HEIFER REARING Flashcards
State the time when the best intake of quality colostrum to ensure a good start for calves.
First 24 hours of life
Within 6 hours at the latest
What is the weight requirement for calves by weaning.
Doubled their birth weight
What is the amount of concentrates calves should be eating and for how long prior to weaning?
1.5kg/head/day of concentrates over 2-3 consecutive days prior to weaning
What is the average growth rates calves need to hit the optimum target calving age, and what is the optimum calving age?
0.7-0.8 kg/day growth rates (DLWG);
22-24 months of age
What is the weight requirement for Heifers to be bulled and what age?
60% of their adult weight;
13-15 months of age
What is the ideal number of weeks vaccination should be completed prior to service?
4 weeks prior to service
What can be used to ensure good heat detection?
Tail paint
What is synchronisation protocol used for?
To get Heifers served
What is the ideal growth rates and BCS up until calving?
0.7-0.8 kg/day at a BCS of 2.5-3.0
How to avoid deficiencies during reading processes?
Appropriate minerals and trace elements
What method is used to monitor colostrum intakes?
Total protein measurements in newborn calves - good measure of passive transfer
How to monitor growth rates?
Wither height or a weighband
What are medicines records for?
Monitor the number of cows having to treat
State the expected weights for each stage of growing calves.
Birth - approx. 40 kg Weaning (6-8 weeks) - approx. 80 kg Puberty (6-12 months) - approx. 200-250 kg Service (15 months) - approx. 420 kg Calving (22-24 months)
What is the ideal standard for milk replacer post-colostrum?
Low fat + high protein
What is the minumum amount of milk a calf should receive daily?
Milk of 10% of body weight over 2 feeds
How much of protein crude in course mix should calves be given from birth, and what is the purpose of this?
19-20% crude protein;
encourages them to eat hard feed earlier and stimulate better rumen development
Why should cows not be too fat before puberty?
Heifers would lay down fat cells in the udder and will not give as much milk in lactation
When to wean beef?
At 6.5 months when 75% of nutrient requirement is from sources other than milk
When does a heifer start making a farmer any money back?
Half way through her 2nd lactation
When is the feed conservation efficiency the highest?
1st few weeks of life
When does fertility increase up to?
3rd oestrus cycle after puberty
What should be fed to beef heifers to prevent over-conditioned?
Straw and silage based diet;
Or restricted grass diet when there is an abundance of grass
Define heifer.
A female that has not had any offspring
When to wean calves
8 weeks of age
