K13 DAIRY HERD MANAGEMENT

Question 1

Importance of Dairy Herd Management

Answer 1

1. reduce mortality
2. healthy animal
3. optimum growth
4. maximise production
5. increase efficiency
6. good animal welfare

Question 2

What is included in the dairy herd management

Answer 2

breeding//feeding//housing//health//general such as identification, body weight and dehorning

Question 3

Explain the productive life cycle of dairy cow

Answer 3

15-18 weeks: impregnant
24-27 months: birth of first calf
26-30 months: reimpregnated
35-39 months: birth of second calf
37-43 months: reimpregnated
46-52 months: birth of third calf
48-55 months: reimpregnated
57-64 months: birth of fourth calf
59-67 months: reimpregnated
68-78 months: birth of fifth calf
milk production declines in lactation cycle
slaughtered at about 84 months

Question 4

Explain the production cycle of dairy cow

Answer 4

Born: heifer calves retained for herds
Weaned in 6-8 weeks
Bred in 15 months
Birth of first calf in 24 months
Breeding: 90-120 days post calving
Milking in 10-14 months
Dries off for 60 days
Calving 280 days after breeding

Question 5

Explain the phases in dairy herd management

Answer 5

Calf
Heifer
Lactation
Dry-period

Question 6

Explain the CALF PHASE

Answer 6

before weaning- 1-60 days which is the most critical period
after weaning-2-12 months where the cow is growing and prepared to become heifers

Question 7

Explain the period BEFORE WEANING

Answer 7

1-6 h- born//cut umbilical cord//weighing//give colostrum
1-14d- individual pen//tagging//give milk/CMR
14-60d- group pen//give dry feed and milk//dehorning

Question 8

What is CMR

Answer 8

A calf milk replacer (CMR) is designed to replace whole, saleable milk as a lower cost nutrient source for calves while striving to nourish a newborn calf, reduce calf mortality, strengthen immunity, and increase animal life span and productivity.

Question 9

Explain the period AFTER WEANING

Answer 9

Weaning process- after 2-3m//60-65kg//healthy//gradually reduce the milk//increase forage and dry feed
Weaners- 3-12m// group pen//feed quality forage and grower concentrate//general management

Question 10

Explain about HEIFERS PHASE

Answer 10

What?= future lactating cow//age 1y until parturition
On heat detection- on heat signs//oestrus synchronisation
Breeding- breeding process//pregnancy examination//parturition

Question 11

Explain about LACTATION PHASE

Answer 11

-most intensive period
- for large number- divide into a few batch//oestrus synchronisation
-feed the highest quality and most expensive feedstuff
-have highest risk of disease such as mastitis, acidosis, ketosis and milk fever

Question 12

Explain the LACTATION CYCLE

Answer 12

The cow will pregnant when it is still lactating from the previous calf. The pregnancy period will last about 9 months. In this 9 months the cow will be milked as it is till its lactation period. The cow will reduce diet 2 weeks before dried off. 2 months before the cow calves, it will completely dried off. After the parturition, another lactation period will start over. The cow will be reimpregnated after 2 months.