Housing of the Dairy herd and dairy and heifer rearing Flashcards
What is a dry cow and what are the different types
- not milking, between lactations
a) far off = early dry period
b) transition cow = last 3-4 weeks if dry period = part introduction of lactation ration
- What is youngstock
2. what are castrated males called
- Weaned young male or female cattle reared either for breeding or meat
- Bullock, steer, stirk
What are the different stages of life that we need to house for
i. Unweaned calves
ii. Growing heifer
iii. Bulling heifer
iv. High yielders
v. Low yielders
vi. Dry cow
House for other issues:
sick, lame, calving, handling, (AI, injection, drying off), milking, bull, feed, water, bedding, waste
What are the positives and negatives to straw yards
- higher mastitis
- More bedding required: less straw around UK as stems of crop decreasing
- less choice bedding
- reduced lameness
- cow can choose how to lie = more comfy
What is the management needed for straw yards
- compost build up
- daily topping up
- complete clear out every 3-6 weeks
- 2-3 tonnes per cow per 180 days
What are the best designs of straw yards like
- Min 1.25^2 per 1000 litres, loafing area = 3m^2 per cow
- rectangle as cows like lying against wall
- Can only access water from a clear passage - reduce wee/ water spillage in straw
- Dry straw store and good ventilation
What is the thermal neutral zone for a cow
-5 to 25 degs
What is the positives to cubicle housing
- higher cleanliness: faeces falls into passage
- lot more choice of bedding
- less mastitis
- efficient use of space
- less mastitis
What are the negatives to cubicle housing
- More lameness
What are the requirements for cubicle housing
- lunging space- if lot of animals standing indicates difficulty getting up
What are the different names of bull
- Stock bull = breeding bull
- Sweeper bull = dairy herd using mostly AI = used to mate repeat breeder cows/ when farm too busy for oestrus detection
- Terminal sire = acorss species = his offspring are reared for meat
- Bull beef = entire males fattened for meat
What considerations do you need to have when building a cow shed
- Ease of management
- Hygiene
- Lameness
- Ventilation
- Welfare codes
- Cow flow
- Intervention/ restraint
What will improve milk yield?
- Locomotion = want cows to rest as much as possible = only bring a small group of cows in to milk at a time
- water
- no stressors = keep group stable so not to disrupt social hierarchy, same timetable
How can you improve the cubicle so inc animals using
- use a cargo strap - metal bars poke into sides, hard to get up
- use a brisket board/ half pipe = can stretch legs forward
- NO NEED FOR A NECK RAIL
What are the necessary components to a cubicle
- Length = 2.3m open front, 2.6m against wall
- Width = 1.2 m
- Kerb = 15-20 cm
What beddign can u use in a cubicle? and how to check comfort
Straw, sand, manure solids, mattress, waterbed
KNEE DROP TEST
What are the legal requirements of the number of cubicles?
- 1 cubicle per cow
- recommendation = 5-10% extra so don’t have to lie next to dominant
- every 20 cubicles = one cross over point
What flooring is best for cubicles.
how to check this
- hexagonal grooves = grip in every direction
2. check = spill water and see how slippy
From a mastitis CONTROL point of view which group is the msot important
- Dry cows- disease cna lay dormant and come when milking starts
Slurry management
- automatic scrapers best
2. BEst to move every 2 hrs to avoid build up of slurry going on feet = utters = mastitis risk
Feeding protocol
- 10 cm per 1000 litres or per 100kg body weight
2. cows have to put one foot infront of the other when grazing - if can’t = inc height of food
Water protocol
- 10% of group needs to drink
- peaks at sunset and after milking
3.
3 Facts about colostrum
- 10% body weight ideally before 2 hrs old
- another 10% in the next 6-12 hours
- fridge up to 24hrs, freezer 1 year
Why does the calf need milk ASAP
- Immunoglobulins will start falling in the milk as soon as calf is born
How to assess if calf getting enough colostrum
- blood sample 24hrs to 7 days
2. zinc sulphate turbidity test
How much milk does an average calf need
- 5-6 litres, best 3 times a day
How should milk replacer be fed?
- based on skim milk or whey: 20-26% crude protein. 18-20% fat for growth
- Feed at 37-39 degrees. this should be consistent
3.
How to develop rumen?
- unweaned calf, abomasum = main. For rumen to develop = need to expose to forage (hay , straw, silage) = rumen inc in size.
- also need water for rumen development
What are routine procedures for calves
- tagging
- disbudding (up to 2 months, after = anaesthetic)
- Castration. Above 2 months = vet
* *avoid all these around weaning as stressful**
Positives and negs to group hosuing of calves
- Good social interaction
- less grownt (10-15% less
- navel suckling issue
- less labour
What is good calf hygiene
- Boot dip
- Separate equipment
- no contact wiht older cattle: yeonies
- All in all out system best
What sort of ventilation for calves
- Young animals, body mass usually not big enough for stack effect = tunnel ventilation is good
What are weight targets for dairy calf rearing
- weaning = 2 months >70kg
- Puberty = 12 months = 45-50% of expected adult
- Service = 15 months = 65% expected adult weight
- 1st calving = 24 months = 85-90% expected adult weight
What are the facts about castration adn tagging
1. Tagging: Dairy: 1st tag <36 hours old • Beef: both tags, dairy: 2nd tag <20 days old • Passport application <27 days old 2. Castration Rubber ring <1 week old • Stockperson <2 months old
