand
Disadvantage = expensive, must be managed
Advantage = minimal organic matter (few bacteria), reduced mastitis, cow dryness (drains water), comfortable, cool in summer

Question 10

Define: Individual Calf Housing

Answer 10

Outside = hutches
Decrease exposure/transmission of cow enteric pathogens (even older cows transmit them to younger)
Good ventilation = decreased respiratory pathogens

Question 11

Define: Group Calf Housing

Answer 11

Current trend in large facilities (hard with small herds)
Separate easily by age, still separate from adults
Decrease exposure to older calves
Better socialization of calves
New feeding technologies maintain hygienic liquid feed (ad-lib feeding through machine nipples)

Question 12

What is the ideal calf bedding?

Answer 12

Straw or sawdust
Keep warmth and reduces spread of pathogens

Question 13

What is the general life cycle and production phases of dairy animals?

Answer 13

Newborn calf
Preweaning
Heifer rearing
Calving
Lactation
Reproduction/Fertility
Dry period

Question 14

Define: Newborn Calf Phase of Production

Answer 14

Critical life stage (high mortality, high risk)
Nursing: milk fed, usually orphan rearing (reduce disease)

Question 15

Define: Preweaning Phase of Production

Answer 15

Beginning to eat solid food
8wks (or wt) = start them on “calf-starter” pellets (grain based)
Promote early rumen development
Recently problems with underfeeding = improved replacers, milk feeding, E and protein intake, weight gain, disease resistance, long term health and production
Decrease mortality

Question 16

What health issues are associated with preweaning?

Answer 16

Day 1-3: dystocia (impact perinatal survival)
Day 3-3wks: enteric disease (bacterial, viral)
3wks +: respiratory infection (viral, bacterial)

Question 17

Define: Heifer Rearing Phase of Production

Answer 17

Weaning to breeding
Much higher immune system = mortality lower
Forage feed
Bred at 13-15 months (AI), 65% mature weight

Question 18

Define: Calving Phase of Production

Answer 18

Pre-calving = special diet to decrease metabolic problems (high E demand for lactation, prep rumen)
Calving = dystocia concerns

Question 19

Define: Fresh Cows

Answer 19

Cows that have recently calved

Question 20

Define: Transition Cows

Answer 20

1-2 weeks before and after calving
Stressful between calving and starting lactation

Question 21

What health concerns are associated with transition cows?

Answer 21

Infectious disease: mastitis, metritis, pneumonia
Metabolic disease: hypocalcemia (milk fever), ketosis, fatty liver
Increased metabolic disease risk
Negative E balance: milk production high E and protein demands, peak production before peak feed intake (60 days postpartum), decreased body condition, heifers additional needs for growth

Question 22

Define: Lactation Phase of Production

Answer 22

Peak: highest demand for protein
Mid: start gaining weight again
Late
Measured in days in milk

Question 23

What are the ideal vs typical days in milk of lactation?

Answer 23

Ideal: 305 day lactation, 60 day dry period, 365 days to next lactation (rarely achieved)
Typical: 13.5 months lactation

Question 24

Define: Reproductive/Fertility Phase of Production

Answer 24

Breeding: Start 60-80 DIM, voluntary waiting period
If doesnt get pregnant = AI, use hormones to improve repro cycles
Open cows after many AI = bull bred
Days open: days to conception = determines length of lactation

Question 25

Define: Dry Period of Production

Answer 25

Cows cease lactation
60 days postpartum
Rejuvenate mammary tissue, prepare for next lactation

Question 26

Compare far-off vs close-up dry cows vs maternity cows

Answer 26

Far off dry cows: 60-14 days prepartum
Close up dry cows: 14 days prepartum (specific dietary needs)
Maternity cows: few days prepartum (springing = tail up)

Question 27

Describe the characteristics of the cow lactation cycle and lactation curves

Answer 27

Day 0 = calved, start lactation, open cow
Day 60 = peak lactation
Day 60-80 = breeding
Day 85 = pregnant, start gestation (280 days), determines length of lactation
Day 305 = stop milking, 60 day dry period
Day 365 = end of dry period
Day 0 = next year, calved

Question 28

How long is gestation? Dry period? How many days open?

Answer 28

Gestation = 280 days
Dry period = 60 days
Total = 340 days
Leaves you with 20 days to “days open” - make it shorter or longer (shorter = higher calves/lactation production)

Question 29

What are the effects of marketing milk as a commodity?

Answer 29

Economies of size = increase productivity of milk production
Prices: decreased over past decade
Monthly fluctuations as producers are price takers, depend on milk production around the country; cost of feed over time (important to keep cost low = economies of size), change in commodity prices due to export (cheese from EU)
Production of milk: larger dairies (economies of size) make more milk; conventional dairies (large, free stalls) > grazing dairies (small)

Question 30

What factors promote the trend of increasing dairy herd size?

Answer 30

Economies of scale
Full use of existing resources, technology purchase, engineering economics
Price of equipment doesnt increase proportionally with size
Use specialty resources
Input prices: discounts for buying in bulk
Management: improve efficiency of labor force (decrease)

Question 31

What are key technological changes in dairy production systems?

Answer 31

Computer monitoring and record keeping (milk monitors, electronic animal identification) = determine health of cow and help make decisions, AI bull selection based on daughter performance

Question 32

What data changes have occurred in dairy production systems?

Answer 32

Cow info (age, ID, DIM)
Production (milk, protein, fat)
Reproduction (conception, breeding status)
Health events (diagnoses, treatments)

Question 33

What measurement changes have occurred in dairy production systems?

Answer 33

Animal movement (lameness, estrus, maternal management, lying time, feeding)
Rumen sensors (body temp, illness, estrus, calving)
Milking (mastitis, hormone levels, milk constituents)
Repro hormones (pregnancy detection, estrus synchronization)
Genomic selection
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