Nutrition during pregnancy

Question 1

How much energy does it take to produce milk?

Answer 1

1 litre of milk = 5 MJ of energy (REMEMBER THIS!!!)

Question 2

What is a 700kg cow’s daily maintenance requirement?

Answer 2

72 MJ/day

Question 3

What is a 700kg cow’s requirement if highly active?

Answer 3

19 MJ/day

Question 4

What are the typical energy (ME) requirements for a dairy cow at full term?

Answer 4

35 MJ/day

Question 5

How can ME be established? (formulat)

Answer 5

maintenance + activity + milk yield + pregnancy + growth (up to about lactation 3)

Question 6

What is the energy value of grass?

Answer 6

ME of about 10-11 MJ/kg DM

Question 7

Sources of high energy - 2

Answer 7

Cereal grains

By-product feeds (brewer’s grains)

Question 8

Give some examples of moderate energy sources - 5

Answer 8

TMR
Maize silage
haylage
good quality pasture
good hay quality

Question 9

Give some examples of low energy sources - 4

Answer 9

Low quality hay
low quality pasture
straw
by-products

Question 10

When is VFI/DMI greatly reduced?

Answer 10

around calving - late pregnancy and early lactation and fat cows (especially at this time)

Question 11

How is the voluntary feed intake measured (appetite)?

Answer 11

usually expressed as dry matter intake (kg/day DM). Depends on:
type of feed
palatability
fresh
heated
mouldy
trough space

Question 12

Name 2 feeds that may reduce sheep fertility

Answer 12

kale and rape

Question 13

Do ewes being bred for the second time need extra feed?

Answer 13

yes

Question 14

When is PDing done in sheep?

Answer 14

From 40 days gestation. Often at 11-15 weeks gestation. Need to determine number of foetuses for proper feeding regime.

Question 15

What happens if you feed a ewe too many concentrates?

Answer 15

the ewe will develop acidosis

Question 16

Outline pregnancy toxaemia/ twin lamb disease treatmnets

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

When do you see pregnancy toxaemia in cattle?

Answer 17

Much less common than in sheep.
Usually late lactation, twins, suckler cows (i.e. beef)
Low BCS, not enough supplementary feed, stress often involved.

Question 18

How many BCS palpation areas are there in cattle?

Answer 18

6 (skin, fat cover, spinous process, eye muscle, transverse process, back bone)

Question 19

What should a cow’s BCS be at calving?

Answer 19

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!)

Question 20

Differentiate fatty liver disease and fat cow syndrome

Answer 20

Same condition, but fat cow syndrome more severe/serious

Question 21

Clinical signs - fatty liver syndrome

Answer 21

immunosuppression
RFM
endometritis
infertility
ketosis
mastitis

IF VERY SEVERE = FAT COW SYNDROME:
life-threatening
cow recumbent
inappetance
poor prognosis

Question 22

What are the risk factors for fat cow syndrome? 5

Answer 22

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

Question 23

When should the transition diet be introduced?

Answer 23

about 2 weeks before calving

Question 24

What are the two types of protein?

Answer 24

RDP and UDP/by-pass protein

Question 25

List some examples of high quality protein - 3

Answer 25

protein meals (about 50%; soybean, cotton seed)
fish meal (65%)
NPN

Question 26

Give an example of moderate quality protein

Answer 26

alfalfa/legume hays (15-20%)

Question 27

List some examples of low quality protein - 3

Answer 27

grass hay (10-12%)
cereals (8-14%)
straw (3-5%)