Lecture 2 Flashcards
Top 5 dairy states
1.California
2. Wisconsin
3. Idaho
4. Texas
5. New York
Colorado dairy stats
- currently ranked 13th
-growing in the past 10 years - high in milk yield per cow and average herd size
- sustained growth
CO dairies: Pros and cons
Problems:
-temperature
-disease
-manure control
Pros:
-high technology
-cows live comfortably
US changing scenario
-Fewer farms w/ more cows/farm
-650,000 —> 30,000 farms in 50 years
-overall # of cows not changing much
- 3 % of farms >1000 head
The effect of limited fertility
-failure to achieve and maintain a timely pregnancy
-less cows at their peak of lactation
-insemination costs
-delayed genetic progress
-increased risk for culling
Factors effecting fertility
-physiology associated with greater milk production
-nutrient imbalances
-housing
Reduced expression of estrus
-genetic makeup(inbreeding)
Critical events?
-early lactation —> high risk of disease within first 60 days
-conceiving—> ~15% will lose pregnancy between 30-60 days
- use ultrasound to check for heart beat, and formation of fetus
Estrous detection methods
-painting tail —> if paint rubbed off = mounted= heat - breed
-heat detection aids
- physical observation—> rumination ( decreased rumination when calving), activity
Dry cow management/nutrition
- reduce severity of hypocalcemia
-prevent weight loss
-adapted rumen
-provide adequate vitamins and minerals
Calving management
- close up cows(~21 days to calving) transition period
-trained individual to assist in delivery
Management of postpartum cow
- treatment/card of calving related disorders
-milk fever, RFM, vaginal tears, prolapsed uterus, udder edema - monitor cows until ~14 days postpartum
-ketosis, metric is, LDA’s
Low fertility is associated with?
- negative energy balance
-BCS
-dystocia - retained fetal membranes
-twinning
-stillbirths
-metritis and endometritis
Inadequate attention to:
-nutrition
-animal comfort
-housing
