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Animal Life & Food Safety > Animal Husbandry: Cattle > Flashcards

Animal Husbandry: Cattle Flashcards

(59 cards)

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1
Q

What is the standard lactation period of a dairy cow

A

305 days

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2
Q

When does milk yield peak in a dairy cow

A

2 months after calving

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3
Q

What is the average gestation period of a cow

A

282 days

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4
Q

What is the transition period for a dairy cow

A

The 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after calving when the animal is at a high risk for metabolic disease

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5
Q

List 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of feeding total mixed rations

A

Adv:
1. Stable rumen pH
2. Flexibility in ration formulation

Disadv:
1. Less individual attention to the animal
2. Problems with high concentrate levels

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6
Q

List 3 ways of good oestrus detection

A
  1. Good record keeping
  2. Using heat detection aids
  3. Observing for 3 periods of 30min each
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7
Q

What is the EBV

A

A measure of the expected performance of an animal relative to the population average

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8
Q

What is the predicted transmitting ability

A

The transmission of a genetic trait to offspring

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9
Q

Describe 3 concepts of organic farming

A
  1. Requires a 2 year conversion period to get paid the premium prices
  2. Routine antibiotics and dewormers are not allowed
  3. Product can be sold at a higher price but it costs more to make
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10
Q

List 3 traits selected for in dairy cattle

A
  1. Milk yield
  2. Milk composition
  3. Conformation
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11
Q

What are 4 cow management aims

A
  1. Clean and dry bedding
  2. Clean and comfortable cows
  3. Free access to feed and water
  4. Freedom of movement
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12
Q

At pasture, a cow spends ___ hours lying down and __ ruminating

A

12 hours lying
7 hours ruminating

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13
Q

How much space do you need for an 8,000L cow (average) in a straw yard housing system

A

10m2 per cow

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14
Q

A straw yard system is __ to install and __ to maintain
Whereas a cubicle system is __ to install and __ to maintain

A

Straw: cheap to install, expensive to maintain
Cubicle: expensive to install, cheap to maintain

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15
Q

How much space do you need for a 700kg cow in a cubicle housing system

A

2.4m x 1.2m

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16
Q

What is the most common type of bedding used in cow housing systems, and what are some other types

A

Straw is most common
Others: mats, sand, shavings

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17
Q

Why is good ventilation important in cattle sheds

A

Cows are naturally ‘damp’ animals and they produce a lot of condensation, so ventilation is important to keep a dry and clean environment to prevent bacterial overgrowth

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18
Q

Which season of calving is associated with the highest costs of production and why

A

Fall, because you have to feed concentrates at peak lactation

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19
Q

Which seasons of calving take advantage of higher milk prices

A

Autumn and summer

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20
Q

In milking, when does the ACR fall off the teat?

A

When milk flow falls below 0.5kg-0.2kg /min for 20 seconds

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21
Q

What are the 3 main categories of milking parlours

A
  1. Static parlors
  2. Rotary parlors
  3. Robotic milkers
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22
Q

What is the pulsation rate of the milking machine

A

The number of pulsation cycles per minute

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23
Q

What is the pulsation ratio of the milking machine

A

The length of the milk out phase compared to the massage phase

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24
Q

What are two different types of of static milking parlors

Study These Flashcards
A
  1. Individual entry and exit
  2. Batch entry and exit
25
What is the main aim of a milking machine
To remove milk from the udder quickly with minimal risk to udder health
26
Describe the 4 steps in the milking machine cycle (the graph of pressure changes)
1. Air removed from shell, liner opens 2. Vacuum forms inside liner and shell, liner opens (MILK OUT) 3. Air allowed in to shell, liner collapses 4. Air in shell, liner closes (MASSAGE)
27
List 3 benefits of foremilking
1. Aids in detection of mastitis 2. Lowers bacterial count by removing debris 3. Stimulates milk down
28
How much of beef consumed in the UK is imported
20%
29
List 3 factors in meat production that influence what a consumer will buy
1. Food safety 2. Animal welfare 3. Environmental issues
30
The carcass weight is approx. ___ of the liveweight
1/2
31
What is the 'killing out percentage'
The killing out percentage is what is lost between the live animal and the dead animal (varies between 45-55%)
32
How is carcass composition scored
On the EUROP scale (E - excellent, P - poor)
33
How is fat scored on an animal
1-5 (1 - lean, 5 - fat) 4 & 5 are further subdivided into H (fatter) and L (leaner)
34
What carcass and fat scores are desirable
Carcass: R or better Fat: 3, 4L, 4H
35
List 3 key points used to predict the carcass quality in a living animal
1. The pin bones 2. Over the ribs 3. The transverse process of the loin
36
___ reach maturity earlier than ____
Smaller framed breeds and females Larger framed breeds and males
37
What causes double muscling in some breeds
There is a mutation in the gene encoding for myostatin, a protein that inhibits muscle differentiation and growth
38
What is the difference between a dairy calf and suckler calf
Dairy: removed from mother 1-2 days after birth Suckler: stays with mother and suckles until they are weaned
39
The majority of breeding cattle in the UK are ___
Dairy cattle
40
List the 4 behavioral aims of cattle
1. Maintain homeostasis 2. Explore the environment 3. Maintain herd instinct and social order 4. Express sexual and maternal behavior
41
Give an example of conserved forage
Grass silage (or wholecrop cereal, hay or straw)
42
Give an example of a concentrate
Cereals (or oil seeds and by-products)
43
List 3 signs of oestrus
1. Restlessness 2. Decreased milk yield 3. Clear vulvual mucous discharge
44
What is a disadv/limitation of using AI on dairy cattle
You need really good oestrus detection in the herd
45
What is the principle aim of farm assurance schemes
Consumer confidence, food safety and traceability
46
Why are beef cattle often grazed on the same pastures as sheep
1. Maximizes productive area of grass 2. Reduces parasite challenge (worms are host specific, so if you switch who is grazing you'll keep the worms guessing) 3. Reduces parasite burden (each species will destroy the worms specific to the others)
47
How many calving seasons do you ideally want out of a beef cow
8-10 calving seasons
48
List some examples of beef breeds crossed with Holstein Friesians
Angus, Hereford, Simmental, limousin
49
List 3 advantages of a compact calving period
1. More efficient feeding of cows 2. More efficient supervision 3. Even batches of calves to rear
50
What are the 2 different breeding systems to get home-bred replacements
1. Half and three-quarter (get cross breeds from the dairy herd and breed with a beef bull) 2. Two-breed rotation (two herds run in parallel, each bred to a different breed of bull)
51
What is the expected LWG for a calf from birth to weaning
1-1.2 kg/day
52
Up until what age can you castrate calves with a rubber ring
7 days
53
Up until what age can you castrate and disbud a calf surgically
2-3 months
54
Calves need to get good quality colostrum within ____
6 hours
55
How much colostrum should you give a calf when its born (in % of body weight)
6% in 6 hours, and 6% again in the next 6 hours
56
What are the pros and cons of feeding dump milk
Pros: free calf feed Cons: higher calf mortality, promotes AMR, there is possible transfer of infection
57
How much CP and fat does milk substitute powder need to have
20-26% CP 16-20% fat
58
At what age should calves start to be offered a minimum daily ration of fibrous food
From 2 weeks
59
What are 5 things needed to stimulate ruminal development
1. Establish bacteria in the rumen 2. Liquid in the rumen 3. A system for the rumen to contract and relax 4. Ability of the rumen epithelium to absorb microbial products 5. Availability of substrate in the rumen

Animal Life & Food Safety (9 decks)

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