Catte Husbandry

Question 1

Why does colostrum need to be given?

Answer 1

Antibodies/immunoglobulin too large to pass across gut

Question 2

At what age are calves removed from their mother? Why? What age are they weaned? Why?

Answer 2

72 hrs
Disease control
6-12wks - rumen developed

Question 3

At what age do cows reach: puberty, mature weight and 1st calving?

Answer 3

10/12 months
15 months
24 months

Question 4

How long is a cow gestation period?

Answer 4

9 months/292 days

Question 5

What colour are the following breeds: Holstein/Fresian, Guernsey, Brown Swiss?

Answer 5

Black/white
Pale brown with white
Grey

Question 6

How many days does it take to establish a hierarchy?

Answer 6

7 days

Question 7

How long is the menstrual cycle? How long is oestrus (heat)?

Answer 7

21 days

48 hrs

Question 8

What is an issue with intensive growth in dairy cattle?

Answer 8

Fat udder - less milk

Question 9

After birth, how long is the voluntary wait period? How long until cows are serviced? How long is pregnancy? When are they dried off?

Answer 9

6 weeks
3 months
9 months
2 months before birth

Question 10

The BCS of cows is a scale of 1- what?

Answer 10

5

Question 11

What is the extensive type of growth? (NZ style)

Answer 11

Low input and low output

Extended grazing

Question 12

What is the intensive style of growth?

Answer 12

High input, high output

Question 13

For lactation, how should food be supplied?

Answer 13

Ad lib
Very metabolically demanding
-ve energy balance - food biggest impact on yield

Question 14

Why are dairy cows prone to heat stress?

Answer 14

Milk production very metabolically demanding —> heat!

Question 15

What should be the normal fat and protein in cow milk? What can a high somatic cell count indicate?

Answer 15

4% fat
3.2% protein
Mastitis

Question 16

What is a heifer?

Answer 16

female, not given birth

Question 17

What is a maiden/bulling heifer?

Answer 17

Female of age, not given birth

Question 18

What is a bull?

Answer 18

Matured male

Question 19

What is a bullock/steer/stirk?

Answer 19

Castrated male

Question 20

What is a far off dry cow?

Answer 20

Female far from birth but pregnant

Question 21

What is a close up dry/transition cow?

Answer 21

A female close to giving birth

Question 22

What is a sweeper bull?

Answer 22

A male used for AI

Question 23

What is the voluntary wait period?

Answer 23

Time needed between birth and next service - 6 weeks

Question 24

What are dairy cows prone to getting?

Answer 24

Mastitis

Hypocalcaemia - milk fever.

Question 25

How are lactating cows prepared for milk fever before calving?

Answer 25

Fed low calcium diet to start body homeostatic mechanism to release calcium

Question 26

What is a cow?

Answer 26

Female that has given birth at least once

Question 27

What is a suckler cow?

Answer 27

Beef cow, nursed until weaning

Question 28

What is a youngstock?

Answer 28

Weaned and young female/male

Question 29

What are the main issues with cattle?

Answer 29

Lameness Fertility Mastitis

Question 30

How is a cow day spent?

Answer 30

1/3 feeding, 1/3 ruminating, 1/3 resting

Question 31

What are the LCT and UCT of cattle?

Answer 31

-5 | 25

Question 32

What are the two types of cattle housing?

Answer 32

Straw yard | Cubicle system

Question 33

What are the pros and cons of straw yards?

Answer 33

``` More space - less lameness Daily top ups More disease Monthly clean out Have seperate loafing area ```

Question 34

What are the pros and cons of a cubicle cow system?

Answer 34

``` Less space Prevent bullying Loafing area Clean - don’t defecate in bed Lunging space (area where stands up from hind limbs) ```

Question 35

What are the aims for cow housing? What is the standing index? How do you test the floor for suitable smooth/roughness?

Answer 35

80% lay comfortable Number standing up Knee drop test

Question 36

What are methods of slurry management?

Answer 36

Tractors - cows need removing Rinsing away - watery mess Automatic scrapers - cows in way

Question 37

What is an adv/disadvantages of troughs?

Answer 37

Hard to empty | Large - reduce aggresssion

Question 38

What proportion of cows should be able to drink at once? How much do cows drink daily? When is peak drinking time?

Answer 38

10% Up to 100L After feeding/milking

Question 39

On day 1 of calving, what needs to happen to the calf? How much colostrum does it need?

Answer 39

Naval hygiene - iodine spray 10% BW of colostrum by 2hrs, and another a few hours later 1st ear tag by 36 hrs

Question 40

How much and how often should calves be fed?

Answer 40

15% BW | 2 or 3 times daily, ad lib?

Question 41

Why should calves be offered hay pellets?

Answer 41

Stimulate rumen development

Question 42

What are the two housing methods for calves? Why do these need cleaning with a dry brush?

Answer 42

Group housing or hutches | Damp = bacteria

Question 43

When should calves receive their 2nd ear tag? When do calves need to apply for a passport by?

Answer 43

20 days old | 27 days

Question 44

At what age are debudding and castration done?

Answer 44

``` <2 months ALWAYS with anaesthetic 1 week (ring), <2 months by stock person (nipping bulls) ```