Dairy production

Question 1

organic vs conventional milk

Answer 1

both: tested for abx, regulated by PMO, tested for bacteria, somatic cells
organic: may have stricter guidelines, illegal to withold treatment to maintain organic status

Question 2

heifer

Answer 2

female bovine that hasnt had calf

Question 3

calf care right after birth

Answer 3

born in clean, dry pen
remove from cow asap and put in calf hutch
colostrum asap (for immune system)

Question 4

bull calves

Answer 4

dont stay at farm for more than a few days
mostly byproduct

Question 5

nursing cows are fed:

Answer 5

fed whole milk or milk replacers
then offered calf starter in a few days grain with lots of protein

Question 6

when are calved weaned?

Answer 6

~8 weeks
then fed calf grower concentrate

Question 7

when do heifers begin to calve?

Answer 7

2 years

Question 8

How long are cows in milk until peak lactation?

Answer 8

2 month

Question 9

how often are cows milked?

Answer 9

2-3x/day

Question 10

herringbone parlor

Answer 10

Question 11

parallel parlor

Answer 11

Question 12

rotary parlor

Answer 12

Question 13

transition from dry to lactating cow

Answer 13

most challenging transition
starts 3 weeks prior to calving

Question 14

lactating cow nutrition

Answer 14

50-50-50

Lactating Cows eat a diet that is:
50 pounds of Dry matter
50% moisture
~50% grain and 50% forage

Question 15

milk production lactation curve

Answer 15

• increases for several weeks to a peak 40-100 days in milk
• then decreases as the lactation proceeds 8-10% a month.

Question 16

corn silage

Answer 16

The entire corn and ear chopped up and stored anerobically so that it ferments

Question 17

haylage

Answer 17

Alfalfa, Grasses or small grains (rye, barley, wheat) that is chopped up and fermented

Question 18

TMR

Answer 18

mixed feed of grain and forage

Question 19

how are cows housed?

Answer 19

Concrete lots with 4’ X 8’ beds called freestalls: may or may not have access to outside lots called exercise lots.
Dry Lots with shade cloth
Some loose housing uses a bedded shed called a bedded pack
On pasture with only a concrete lot to hold cows for milking and feeding
Stanchion: Stall for living and milking

Question 20

dairy cow management cycle

Answer 20

Question 21

dry cows

Answer 21

Mammary gland and digestive system need a rest for the next production to be optimal
Milk removal stops 60 days before the next parturition to give the cow a dry period.
Cow should be housed separate from the lactating herd and fed a mostly-roughage ration

Question 22

far off dry cows

Answer 22

End of last Lactation
R&R for the Rumen and Udder

Question 23

close up dry cows

Answer 23

Beginning of Next Lactation
Udder Development
Fetus Development
Preparation of the rumen for high energy diet