Intro to the Dairy Industry

Question 1

Heifer

Answer 1

young female that hasn’t calved

Question 2

Cow

Answer 2

female that has calved

Question 3

Bull

Answer 3

intact male

Question 4

Bull Cow

Answer 4

cows chosen to leave herd to be slaughtered

Question 5

Steer

Answer 5

neutered male cow

Question 6

Veal calf

Answer 6

all male dairy cows not for breeding

Question 7

The typical make up of dairy herds in NS

Answer 7

70 cows in milk production
70 heifers ready for milk production

Question 8

Where was the Holstein originally bred?

Answer 8

netherlands

Question 9

T or F: Holsteins are comonly seen in canada

Answer 9

true

Question 10

How much do mature holsteins weigh?

Answer 10

1500-1700 lbs

Question 11

How much do holstein calves weigh?

Answer 11

80-100 lbs

Question 12

Where was jerseys originally bred?

Answer 12

jersey island

Question 13

How much do jerseys weigh?

Answer 13

800-1,100 lbs

Question 14

Life cycle of a (F) dairy cow

Answer 14

Calf is born
Calf is removed from dam after 0-24 hours
kept as replacement animal for herd

Question 15

Life cycle of a (M) dairy cow

Answer 15

calf is born
calf is removed from damn after 0-24 hours
sold to be raised for veal
some may be kept for breeding bulls

Question 16

Male dairy cows are raised for ________

Answer 16

meat

Question 17

Disease prevention

Answer 17

johnes
mastitis

Question 18

When are cows wheaned off?

Answer 18

3-4 weeks to 8-12 weeks of age

Question 19

Cows are ________ at birth

Answer 19

monogastric - esophageal groove

Question 20

Calves are fed ____ or _______for 0-12 weeks

Answer 20

milk or milk replacer

Question 21

How are calves fed?

Answer 21

fed 2-3 times daily
individual bottles or big buckets with multiple nipples
automatic feeders
hay is free choice

Question 22

Esophageal groove

Answer 22

bypasses reticulum, rumen and enters abomasum

Question 23

Quick life cycle of dairy cows

Answer 23

age 12-16 months heifers are bred
heifer calves
ready to enter milking herd

Question 24

TMR

Answer 24

Total Mixed Ration - everything in one bite

Question 25

Pros of a tie stall

Answer 25

no competition for food individual monitoring of cows

Question 26

Cons of a tie stall

Answer 26

unable to exercise unable to express natural behaviour

Question 27

Pros of a free stall

Answer 27

ability to express natural behaviour freedom to move around freedom to exercise

Question 28

Cons of a free stall

Answer 28

able to monitor individual cows is harder competition at the feed bunk dominance behaviour/bullying

Question 29

Dry cow

Answer 29

dairy cow that it's in the stage of their lactation cycle where milk production is no more prior to calving

Question 30

free stalls make up ___% of stalls in canada where tie stalls make up ___% of stalls

Answer 30

60%;40%

Question 31

Caring for sick cattle

Answer 31

should have hospital pen on farm keep cow in tie stall - no pasturing! seperate from barn if contagious/long term illness

Question 32

Caring for dairy cattle in hospital

Answer 32

housed in individual stall typically fed dry hay cleaning out stall adding fresh bedding calves would be bottle fed

Question 33

What is mastitis and how is it found?

Answer 33

infection of the mammary glands and is diagnosed by the higher quantities of stomatic cells in milk

Question 34

Why is mastitis a huge cost to dairy farms?

Answer 34

creates a loss of milk productions cannot sell severely affected milk infection = scarring of mammary gland scarred mammary gland = less milk

Question 35

T or F: Mastitis is NOT contagious

Answer 35

false - mastitis is contagious and can spread through equipment/ general contact

Question 36

Cows with mastitis can be _____

Answer 36

subclinical long-term carriers clinical - signs of infection serious enough to cause sepsis/death

Question 37

What should farmers do to stay on top of mastitis infections?

Answer 37

keep accurate records and test herd regularly

Question 38

Testing for mastitis

Answer 38

bulk milk is tested individual milk from cows should be tested too

Question 39

What is hypocalcaemia?

Answer 39

the inablity of a cow to move enough calcium from bone into milk fast enough

Question 40

Hypocalcaemia during parturition

Answer 40

creates huge muscle demand can result in dystocia parturient paresis

Question 41

Hypocalcaemia during initial lactation

Answer 41

creates huge milk demand can cause milk fever

Question 42

Symptoms of hypocalcaemia

Answer 42

muscular weakness subnormal temperature increased heart rate loss of consciousness sternal recumbency

Question 43

How to prevent hypocalcaemia

Answer 43

appropriate diet during dry off careful monitoring prevent high risk cows at calving by giving them calcium bolus

Question 44

Treatment for hypocalcaemia

Answer 44

Calcium IV/SQ usually solves issue oral fluid/electrolytes/ glucose

Question 45

LDA/RDA

Answer 45

due to atony/increase in gas production can result in bloat gas causes abomasum to rise

Question 46

Risk factors of LDA/RDA

Answer 46

electrolyte imbalances including calcium and potassium concurrent disease incl. mastitis or metritis common within 1 month post parturient genetic predisposition happens more in higher production cows inadequate roughage in diet

Question 47

LDA can happen without _____

Answer 47

volvulus - medical treatment can be tried early on

Question 48

Any ____ displaced abomasum must be _____ ______

Answer 48

right;surgically corrected

Question 49

T or F: we can't distuingish RDA from volvulus

Answer 49

true

Question 50

RDA/LDA

Answer 50

Right displaced abomasum;Left displaced abomasum

Question 51

A dry cow's diet should be low in _____ and _____

Answer 51

potassium;phosphorus

Question 52

Why should a dry cow's diet be low in potassium and phosphorus?

Answer 52

can lead to hypocalcaemia at calving

Question 53

Another term for free stall barns

Answer 53

open drylots

Question 54

Beef cattle management can be seperated into what?

Answer 54

cow-calf and cattle feeding/feedlot operations

Question 55

Cow-calf business produce what?

Answer 55

calves that enter breeding herd or are sent to cattle-feeding operations/feedlots