Dairy Production

Question 1

What is the total revenue for farming dairy cattle?

Answer 1

$26 billion from 4.7 million cows

Question 2

How much dairy related products are exported?

Answer 2

• ~95% as powder, cheese, butter
• ~20% of total NZ exports

Question 3

What are the exports on dairy cattle farms?

Answer 3

• milk (milk solids)
• calves: bobby calves for veal & pet food; weaned
• calves: bulls/non-dairy heifers for beef
• dairy heifers: to other farms
• cull cows: for beef

Question 4

How many (%) of dairy farms are in the North Island?

Answer 4

• 58%

Question 5

How much (%) of dairy farms are in the South Island?

Answer 5

• 42%

Question 6

Where are dairy farming densities the highest?

Answer 6

• Waikato (NI)
• North Canterbury (SI)
• Taranaki (NI)

Question 7

How many herds are there in NZ?

Answer 7

10,485

Question 8

What is the average herd size in NZ?

Answer 8

448

Question 9

What is the stock unit for 1 dairy cow

Answer 9

• 7-10 stock units
• Jersey: 425 kg
• J x HF: 475 kg
• Holstein Friesian: 500 kg

Question 10

What percentage of dairy cattle are Holstein Friesian x Jersey crosses?

Answer 10

60.4%

Question 11

What percentage of dairy cattle are Holstein Friesians?

Answer 11

23.9%

Question 12

What percentage of dairy cattle are Jerseys?

Answer 12

7.5%

Question 13

Why do dairy cattle have a higher stock unit than beef cattle despite being smaller?

Answer 13

they have higher nutritional requirements due to milk supply

Question 14

What is the largest labor requirement on dairy farms?

Answer 14

milking

Question 15

What are the milking frequencies used on dairy farms?

Answer 15

• twice a day (TAD); most common
• once a day (OAD)
• flexible milking

Question 16

When is calving in dairy cattle?

Answer 16

• spring calving (July)
• autumn calving (March)

Question 17

Aside from NZ, where are dairy cattle also pasture-based?

Answer 17

• Ireland
• Chile (south)

Question 18

What is production system number 1 in dairy cattle?

Answer 18

• all grass self contained
• 100% home grown feed (no feed imported)
• all adult stock on the dairy platform

Question 19

What is production system number 2 in dairy cattle?

Answer 19

• 90-99% home grown feed
• 1-10% of feed imported as supplement or grazing off for wintering dry cows

Question 20

What is production system number 3 in dairy cattle?

Answer 20

• 80-89% home grown feed
• 11-20% of feed imported to extend lactation and wintering dry cows

Question 21

What is production system number 4 in dairy cattle?

Answer 21

• 70-79% home grown feed
• 21-30% of feed imported used at both ends of lactation and wintering dry cows

Question 22

What is production system number 5 in dairy cattle?

Answer 22

• 50-69% home grown feed
• > 31% of feed imported used throughout lactation

Question 23

How many herds (%) are in level 1 production systems?

Answer 23

5%+

Question 24

How many herds (%) are in level 2 production systems?

Answer 24

23%+

Question 25

How many herds (%) are in level 3 production systems?

Answer 25

46%

Question 26

How many herds (%) are in level 4 production systems?

Answer 26

23%

Question 27

How many herds (%) are in level 5 production systems?

Answer 27

3%

Question 28

How much of a dairy cattle's diet is pasture?

Answer 28

50-96%

Question 29

What is the max daily intake for dairy cattle?

Answer 29

~4% of cow's live weight

Question 30

What are some supplement crops grown?

Answer 30

- fodder beet - brassicas (like kale) - swedes - maize

Question 31

What are the energy requirements for maintenance in dairy cattle?

Answer 31

- 0.55 to 0.60 MJME/kg LW⁰.⁷⁵ - ~50-60 MJME/day

Question 32

What are the energy requirements for milk solids in dairy cattle?

Answer 32

- 80 MJME/kgMS (range: 74-86)

Question 33

What are the energy requirements for walking in dairy cattle?

Answer 33

- 2-3 MJME/km (distance to dairy parlor, terrain)

Question 34

What are the energy requirements for pregnancy in dairy cattle?

Answer 34

- 11-57 MJME/day (calf birth weight and weeks to calving)

Question 35

What are the energy requirements for liveweight change in dairy cattle?

Answer 35

- 19 MJME/kg LW

Question 36

At what body condition score is a dairy cattle considered emaciated?

Answer 36

< 3.0

Question 37

At what body condition score is a dairy cattle considered not efficient?

Answer 37

> 6.0

Question 38

What body condition score should a dairy cattle be at mating?

Answer 38

≥ 4.0

Question 39

What body condition score should a dairy cattle be at calving for mature cows?

Answer 39

5.0

Question 40

What body condition score should a dairy cattle be at calving for first and second calvers?

Answer 40

5.5

Question 41

What percentage of liveweight equals one BCS?

Answer 41

6.5%

Question 42

What are the nutrition requirements for dairy cattle?

Answer 42

- energy - protein - fibre - macro minerals - trace elements

Question 43

How much protein is required for dairy cows in early lactation?

Answer 43

- 18% DM

Question 44

How much protein is required for dry dairy cattle?

Answer 44

- 12% DM

Question 45

What is the minimum NDF required for dairy cattle?

Answer 45

- 27-33% DM

Question 46

What are the macro minerals needed in a dairy cattle diet?

Answer 46

- Calcium (Ca) - Phosphorus (P) - Magnesium (Mg) - Potassium (K) - Sulfur (S) - Sodium (Na)

Question 47

What are the trace elements needed in a dairy cattle diet?

Answer 47

- Copper (Cu) - Selenium (Se) - Zinc (Zn)

Question 48

What are the characteristics of a perfect track on a dairy farm?

Answer 48

- wide enough - as short as possible - has good surface and drainage - well fenced - has good paddock access - distraction-free

Question 49

What does the quality of a track on the dairy farm have an impact on?

Answer 49

- lameness - milk production - welfare - cow flow - hierarchy - labor

Question 50

What are the characteristics of a perfect holding yard on a dairy farm?

Answer 50

- rectangular or circular - 1.2-1.5 m² per cow - entry at the rear (flow race→ yard→ milking) - grooving for traction and cushioning on turn areas - cleaning manure

Question 51

What does the quality of a holding yard on the dairy farm have an impact on?

Answer 51

- cow flow - hierarchy - lameness - labor

Question 52

What are the components of a herringbone milking parlor?

Answer 52

- platform: bails, cow angle, breast and rump rails, nib along pit wall - pit: milker; size and floor requirements - entry and exit: race and gates

Question 53

What is the advantages of herringbone milking sheds?

Answer 53

- cheaper to build and maintain - highest cows per cluster per hour rate - cows enter and exit while other side is milking - cows are in full view of the milker - can increase capacity by lengthening the pit - more sociable

Question 54

What are the components of a rotary milking parlor?

Answer 54

- platform: bails, bail length, breast and rump rail - entry and exit: surface, signals - cups: milker, control console, size and floor requirements

Question 55

What is the advantages of rotary milking sheds?

Answer 55

- quick entry and exit times, if working well, with cow flow less affected by cow/people interactions - usually a low milk line, so lower vacuum - little walking required for the milker - slower milking cows do not hold up more than one set of cups - platform speed can be varied - automation often easier to install - generally brighter and airy working environment

Question 56

What does the milking plant have an impact on?

Answer 56

- milking efficiency - animal health (teat and udder) - stress

Question 57

How much water does a dairy cattle require?

Answer 57

25-100+ L/cow (annual average: 25-35 L/cow/day)