The Importance of Grazing and Hay in Animal Nutrition Respectively - The Veterinarian Aspects

Question 1

3 ways a herbivore grazes

Answer 1

1) Torn Off
2) Bitten Off
3) Rooted Up

Question 2

% o forage in horse, cattle and sheep’s diet:

Answer 2

1) Horses = 90%
2) Cattle = 70%
3) Sheep = 60%

Question 3

What type of grazer is a horse?

Answer 3

1) Bite off grazer

2) Extremely Selective (Grasses)

Question 4

What type of grazer is a cow?

Answer 4

1) Tear off grazer

2) Fleshy, delicate, soft leaves of grasses

Question 5

What type of grazer is a sheep?

Answer 5

1) Bite off

2) Grasslands on poor, sandy soils

Question 6

Advantages for both animals and environment:

Answer 6

1) Animals - Moves freely, eats various, social life
2) Environment - Promotes + maintains biodiversity
However = Grazers presence may provide habitats for GI worms and other parasites

Question 7

Grazing Methods (4)

Answer 7

1) Free Grazing = best for animals
2) Controlled Grazing = forbidden in the EU
3) Rotational Grazing = systematically moved to fresh and rested pastures
4) Strip Grazing = Kind of like rotational grazing but has stricter rules

Question 8

Grazing Diseases (3)

Answer 8

1) Worm Infections (tapeworms)
2) Protozoa Infection (Coccidiosis)
3) Insect Bites - Flies, Wasps, Ticks
Prevention - Chemical Parasite Control

Question 9

Nutrient Deficiency (3)

Answer 9

1) Grass Tetany - Poor sources of Mg and Ca ions = Hypocalcaemia and Hypomagnesemia
2) Sodium Deficiency - Chronic diarrhoea, reduced milk production, weakness = can easily be prevented with salt licks
3) Osteomalacia - Low levels of Phosphorus and Calcium ions - deformation of bones, lumbering walk, paralysis

Question 10

General Signs to look out for

Answer 10

1) Several animals shows similar symptoms
2) Pieces of poisonous plants are spat out
3) Fainted or depressed animals with normal or low body temperature
4) Sticky faeces, frothy bloat, not normal urine

Question 11

Pasture Abuses

Answer 11

1) Overgrazing - Soil erosion, leaching, acidification

2) Undergrazing - growth of unwanted weeds - can be toxic

Question 12

Application of FYM

Answer 12

1) Within 4 weeks following the application of farmyard manure
2) Grazing should be avoided
3) Reduce the risk of parasitosis

Question 13

Using too much fertiliser

Answer 13

1) Increase the risk of Nitrate poisoning

Question 14

Too high a stocking rate

Answer 14

1) Trampling of plants
2) Causing damage
3) Lowering yields

Question 15

Stage at which grasses should be cut for optimal yields

Answer 15

1) Mowed at the flowering stage of the dominant grass species
2) After being left to dry for 2-3 days the hay/silage is rolled and packed into bales