Dairy Industry Flashcards
what is the aim of the dairy industry?
produce profitable milk that is safe to consume, form healthy cows kept under high welfare standards
how do you calculate profit
production x (price - cost)
what is the acceptable somatic cell count
150,000 - 200,000 cells/ml
what does low somatic cell count show
bacterial health
hygiene
udder health
how many times a day should a cow be milked?
2-3 times a day
name some different types of milking systems
side by side
herringbone
rotatory parlour
trigon parlour
what is the top 25% of farmers making per L of milk
5p/L
what is a milk cluster?
machine that pulsates on the teat to squeeze the milk out
what is the KPI for 1st calving age
2.1 year
what is the KPI for protein percentage
3.39%
what is the KPI for fat
4.17%
what is the cattle balance point?
Shoulder
how old is the cattle when it is bred?
15 months
what is the average cattle lifespand?
6 years
How long is cattle lactation?
10 months
what is buffer feeding?
giving any extra nutrients
what are cattle nutrient requirements
fibre + starch for energy
protein
Ca, P, Mg
vitamins
trace elements - vitamins + minerals ( Cu, Co, Vit E)
when does a cow become dry?
what are its dietary requirements?
last 60 days of gestation
hay, straw - fill rumen without excess energy
low in minerals
when does a cow become a transition cow
what are the dietary requirements?
3 weeks before birth to the 2nd week of lactation
more concentrates, higher energy to support rumen growth in calf
low potassium
how to calculate dry matter intake
2.5% of body weight + 10% milk yield
what is peripartum milk fever?
unable to adapt to increasing milk production.
So cannot metabolism enough metabolism for milk, means also becomes deficient in Ca for bones also.
leads metabolic disease (cows cant stand)
what is the purpose of Mg in Ca metabolism?
changes parathyroid hormone receptor to enable calcium metabolism from bone
how long is the cow oestrus cycle?
18-24 days
what are some signs of ovulation, and how can they be tracked?
stand to be mounted - tail paint (will be rubbed off) + heat mount detectors
increased activity - pedometers