Bovine Nutrition and Metabolism 3

Question 1

What are the three C’s of feeding milk replacement to calves?

Answer 1

Cleanliness
Concentration
Consistency

Question 2

What should the crude protein content of calf pellets be from birth to weaning?

Answer 2

18%

Question 3

How much dry food should a calf be eating per day by weaning?

Answer 3

1kg/day

Question 4

How long does it take barley beef to be finished and what should be their daily live weight gain in this time?

Answer 4

12 months
~1.3kg/day

Question 5

What is the milk yield of the beef suckler cow and then as the lactation progresses?

Answer 5

8-11 litres in the first month
5-6 as the lactation progresses

Question 6

What are the metabolisable energy requirements for maintenance and lactation of the beef suckler cow?

Answer 6

Maintenance - 60MJ/day
Lactation - 5MJ/L

Question 7

What is the protein source for rolled barley or maize gluten of the beef suckler cow?

Answer 7

Rolld barley or maize gluten

Question 8

List four methods of feeding concentrates to cows

Answer 8

In parlour
Out of parlour feed
Mid-day feeds
In mixed ration

Question 9

List three advantages of a total mixed ration.

Answer 9

Increased dry matter intake and increased yield
Improved rumen function and reduced acidosis
Cheaper

Question 10

List 5 disadvantages of a total mixed ration

Answer 10

Capital investment, storage and time
Fat cows
Slow entry to parlour
Cash flow

Question 11

List 4 advantages of having multiple groups to feed.

Answer 11

Increased precision
Avoids thin and fat cows
Improved management (cows at a similar stage are together)
Reduced standing times helps with lameness

Question 12

List three disadvantages of having multiple groups of cows.

Answer 12

Increased bullying (when animals are moved)
Increased complexity
Increased time

Question 13

Breifly three feeding strategies when feeding dairy cows.

Answer 13

Feeding to yield - concentrate given according to yield, ‘lead’ feeding is used to avoid reduced DMI in early lactation.
Flat rate feeding - concentrate based on target yield, total yield is similar but longer so you flatten the lactation curve.
Stepped feeding - ad lib forage and concentrate in parlour.

Question 14

List five considerations for ration formulation.

Answer 14

Level of production expected/required
Farm policy/ethos
Animal type
Labour
Feed/forage availability

Question 15

What three values do you have to work out to formulate the diet of a dairy cow?

Answer 15

DMI, ME and MP

Question 16

List five factors to consider when choosing a supplementary feed

Answer 16

Forage type/quality/quantity
Energy or protein
Availability and storage
Location and cost
Farm history

Question 17

List three feeds that can be used as energy feeds

Answer 17

Wheat
Molasses
Fat

Question 18

List two protein feeds

Answer 18

Rape seed meal
Soya bean meal