Langhill Dairy Flashcards
When cows first show signs of calving what happens to the cow?
It gets moved into a calving pen if the presentation of feet normal.
What is the normal presentation of a calve?
First the forefeet and the nose of the calf will be seen first
How much monitoring and assistance is expected for calving?
The cow will be checked on regularly to monitor the progress but will be ideally left unassisted.
Once the calf is born, what is important to check right away?
The airways (nose and mouth) of the calf are cleared of membranes.
After parturition, the cow will lick the calf, what does this do?
stimulates and dries the calf
What is colostrum?
The first let down of milk that happens after birth and contains passive immunity via antibodies.
Why is colostrum important?
It gives passive immunity from the mother to a calf that is born with no natural immunity.
What is the time cut off to getting colostrum into a calf after birth?
Should be given after birth within 6 hours at the latest
What does Langhill do in order to ensure adequate colostrum intake?
Soon after birth they will bottle fed or stomach tube colostrum into a calf
What are signs of calving difficulties?
prolonged labor with no progress or malpresentation of the calf
What happens if calving difficulties are detected?
Skilled farm staff with experience will help the mother.
What is a calving jack?
Is a useful piece of equipment that can help pull a calf out.
What is important to note about a calving jack?
it must be used carefully and by a trained operator because misuse can cause injury to the cow and the calf
When do cesarian sections happen?
When the calf is unable to be born normally or with assistance.
What is Meconium?
is a dark colored, sticky feces that a calf has in its intestines before it is born
What can happen if the birth is prolonged regarding meconium?
Meconium staining - when the meconium is passed before its born causing the calf to be born stained
What is the year in a life of a dairy cow at Langhill farm?
calving - (calving rearing -) milking - re breeding - dry period - turnout - housing - calving
What is the milking parlor at Langhill?
a pipeline 28:28 Herringbone parlor
What is most common type of parlor in the UK?
Herringbone parlor
Describe a herringbone parlor.
Cows are milked in batches and stand at an angle facing away from a central pit. This gives milker an easy access to the udders at a good working level. It is designed to be operated by one person so there are automated features.
Where do cows wait before milking?
the collecting yard
How many cows are on each side of the parlor?
14 on each side
How does the parlor identify cows that enter?
The cows wear electronic transponders on their neck collars that are scanned when they pass through a blue archway.
Where are the cow
s individual milking numbers displayed?
On the individual digital screens of each milking unit
What happens after all 14 cows enter a side?
Pre-determined ration of dairy concentrate is dispensed into the feed trough
What is the purpose of a Vacuum pump?
to continually draw air out of the system to create and maintain a vacuum that is need to operate milking and pulsation
What is the purpose of a Vacuum Regulator/ Controller?
this automatic valve strives to maintain a steady vacuum level despite varying levels of air leakage into the system
What is the purpose of the Vacuum Gauge?
This gauge is used to indicate the level of the working vacuum in the system and must be sited in the parlor and be easily visible to the milker
What is the purpose of the milk meter?
This measures the individual cow yields which are displayed on the keypads and at the end of milk flow will be transferred to the cow’s record on the farm computer
What is a cluster?
it consists of a claw piece, shells and liners, and short pulse tubes and long milk tube and long pulse tube.
What is an automatic cluster remover (ACR)?
component that removes the cluster from the cow at the end of milk flow
How does an ACR know when to drop?
when the milk meter detects a milk flow below 0.2 kg/ min it initiates cluster removal
How does an ACR drop?
when initiated, it allows air into the cluster and so the pressure is released and the ACR string is drawn up into the cylinder which prevents the cluster from dropping onto the floor and hangs it up behind the cow
What are Teat sprayers?
spray teats after milking to prevent infection and keep them supple
What are dump buckets used for?
Used to dispose of milk from newly caved cows (colostrum), cows with mastitis or cows with antibiotic treatment. Prevents it from going in the bulk tank
How are cows who need to be connected to dump buckets labeled?
They have red tape on their legs and a red warning light is on the individual digital keypad. The clusters won’t start suction until its been acknowledged that the milk is withheld by pressing a button.
Why is it important to keep track of what milk goes into the dump buckets?
There are severe financial penalties for allowing antibiotic milk into the bulk tank. Milk values also goes down as somatic cell count increases.
What does the milk pump do?
it pumps the milk from the receiver vessel in the parlor through a milk filter and on to the bulk tank to be cooled