Exam 1 from Jenn's Notes Flashcards
What is the gestation period for cows?
283 days
How much earlier should heifers calve compared to mature cows?
40 days
What is the target calving period length for optimal production?
Less than 60 days (40 days is ideal)
What percentage of calves should be born in the first 21 days of the calving period?
65%
What is the postpartum anestrus interval for cows?
40-60 days
What is the postpartum anestrus interval for first-calf heifers?
80-90 days
What are the three categories for why animals don’t get pregnant?
- Inadequate female fertility
- Inadequate delivery of fertile semen
- Infectious or non-infectious agents
What is the ideal bull-to-cow ratio for breeding?
25:1
What are the types of infectious diseases that cause early gestation losses?
- Trichomoniasis
- Campylobacter
- Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD)
Name some activities that need to be done at specific times in a well-managed herd.
- Pregnancy exams
- Bull breeding soundness exams
- Female BCS measurements
- Processing/culling
- Feed analysis and feeding plan
What should be measured to determine the performance of a beef herd?
- Herd metrics
- Performance losses
- Risk factors
- Disease
What influences beef herd profitability?
- Calves sold per breeding female
- Fertility
- Calving rate
- Calf survival
- Weight of calves
What can a veterinarian do to influence cow-calf profitability?
- Increase herd income
- Enhance reproductive efficiency
- Improve market value
- Control costs
What is the typical pregnancy percentage for a well-managed beef herd?
90-96%
What should be the acceptable fetal loss percentage in a beef herd?
3%
What are the features that define colostrum quality?
- Quickness
- Quality/composition
- Quantity
- Cleanliness
How is colostrum quality evaluated?
- Measure IgG with a Brix Refractometer (target >22%)
- Total plate count for cleanliness (<20,000 bacterial cells/ml)
What is the industry standard for milk feeding duration in calves?
60 days
What is the Sandhills Calving System?
A pasture management system that moves cows to new pastures based on calving stages
What are the typical causes of calf disease and death?
- Non-infectious causes prior to 2 days old
- Infectious causes after 3 days old
What pathogens are responsible for calf scours?
- E. coli K99
- Rotavirus
- Cryptosporidium
- Coronavirus
What are the clinical signs of septicemia in calves?
- Red/inflamed mucous membranes
- Profound depression
- Multiple organ system problems
What management measures help prevent newborn calf health problems?
- Pre-calving management
- Dystocia prevention
- Newborn calf management
What is the ideal weight gain for calves per day?
2 lbs/day
What is the significance of colostral transfer in calves?
It is crucial for immunity; lack of transfer is a risk factor, not a disease.
What is the target serum IgG level for calves aged 2-7 days?
10 mg/ml or Brix TP >5.2
What are the key educational topics to convey to avoid calf morbidity and mortality?
- Calf management practices
- Nutrition and health protocols
- Biosecurity measures
These topics are crucial for improving calf health and reducing losses.
What are the key features of individual calf examination useful for diagnosis?
- Physical health assessment
- Behavioral observations
- Vital signs measurement
These features help in identifying health issues early.
What pathologic features and laboratory submissions are useful in confirming calf enteric disease?
- Fecal samples
- Blood tests
- Tissue biopsies
These submissions aid in diagnosing specific enteric diseases.
How can a veterinarian influence cow-calf profitability?
- Increase income from sale of calves and cows
- Decrease cost of production
- Decrease risk of disease limitations to production
Effective veterinary practices can enhance profitability.
Define typical beef herd reproduction parameters.
- Pregnancy percentage
- Pregnancy distribution
- Fetal loss and stillbirth
- Perinatal, neonatal, and preweaned calf loss
These parameters indicate herd reproductive performance.
What are the causes of abnormal reproduction in beef herds?
- Poor nutrition
- Health issues
- Suboptimal breeding practices
Identifying these causes is essential for improving reproductive efficiency.
What is the significance of utilizing superior ‘heifer bulls’?
- Calving ease
- Good growth rates
Choosing the right bulls can improve herd performance.
What should be considered in the management plan for replacement heifers?
- Timing of weighing
- Vaccination schedule
- Evaluation prior to breeding
Proper management ensures heifers are ready for breeding.
What are the causes of poor reproduction efficiency?
- Failure to conceive
- Insufficient days postpartum
- Low maternal BCS
- Bull failure
- Early embryonic death
- Trichomonas
- Vibrio
- Abortion
- Neospora
- IBR
- BVD
- Toxins
- Stillbirth/Weak calf
- Low maternal BCS
- Low maternal protein intake
- Vitamin E/Selenium deficiency
- Leptospirosis
Understanding these causes allows for targeted interventions.
What biosecurity tools can reduce the risk of pregnancy wastage?
- Vaccination
- Segregation
- Test-and-removal/isolation
Implementing these tools can enhance herd health.
What is the target age for first calving in heifers?
22-23 months
Calving at this age contributes to higher herd profitability.
What intervention points are important for managing production practices for replacement heifers?
- Birth
- Identify calves with DOB and sire
- Weaning
- Evaluate heifer candidates
- Yearling
- Reproductive Tract Scoring (RTS)
- Pelvic measures
These points help track heifer development and readiness.
What are the features of an ideal vaccine?
- Safe and effective
- Provides long-lasting immunity
- Stable and easy to administer
These features are critical for effective vaccination programs.
Who is the federal regulatory body responsible for veterinary vaccine licensing?
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)
The USDA oversees the safety and efficacy of veterinary vaccines.
List the four requirements for a vaccine to acquire federal licensing.
- Safety
- Efficacy
- Manufacturing consistency
- Labeling accuracy
Meeting these requirements is essential for public health.
What factors affect a vaccine’s efficacy?
- Storage conditions
- Timing of administration
- Animal health status
Proper management of these factors is crucial for successful vaccination.
What are the major differences between killed vaccines and modified live vaccines?
- Killed vaccines: Inactivated pathogens
- Modified live vaccines: Live but attenuated pathogens
Differences impact the immune response and safety.
Define at least 3 adverse reactions to vaccines.
- Fever
- Swelling at injection site
- Allergic reactions
Understanding adverse reactions is important for managing vaccination programs.
What is ‘endotoxin stacking’?
Accumulation of endotoxins in the body due to multiple vaccine doses
It can lead to clinical signs like fever and inflammation. Avoid by spacing vaccinations.
What are the key BQA recommendations regarding injection sites?
- Use appropriate sites to minimize damage
- Rotate injection sites
- Follow guidelines for specific vaccines
Proper injection techniques reduce complications.
List major diseases against which we vaccinate cattle.
- Clostridial diseases
- Respiratory diseases
- BVDV
- Neonatal diarrheal diseases
Vaccination is vital for preventing these diseases.
Define a basic vaccination protocol for a beef cow-calf operation.
- Vaccinate cows pre-calving
- Vaccinate calves at weaning
- Utilize core vaccines for all herds
Core vaccines are crucial for herd health.
Define a basic vaccination protocol for a dairy cow-calf operation.
- Vaccinate cows pre-calving
- Vaccinate calves shortly after birth
- Include vaccines for mastitis and reproductive diseases
Dairy operations require tailored vaccine protocols.
