Protein & Energy Imbalance Flashcards
At what level is rumen pH kept and how?
Neutral pH - Saliva acts as a buffer, produced by chewing and ruminating
What encourages saliva production?
Fibre in the diet - 2cm to 4cm long
What is the difference between nutrition and feeding?
Nutrition is what cows have been prescribed
Feeding is what the cow actually ingests
What affects feeding for cows?
Palatability - Feeding (trough) space - Clean trough
What is essential to keep clean and easily accessible on a dairy farm?
Water
Define DMI. What is the rough estimate of this in a dairy cow?
Dry Matter Intake - how much cows are actually eating
DMI = 0.025 Body Weight + 0.1 Milk Yield
What is TMR? How can this present problems with cows feeding?
Total Mixed Ration - Cows tend to sort through
Why should silage be stored in anaerobic conditions?
When air enters fermentation can occur, causing moulds to grow which can cause mycotoxins
What is the national average of milk fat in the UK? What is it dependent on?
4.2% - fibre content
What is the average milk protein levels? What is it dependent on?
3.4% - on long-term energy intake
What is BCS? When is it most important to keep this constant in dairy cows?
Body Condition Score - During the dry period, problems here cause poor DMI after calving, metabolic disease, decreased milk yield, poor fertility
When are the 4 keys times of the year when the cows metabolic profile should be tested? How long should you wait after a major change before sampling?
Spring turn out - Late summer - Soon after housing - Late in winter (also after any major diet change)
10 days
