Nutrition during pregnancy Flashcards
How much energy does it take to produce milk?
1 litre of milk = 5 MJ of energy (REMEMBER THIS!!!)
What is a 700kg cow’s daily maintenance requirement?
72 MJ/day
What is a 700kg cow’s requirement if highly active?
19 MJ/day
What are the typical energy (ME) requirements for a dairy cow at full term?
35 MJ/day
How can ME be established? (formulat)
maintenance + activity + milk yield + pregnancy + growth (up to about lactation 3)
What is the energy value of grass?
ME of about 10-11 MJ/kg DM
Sources of high energy - 2
Cereal grains
By-product feeds (brewer’s grains)
Give some examples of moderate energy sources - 5
TMR Maize silage haylage good quality pasture good hay quality
Give some examples of low energy sources - 4
Low quality hay
low quality pasture
straw
by-products
When is VFI/DMI greatly reduced?
around calving - late pregnancy and early lactation and fat cows (especially at this time)
How is the voluntary feed intake measured (appetite)?
usually expressed as dry matter intake (kg/day DM). Depends on: type of feed palatability fresh heated mouldy trough space
Name 2 feeds that may reduce sheep fertility
kale and rape
Do ewes being bred for the second time need extra feed?
yes
When is PDing done in sheep?
From 40 days gestation. Often at 11-15 weeks gestation. Need to determine number of foetuses for proper feeding regime.
What happens if you feed a ewe too many concentrates?
the ewe will develop acidosis
Outline pregnancy toxaemia/ twin lamb disease treatmnets
Need to reduce energy demands (can cause abortion with corticosteroids) OR give energy source:
IV glucose
oral propylene glycol
oral electrolyte carbohydrate source - liquid lectade.
When do you see pregnancy toxaemia in cattle?
Much less common than in sheep.
Usually late lactation, twins, suckler cows (i.e. beef)
Low BCS, not enough supplementary feed, stress often involved.
How many BCS palpation areas are there in cattle?
6 (skin, fat cover, spinous process, eye muscle, transverse process, back bone)
What should a cow’s BCS be at calving?
about 3.0. Post-calving this should drop no more than 0.5 BCS i.e. to 2.5 BCS. The BCS should only be altered in late lactation (NOT during the dry period!)
Differentiate fatty liver disease and fat cow syndrome
Same condition, but fat cow syndrome more severe/serious
Clinical signs - fatty liver syndrome
immunosuppression RFM endometritis infertility ketosis mastitis
IF VERY SEVERE = FAT COW SYNDROME: life-threatening cow recumbent inappetance poor prognosis
What are the risk factors for fat cow syndrome? 5
fat dry cow
dry cows on low energy diet
fat cows (lower appetite at calving than normal)
sudden change of diet
loss of excessive weight is post-partum period
When should the transition diet be introduced?
about 2 weeks before calving
What are the two types of protein?
RDP and UDP/by-pass protein
List some examples of high quality protein - 3
protein meals (about 50%; soybean, cotton seed) fish meal (65%) NPN
Give an example of moderate quality protein
alfalfa/legume hays (15-20%)
List some examples of low quality protein - 3
grass hay (10-12%)
cereals (8-14%)
straw (3-5%)
