Dairy nutrition--Almeida pt. 2 Flashcards
Equipment needed for feeding TMR
mixer blender unit (mobile, stationary, uniformly mixes ration, must be mixed long enough though and can’t be mixed too long–>fiber shreeded);
weighing device
What are the 6 common mistakes in TMR
1) errors in mixing and scales
2) top dress
3) free choice (hay)
4) wet ingredient testing
5) error in mixing time
6) changing batch sizes
T/F: It is important to divide the herd into homogenous groups (similar production and nutrition needs) when TMR feeding
TRUE
What factors are taken into consideration during TMR feeding?
Size of the herd, facilities
Why are producing cows separated by production levels in TMR feeding?
High producing cows will need more concentrate
Low producing cows will become fat if fed at the same level as high producing cows
What are the 3 types of automatic concentrate feeders?
magnetic, electronic, and transponder
T/F: Automatic concentrate feeders are used on very small dairy farms. A device is attached to each individual and allows access to feed.
FALSE–used on very LARGE farms; everything else is true
What does the transponder do in automatic concentrate feeders?
controls the amount fed to each animal
What is the idea of automatic concentrate feeders?
allow high-producing cows to have access to more concentrate
T/F: If milk fat is consistently below the average for the breed (e.g. 0.3% below)–>likely a (nutritional) problem
TRUE
What is the required milk fat content for red & white and Holstein cows?
2.5-3.5%
T/F: milk fat is one of the least important characteristics of milk
FALSE–it is one of the MOST important
What are 6 non-nutritional factors for milk fat drop?
1) season of the year–>spring and summer
2) stage of lactation–>lowest at peak lactation
3) genetics, breed, selection
4) high somatic cell counts–>mastitis
5) milking equipment problems–>frozen milk in the bulk tank or lack of agitation
6) improper handling of samples (over 40 F)
What are 8 nutritional/management factors for milk fat drop?
1) low fiber intake
2) low forage intake
3) high non-fiber carb intake
4) ration particle too fine
5) ration particle too coarse
6) protein deficiency
7) mineral deficiency (sulfur)–>unbalanced protein synthesis in rumen
8) energy deficiency–>animals fed below maintenance levels (esp. early lactation)
1-6–>unbalanced forage/cereal intake–>rumen flora alt.–>metabolic disease
Suggestions for control (5) of milk drop
1) obtain recent analysis of forages being fed (protein, NDF, ash, fat, sulphur)
2) obtain analysis of the TMR (protein, NDF, ash, fat, sulphur) asking the lab to dry and grind it
3) evaluate the ration for nutrient content–check the math
4) evaluate particle size distribution for TMR (Penn state shaker box)
5) use and update production records
DON’T FORGET TO MEMORIZE THAT STUPID PENN STATE SHAKER BOX TABLE BECAUSE WE’RE ALL GONNA BE COW DOCTORS AND WILL USE THIS EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES -_-
No, I’m not bitter about this at all
BCS: 6 things that I’ll probably forget right after I walk out of this damn exam
Look at the picture on slide 93
1) amount of fat an animal is carrying
2) scoring ranges from 1-5
3) scoring done by observing the amount of depression around tail head, amount of fat covering the pin and pelvic bones and fat around the loin area
4) very subjective
5) changes a lot from individual to individual performing the BCS
6) requires proper training
BCS 1
very thin animal
showing deep depression around tailhead
no fat covering rump and loin
BCS 2
moderately thin animal, shallow cavity around tailhead
small amount of fat covering rump and loin
BCS 3
no cavity around tailhead
fatty tissue over the whole rump and loin area
BCS 4
Moderately fat animal
folds of fatty tissue over the tailhead
patches of fat over the rump
fairly heavy fat covering the loin
BCS 5
very fat animal
tailhead buried in fat
heavy fat covering rump and loin areas
Look at the big metabolic moments chart for cows and download the BCS Bayer app if you have no life and your only friends are cows
Idk if there’s gonna be a question and I honestly don’t give a flying fandango
What are 5 important factors of maximum efficiency in milk production?
1) dairy cows must not be too thin or too fat
2) using BCS helps the farmer to improve efficiency and herd health
3) thin cows = health issues
4) fat cows = difficulty in calving and high risk of fatty liver syndrome
5) heifers should also be checked for BCS (fat heifers = difficulty in calving and lower development of the mammary gland)
When should you check BCS?
after calving
early in lactation
middle of the lactation (4 months)
end of lactation
BCS shortly after calving? (4 things)
1) cows should have a BCS 3.0-3.5
2) cows normally lose weight during this period
3) BCS should not drop below 2.5 (normal cows) or 2.0 for high-yield dairy cows
4) if drops correct it with nutritional management (i.e. increase the concentrate:forage ratio)
BCS in early lactation (4 things)
1) cows should have a BCS of 2.0-2.5
2) if too thin increase the energy level
3) cows reach peak lactation at this stage
4) if cow has BCS of 3.0-3.5 but does not produce enough milk, check ration for protein and mineral levels
BCS in mid lactation (4 things)
1) cows should have BCS 3.0
2) if animal is too fat (4.0), reduce energy intake
3) if animal is too thin (2.0) increase feed intake
4) normally problems like these should be checked at earlier stages
BCS at the end of lactation: 4 things
1) cows should be building body reserves for the next lactation
2) BCS 3.5
3) adjust energy level of the ration as needed
4) important that cows are not too fat at this stage
4 fun facts about dairy cattle manure, because I’m totally going to use them all in my life time
1) adult cows pass feces every 2 hours
2) produce 100 lbs of manure a day
3) amount and consistency of manure produced varies with feed and water intake
4) altered by an unusual disruption in the passage of digesta through the digestive tract
YAY POOP I LOVE IT -_-
T/F: Manure evaluation is not a precise science
GASP IT’S TRUE, THERE GOES MY DREAM OF BEING A MANUROLOGIST
T/F: Manure may be used as a diagnostic tool for nutrition health-related issues
TRUE
T/F: Manure does not provide hints of what might be happening with the digestive process
FALSE–it does give hints
3 C’s in manure observation:
Color, consistency, content,
What influences the colors of manure?
feed type, bile concentration and passage of feedstuffs and digesta
Dark green manure = ?
cattle grazing fresh forage or pasture
dark brown manure = ?
hay ration
yellow olive manure = ?
TMR ration–>combination of grain and forage, various degrees according to the proportion of forage and hay
dark/bloody manure = ?
hemorrhage (mycotoxins, coccidiosis, etc.)
light green yellowish manure = ?
bacterial infections (salmonella)
when in doubt: salmonella
What does manure consistency depend on?
water content and a function of feed moisture
What is the normal consistency of dairy cattle shit?
sigh
porridge-like consistency and forms a dome-shaped pile of 1-2 inches high
yum.
If cow shit is not consistent = ?
diarrhea–>poisoning, infection, parasites, extensive hindgut fermentation of carbs
loose cow feces = ?
heat stress
solid cow feces = ?
dehydration
What do large proportions of undigested grain or forage in cow poop mean?
poor rumen fermentation or hindgut/large intestine fermentation
Large particles or undigested grains in shit =
cows not ruminating properly or rumen passage is accelerated
large amount of undigested grain in shit =
improper grain processing (hard kernels from corn silage)
Manure scoring, because that’s actually a thing
1 and 5 are not desirable and may reflect a health problem besides dairy limitations
4 may reflect a need to rebalance the ration
Manure scoring: fresh cows = early lactation cows = late lactation cows = far off dry cows = close up dry cows =
2-2.5 2.5-3 3-3.5 3-4 2.5-3.5
When are metabolic diseases/nutritional disorders more common?
around parturition or peak lactation
Displaed abomasum: 5 facts
1) aka twisted stomach
2) abomasum moves to abnormal position in the body cavity
3) DA is normally to the left side
4) normally occurs in the first months of lactation
5) causes not very clear–related to amount of fiber in diet
5 symptoms of DA
1) discomfort and pain
2) reduced intake of food/water
3) reduced milk yield
4) reduced volume of feces, dark colored feces
5) ‘ping’ (with stethoscope) over right rib cage instead of normal thudding
Treatment of DA
walking and exercise
roll cow
surgery–suture abomasum to body wall
if right sided: conduct surgery immediately
prevention of DA
dry cows diet should contain adequate fiber in amount and particle size
gradual adjustment of cows to diets high on cereals
Ketosis (acetonemia): 5 facts
1) results from impaired carbs and VFA metabolism
2) high blood ketone level and low blood glucose
3) normally occurs when energy needs are above energy intake
4) common in high producing cows
5) can also occur as a complication of placenta retention or metritis
6 symptoms of ketosis
1) reduced feed intake and milk yield
2) cows appear starved, depressed, dull
3) rumen inactive
4) acetone odor in breath, milk and urine
5) weight loss
6) unexplained increase in milk fat content
causes of ketosis (2)
glucose needed for maintenance is drained through milk production
inadequate energy intake at calving
Treatment/prevention of ketosis
Treatment:
1) IV treatment of dextrose to increase blood sugar
2) drenching: oral admin of propylene glycol to provide glucose precursors
Prevention:
1) avoid overfeeding/overconditioning
2) increase grain after calving
3) avoid abrupt ration changes
4) feed good quality forages
5) do drenching as a routine
Grass tetany: 3 facts
1) caused by inadequate blood magnesium levels
2) potentially fatal
3) most common in lactating animals grazing on rapidly growing lush pastures during the beginning of pasture season
4 symptoms of grass tetany?
1) stiff movement
2) loss of appetite
3) frequent urination
4) convulsions
Major cause of grass tetany:
grazing lush, spring pastures with wheat or rye with low levels of Mg and high levels of K
Treatment/prevention of grass tetany
Treatment: inject Mg sulphate under the skin
Prevention
1) provide adequate Mg daily during high risk period
2) use mineral blocks and give balanced diet
3) use legumes in pastures (higher Mg content than cereals)
T/F: symptoms of hardware disease are loss of appetite, digestive problems, and tendency to stand with front feet elevated
TRUE
Treatment/prevention of hardware disease
Treatment = surgery
Prevention
1) good feed bunk management
2) magnets in the reticulum and feed processing equipment
T/F: Lactic acidosis is the most important metabolic disease
TRUE
T/F: Lactic acidosis results from abnormal fermentation in the rumen
TRUE
Is the clinical or subclinical form of LA more severe?
clinical–rumen pH drops below 5; surges when cow suddenly gorges on large quantities of grain–feedlot cattle
T/F: subclinical acidosis, rumen pH 5-5.5 is more common in dairy cattle
TRUE–caused by rations too high on grains, lack of effective fiber
8 symptoms of LA
1) loss of appetite
2) high pulse rate
3) diarrhea
4) low skin temp
5) dehydration
6) drop in urine pH
7) low rumen pH
8) hooves become tender and grow abnormally (laminitis)
Treatment of LA?
force-feed buffers to stabilize pH
feed only forage for a few days, then gradually reintroduce grain
prevention of LA?
include appropriate levels of fiber
use adequate particle size for TMR
adjust cows to high-grain diet by gradually increasing grain
adding grain to dry cow rations before calving
feeding buffers to help maintain rumen pH
Milk fever: 5 facts
1) known as parturient paresis
2) occurs in mature cows within 48 hrs after calving
3) low blood Ca, lack of muscle strength and contractility
4) Ca intake is not sufficient for high milk production and starts depleting bone reserves
5) older animals and Jerseys are more susceptible
MF symptoms (8)
Treatment?
1) hind limb stiffness
2) partial paralysis
3) unable to rise
4) dry muzzle
5) reduced rumen movement
6) slow respiration
7) low body temp and cold ears
trtmt: calcium salts IV
prevention of MF (3)
1) avoid excess Ca intake during the dry period
2) low dietary Ca in the dry period will condition the cow to draw Ca from bone
3) supplement large quantities of vitamin D 2-3 days before calving (more is toxic)
Nitrate poisoning: 5 facts
1) occurs when excess nitrates in feed or water are converted to nitrites by the microorganisms in the rumen
2) nitrite will be absorbed interacting with hemoglobin reducing oxygen carrying capacity to the tissues
3) caused by drought–>excessive amount of nitrates in pasture
4) common in green cut forages
5) not so common in silages–>fermentation reduces nitrates
NP–symptoms
accelerated resp and pulse diarrhea frequent urination depressed appetite general weakness trembling, staggering frothing at the mouth dark blood
NP–treatment and prevention
Treatment–normally when detected it is too late
prevention
1) use silage
2) including high energy feeds (grain) in ration
3) analyze feeds and water if it’s a common problem in the region
Bloat: aka ___, occurs with ___
ruminal tympany
excessive accumulation of gas in the rumen
Prevention of bloat
gradual diet adaptation, feed dry hay before pasturing animals
