The dry cow Flashcards

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1
Q

How long is the dry period?

A

60 days

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2
Q

How long is the lactation period?

A

305-340 days

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3
Q

The dry period in cows has been considered a resting phase between lactations…….is it?

A

Considerable foetal growth, mammary tissue remodelling and high nutritional demands occur

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4
Q

What is the transition period?

A

The period from 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after calving

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5
Q

What are the main demands of a cow during the dry period?

A

Pregnant – foetal growth occurring and got to give birth
Produce milk – lots of mammary tissue remodelling
Become pregnant again within a given time period

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6
Q

At which point of the cows yearly cycle is the most neglected?

A

The dry period

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7
Q

What is the aim of management in the dry period?

A

Enable cows (and heifers) to transition from pregnancy to lactation with minimal issues whilst achieving their genetic potential for milk yield

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8
Q

How does intake change towards the end of the dry period?

A

DMI decreases and most cows are entering a period of NEB

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9
Q

What is the physiological adaptation of mammals when in a negative energy balance?

A

Mobilise body reserves

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10
Q

How do the demands of the cow change in the peri-parturient period?

A

Huge demand for energy (glucose primarily)

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11
Q

How is glucose involved in milk production?

A

Glucose is the precursor of lactose – dictates milk volume via osmosis

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12
Q

Which tissue is the main reserve of energy used in a NEB?

A

Adipose tissue

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13
Q

Describe the syndrome associated with fat that can occur in early lactation

A

Fat mobilisation syndrome
‘fatty liver’
‘bovine type 2 diabetes’

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14
Q

In obese dairy cows where does fat accumulate? What are the issues with this?

A

In the liver - function compromised
- Increased non-esterised fatty acids
- Reduced response to insulin, increased insulin production

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15
Q

Which of the following cows has more subcutaneous fat than visceral fat?
- beef cow
- Frisian
- Holstein
- channel island

A

Beef cow
Frisian

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16
Q

How is a negative energy balance linked to the immune response?

A
  • Chronic disturbance of metabolic homeostasis leads to pro-inflammatory cytokines released from adipose tissue during mobilisation
  • These cytokines promote a higher basal metabolic rate - produce fever and reduce appetite
  • An activated immune response is necessary at this time to protect the cow but excessive stimulation predisposes to some of the diseases seen in this period.
17
Q

How can the immune response be controlled during a NEB in the dry period?

A

Monitor body condition

18
Q

What are the risks with being too fat in the dry period?

A

Predisposes to:
- increased dystocia, RFMs
- increased risk of milk fever
- greater weight loss and poorer fertility
- ketosis
- displaced abomasum
- greater immune suppression

19
Q

What are the risks with being too thin in the dry period?

A

Predisposes cows to:
- increased risk of RFMs
- poorer fertility
- increased lameness
- reduced production

20
Q

A condition score of … = fit

A

Less than 3

21
Q

A condition score of … = obese

A

More than 3

22
Q

What are the consequences of overfeeding in the dry period?

A
  • Little increase in condition score
  • Major increase in visceral fat
  • Decreased immune function
  • “Risk factor for “metabolic syndrome”
23
Q

What should the DMI be in the early dry period?

A

10-14kg

24
Q

Why must energy intake be controlled in the early dry period?

A

Excessive energy at this time will suppress DMI and produce visceral fat deposition
- Suppress appetite
- Predispose to metabolic disease in lactation

25
Q

What are the feed options for the early dry period?

A
  • Grass silage + straw (4 – 5 Kg straw)
  • Big bale silage
  • Hay
  • Grass (limited) with straw supply
26
Q

How do the diet requirements change when in a transition diet compared to the early dry period?

A
  • DMI declining
  • Energy requirements increasing
27
Q

What are the energy requirements (MJ/day) for a cow on a transition diet?

A

110-130MJ/day

28
Q

What are the diet options for the transition diet?

A
  • Custom made
  • High yielder TMR diet diluted with straw/hay.
  • Silage & straw & dry cow concentrate
29
Q

Describe the Keenan diet as a new strategy for dry cow feeding

A
  • One diet for the whole dry period
  • Low energy
  • Chopped straw essential
  • Adequate feed space – cows must eat a lot
  • Reduces social stress
30
Q

List some dry cow feeding reccomendations

A
  • commence at drying off
  • adopt one ratio strategy for the whole dry period
  • provide a low energy, high fibre ration
  • may require additional protein
  • straw needs to be coarse and well chopped
  • supply as total mixed ration and feed ad libitum
31
Q

Describe drying off a cow

A
  • Stop milking
  • Teat sealant/ dry cow tube - Sterile
  • Move to dry cow group
32
Q

When should cows be moved to a calving pen?

A

When in second stage labour

33
Q

How should cows be housed in the dry period?

A
  • COMFORT
  • Loose yards - space
  • 1.3sq metre/1000 litres
  • 10,000l herd - 13 sq metres
  • Large luxury cubicles (sand bed)
  • Adequate feed barrier space
34
Q

Define a physiological imbalance as a result of cows being unable to adapt to lactation

A

Cows whose parameters deviate from the normal and who consequently have an increased risk of developing production diseases (clinical or subclinical) and reduced production and / or reproduction

35
Q

Define a physiological imbalance as a result of cows being unable to adapt to lactation

A

Cows whose parameters deviate from the normal and who consequently have an increased risk of developing production diseases (clinical or subclinical) and reduced production and / or reproduction

36
Q

Define a successful transition

A

A cow has successfully transitioned when she has reached 30 days in lactation having had no mastitis, high somatic cell count (HSCC), RFM’s, metritis, endometritis, ketosis, hypocalcaemia, a displaced abomasum, died or been culled, cystic ovarian disease or sub oestrus and reached expected milk production.