Dairy nutrition--Almeida pt. 1 Flashcards
percentage of dairy farms that are family owned
97%
Average size of a dairy herd?
179 cows
T/F: Milk production is increasing but the number of dairy cows is decreasing
True
T/F: Larger dairy farms have higher costs and higher profits
False: Larger dairy farms have lower costs and higher profits
Cattle breeds (7) specialized in milk production? Which is the most common?
Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein-Friesland (most common), Jersey, Milking shorthorn, red and white
Dairy cow production cycle?
1) Heifers/cows inseminated (AI)
2) Gestation period: 280 days
3) At calving, milking begins
4) Lactation takes 305 days, followed by 60 days of dry period
6) Animals are inseminated again 85 days after parturition and will calve at the end of the dry period
Female calves are kept on artificial milk, weaned at _____ days, and reared for another ____ days.
35-45; 420
T/F: Dairy farms only have births once a year and calves are all at the same stage in the birthing cycle
False: dairy farms have births year-round and cows are in different stages of the cycle
Dairy cows have a lifespan of how many years?
20
T/F: Dairy cows are only profitable for 3-5 lactations, because of lameness, mastitis, and infertility
True
When are dairy cows normally culled?
After 3-5 lactations
When is peak lactation?
Weeks 4-10, followed by decrease until drying off
Fat and protein content decreases until week ___ and then stabilizes
10
DMI increases with _____.
lactation
Body weight and BCS ____ during peak lactation, ____ afterwards (less milk but gestation)
decreases; increases
What do phases 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent during weeks of lactation?
Peak milk, peak DMI, restoration period, dry period (respectively)
Feed costs are about ___ of the total cost of producing milk
40-50%
What are balanced rations and when do milk production cows need to be fed them?
in intensive/commercial milk production cows have to be fed balanced rations = adequate to their productive state and milk production
milk production is always limited by the genetic and environmental components (%):
25% hereditary, 75% environment
What are nutrients used for in dairy cows?
1) Growth in the immature animal
2) Pregnancy (esp. last 3 mo)
3) Fattening/regaining normal weight lost during lactation
4) Maintenance
5) Lactation/milk production
A cow in lactation and fed correctly will use what nutrient proportions for feed and milk production?
1/2 feed for maintenance and 1/2 feed for milk production
A cow in lactation and inadequately fed will:
draw body reserves for maintenance needs and milk production will drop
T/F: Roughages are the cheapest and affordable source of nutrients
True (I know the sentence doesn’t make sense, that’s how it’s written in his notes) \_(--)__/
Because milk production is very demanding, dairy cattle have to be supplemented:
Concentrate feeding and grains