Dairy Flashcards
(250 cards)
1
Q
What % of milk does Ireland produce for the world’s milk supply?
A
1%
2
Q
How much land area in Ireland is used for agriculture?
A
4.5 million ha agricultural land, 0.73 million ha forestry
3
Q
What % of ag area is devoted to pasture, hay and grass silage?
A
81% (3.63 million ha)
4
Q
How much ag area is devoted to rough grazing?
A
11% (0.47 million ha)
5
Q
How much ag area used for crops, fruit & horticulture?
A
8% (0.38 million ha)
6
Q
In 2023, how much was Irish food & drink exports worth?
A
€16.3 billion
7
Q
What % does the agri-food sector contribute to employment?
A
10% (10-14% outside of Dublin)
8
Q
By what % has dairy produce exports increased over the past decade?
A
35%
9
Q
What was the value of dairy exports in 2023?
A
€6.3 billion
10
Q
Who is Ireland’s biggest export market?
A
UK
11
Q
What portion of Irish produce does the EU take?
A
1/3
12
Q
What % of exports go to Asia?
A
30%
13
Q
What year was the Economic Crash?
A
2007-2008
14
Q
What year were milk quotas lifted?
A
2015
15
Q
What year were milk quotas introduced?
A
1984
16
Q
What is the average farm size in Ireland?
A
33.4 ha
17
Q
What % of GHG come from agriculture in Ireland?
A
37%
18
Q
In 2018, what % of workers in the ag were female?
A
16.4%
19
Q
What is the population of dairy cows in Ireland as of 2023?
A
1.646 million
20
Q
What county in Ireland has the most dairy cows?
A
Cork (25%)
21
Q
What county in Ireland has the lowest number of dairy cows?
A
Leitrim
22
Q
How many farms are there in Ireland as of 2020?
A
135,000 farms, ~17,000 dairy farms
23
Q
What was the Food harvest 2020 food exports target?
A
€12 billion, increase ag outputs by 33%, increase milk production by 50% (exceeded)
24
Q
What are the Food Wise 2025 Targets?
A
Increase value of agri-food exports by 85% to €19 billion, increase value added to sector by 70% to €13bn, increase value of primary production by 65% to €10bn, extra 23,000 jobs in agri-food sector
25
What does the EU Green Deal set out to do?
Make Europe the 1st climate-neutral continent by 2050
26
What does the EU Green Deal aim to reduce and increase?
- Reduce dependency on pesticides and antimicrobials, reduce excess fertilisation
- Increase organic farming, improve animal welfare, and reverse biodiversity loss
27
What is the limit that EU have on amount of organic N per ha?
170kg organic N/ha
28
The Derogation allows you to stock to how many kg or organic N per ha and is now reducing to what amount for majority of the country?
250kg organic N/ha, reducing to 220kg organic N/ha
29
What are farmers doing to retain stock numbers to avoid selling animals for the Nitrates Directive?
Buying more land
30
Nitrates Directive aim?
Improve water quality
31
Methods of reducing Nitrogen?
Reduce amount of artificial fertiliser spread, type of fertiliser, LESS, slurry spreading time restrictions, plant clover, use of additives to reduce methane
32
What % of emissions was agriculture accountable for in 2023?
37.8%
33
What % has GHG emissions decreased by in 2023?
4.6% decrease – less fertiliser used due to high cost and less liming
34
4 Agricultural Emission Sources?
o Methane gas belched out by cows
o Methane and nitrous oxide gas from slurry
o Nitrous oxide from urine patches and N fertiliser
o Carbon in soils
35
People in Dairy Action Plan?
Dairy sector need to attract 6,000 people by 2025
36
Economic viability of farms:
27% vulnerable
43% viable
30% sustainable
37
What % of the world’s freshwater does agriculture use?
70%
38
What is the global beef demand?
10% increase in income equates to a 5% increase in beef consumption
39
What % of milk is produced globally from grass?
10%
40
Price of grass and silage per kg DM
Grass €0.10/kg DM
Silage €0.20/kg DM
41
Bord Bia Grass Fed Standard conditions?
Using milk from herds with a 95% grass diet, spend an avg of 240 days on pasture and are SDAS(Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme) verified
42
What is Ireland’s carbon footprint per kg of product?
0.97kg CO2eq/kg
43
What is Ireland’s water stress index?
0
44
What is the average dairy herd size?
91 cows
45
What is the average dairy farm size?
55ha
46
Since quota’s have been lifted, how much has the number of dairy cows increased by?
400-450,000
47
Around what time of the year is typically peak yield?
May
48
In 2023, what was the Domestic Milk Intake?
8.5 billion litres – 498 million litres liquid milk, rest was cheese, butter, and skim milk powder
49
What is the number 1 used breed in Ireland?
Holstein (90% of serves), 2nd Friesian (3.7%), 3rd Jersey (3.5%)
50
Milk Price Equation
A+B-C
A (per kg fat), B(per kg protein), C(carrier and processing cost per kg[volume adjustment])
51
Population of dairy cows in EU?
19.7million excluding UK
52
What country has the largest dairy cow population in the EU?
Germany 3.7 million
53
What % of EU milk is being produced in Germany?
22%
54
Largest expansion of cows in EU in 2023?
Poland +1.5% to 2.1million
55
bST Hormone
Bovine Somatotrophic Hormone
56
What country is number 1 selling dairy products to US?
Ireland
57
What % of world’s milk is produced in New Zealand?
3%
58
What country has the world’s highest level of dairy self-sufficiency?
New Zealand
59
Milk production in New Zealand?
21 billion litres
60
Dairy cow population in New Zealand?
4.7 million cows
61
Avg dairy herd size in New Zealand?
440 cows
62
New Zealand similarities to Ireland
Temperate climate
Grass based system
Export focused industry
Low input low output system
63
Where is UK in terms of milk production?
10th largest in the world – less producers, bigger herds, high producing cows
64
UK avg herd size?
160 cows
65
What % of production in New Zealand is exported?
95% - NZ$19billion – biggest export earner
66
New Zealand dairy sales represents what % of ‘world trade’ in dairy products?
40%
67
How many hectares is used for dairy alone in New Zealand?
1.73million ha
68
What % of Irish herds are spring calving?
+90%
69
When is the transition period?
3 weeks before calving and 3 weeks after calving
70
How many days post-calving will cows require a high energy diet?
At least 130 days (conception management)
71
Aim to have cows back in calf how many days after calving?
80 days
72
3 stages of lactation
Early (100 days), Mid (100 days), Late Lactation (100 days)
73
Spring calving allows for which 2 curves to match up?
Grass supply matches milk supply
74
What % of milk production comes from grazed grass?
90%
75
A 10% increase in grazed grass in the feeding system will affect the cost of milk how?
The cost of milk produced will be reduced by 2.5 c/l
76
Grass is a high quality feed. What is the CP and UFL content of grass?
Crude Protein: 16-28%/kg DM
UFL: 0.85-1.05/kg DM
77
What % of the total N consumed is actually used by the cow?
25%
78
What is the average crude protein requirement for cows?
17%
79
What is the target calving block time frame?
6 weeks (Teagasc)
80
What % of the herd should be calved in first 6 weeks?
90% of cows and heifers (Teagasc)
81
When are most calves born?
Jan-April
82
Calves are weaned at what age?
8 weeks (8-10 weeks depending)
83
Typically how long is the dry period?
8 weeks before calving down again
84
When does breeding commence?
1st May for 1st February calving
85
How long is gestation?
Approx. 280 days
86
How long is the breeding season?
12 weeks - cows not in calf at this stage are culled from the herd
87
When does a cow hit peak yield?
6-8 weeks after calving – 25kg/day
88
Lactation Yield Calculation
Peak yield x 220 = Lactation Yield
89
What is the ideal calving interval?
A calf per cow per year
90
What length is the ideal window of getting a cow back in calf postpartum?
80-83 days
91
How long is the voluntary waiting period prior to insemination?
42 days to allow for uterine involution, etc.
92
What is the 3 week submission rate for compact calving?
90%
93
Conception rate 1st service?
>60%
94
Cost of infertility 1 month slipping in CL?
>€200/cow
95
Cost of 10% higher than planned empty rate?
>€100/cow
96
Conception to first service % in cows vs heifers?
60% in cows, 70% in heifers
97
Ideal grass based spring calving herd intake?
3.5t grass DM intake + 1t silage + 350kg DM concentrates = just under 5t DM intake
98
Cost of producing milk in spring?
€350-400
99
What changes in milk quality towards the end of lactation?
Lactose levels decline and ratio of fat and protein change
100
How many autumn calving/winter milk farm systems are there in Ireland?
1,286 registered liquid milk producers
101
What winter milk bonus do farmers get for producing milk over the winter?
Nov-Feb 6-7c/litre to compensate for excess costs
102
What % is a normal decline in milk yield after the cow reaches her peak yield?
2.5% per week, 10% per month
103
Spring system of milk production is adequate for the production of what type of dairy products?
Long shelf life products, eg. yoghurt, dairy desserts, soft cheeses, probiotic milk drinks, cream liqueur
104
Requirements for high quality winter milk?
Chemical composition (fat, protein to lactose ratio)
Low somatic cell count
Low total bacteria cell count
Good processability characteristics
105
Protein and UFL content of grass?
16-28% protein, 0.85-1.05 UFL
106
Protein, UFL & DMD content of silage?
12-15% protein, 0.8 UFL (70-72% DMD)
107
Maize silage protein content?
8-9% protein
108
What is the target closing farm cover to allow for higher opening farm cover in early spring?
650kg DM/ha
109
Protein content of soya?
~48% CP
110
Examples of crops added to boost nutritional values of silage?
Maize silage, whole crops, sugar beet
111
How long is autumn breeding season?
Compact 12 weeks
112
Factors affecting poorer conception rates in autumn calving?
Short day length in winter
Crowded housing, slippery underfoot surface (restricted oestrus activity)
Reduced oestrus detection
Moderate to low conceptions rates to first service – high incidence of repeats
113
3 types of dairy systems?
Low input, high input, and middle ground
114
Middle ground system
High output per cow, high fertility, moderate-higher use of purchased feeds – not as high as high input systems
115
Effect of increasing grass proportion in the animal diet?
Decrease milk production costs – reducing feed, labour, and capital investment costs
116
On well managed farms, how much grass is utilised?
85%, in general 75% grass utilised
117
Confined system type?
Calving Oct-Apr, total Confinement calving to 180days, 35% forage and 65% concentrate, then 40% concentrate 60% forage
118
Conventional system type?
Autumn calving Oct-Apr, Confined calving until turnout, then rotational grazing with 5kg feed per cow per day
119
Measures of profitability?
Net margin/cow
Net margin/litre
Net margin/ha
Profit per kg milk solids
120
Profit per cow in an average-good year?
€1,000/cow
121
How much digesting material can the rumen hold?
100-120kg
122
What nutrients get directly absorbed from the rumen?
VFA's
123
What is the pH of the rumen?
5.5-6.5 (optimum 6.2)
124
What is the temperature of the rumen?
38-42oC
125
Byproducts of digestion?
VFA’s = acetic, propionic and butyric acids
Gases = carbon dioxide and methane
126
How long do fibre particles remain in the rumen?
20-48 hours because bacterial fermentation of fibre is a slow process
127
Rumen supplies what % of total energy & protein?
60-80%
128
Rumination definition?
The regurgitation, rechewing and re-swallowing of ingested food
129
Cud definition?
Mass of regurgitated ingesta
130
Process of rumination:
Regurgitate bolus from rumen
Rechew and reinsalivate
Reswallow
Repeat with another bolus
131
What size and density are particles leaving the rumen?
<1-2mm in size and density of >1.2g/ml
132
Function of the leaves in the omasum?
Prevent large particles from leaving the rumen and entering the abomasum
133
Capacity of the omasum?
10litres
134
pH of omasum?
6.5
135
Abomasum pH?
2 (acidic)
136
What is the true or glandular stomach of the ruminant?
Abomasum
137
How long & wide is the small intestine?
130ft long, 2 inches wide
138
pH of the small intestine?
7-8
139
Why is the pH so high in the small intestine?
Necessary for enzymes to work (enzymatic digestion)
140
What are the remaining nutrients that are digested in the small intestine?
Proteins to amino acids
Starch to glucose
Fats to fatty acids
141
What helps increase the surface area for absorption in the small intestine?
Villi
142
Components of large intestine?
Caecum, Colon and rectum
143
Functions of large intestine?
Absorbs water, microbial activity, waste storage
144
Role of saliva
No enzymes, important as a lubricant and a source of buffers to neutralise pH in rumen
145
Microflora present in rumen
Bacteria, fungi, protozoa
146
Digestive enzymes in the abomasum wall
Hydrochloric acid, pepsinogen (pepsin once activated)
147
Digestive enzymes in small intestine
Bile in the liver (emulsifies fat), lipases and proteases in the pancreas
148
What % does the abomasum take up vs the rumen in newborn calves?
Abomasum 70%, rumen 30%
149
Reticular groove function?
Milk/milk replacer bypasses reticulo-rumen and enters abomasum directly for digestion
150
Casein of milk clots by what?
By action of rennin and acidity in the abomasum
151
What causes the development of the papillae in the rumen?
Stimulated by the end products of microbial fermentation – specifically butyric acid & to a lesser extent propionic acid
152
In addition to feed, what other factors provide microorganisms that can inoculate the calf’s rumen?
Environment, bedding, and hair
153
Fermentation of fibre leads to…
Higher acetic acid
154
Fermentation of starch leads to…
Higher propionic and butyric acid
155
What is essential for rumen microbes to grow properly and ferment feedstuffs?
Fresh free water
156
How long does it take for the rumen to fully develop?
8 weeks
157
In the rumen, microbes require…
Feeds balanced for energy protein, fibre etc.
Environment free from oxygen,
pH > 6
Plentiful supply of water
158
Rumen is inhabited by a diverse and immensely community of microbes such as:
Bacteria, Protozoa, Fungi, Archaea, Viruses
159
Amylolytic bacteria digest what?
Starch and sugars
160
Rumen bacteria classification:
Fibre digesters
Starch and sugar digesters
Lactate using bacteria
Hydrogen-using bacteria
161
Bacterial count of the rumen?
10^9 to 10^10 billion/ml
162
High forage diet is high in what?
High in cellulose and hemicellulose
163
High cereal diet is high in what?
High starch – organisms that digest starch will grow
164
Fibre digesters in the rumen are very sensitive to…
Acid and fat
165
High levels of rumen available fat causes…
Reduction in growth of the fibre-digesters (over 5% of the diet)
166
What % of starches and sugars are typically in a high-producing dairy cows diet?
23%
167
When is streptococcus bovis present?
Only when large amounts of starch and sugars are fed and pH is low
168
Growth requirements of amylolytic bacterial species?
Sugar, Starch, Peptides, Amino Acids (may also require ammonia and B-vitamins)
169
Explosive growth of Streptocoous bovis causes?
Rumen acidosis
170
What acid does streptococcus bovis produce?
Lactic acid (stronger than any other VFAs in the rumen)
171
Growth requirements for hydrogen-using bacteria?
Carbon dioxide and hydrogen
172
Fermentation products of hydrogen-using bacteria?
Methane
173
How many times larger are protozoa compared to bacteria?
40 times bigger
174
What % of the microbial mass in the rumen can be made up of protozoa?
Up to 50%
175
How many species of ciliated protozoa are there in the rumen?
35+
176
Typical count of ciliated protozoa in the rumen?
20,000-500,000/ml
177
How do protozoa survive in the rumen?
By digesting rumen bacteria
178
Fermentation end-products of rumen protozoa?
Acetate, butyrate and hydrogen
179
What microflora in the rumen is a source of MCP for the cow?
Protozoa (10-30%)
180
Most protozoa in the rumen are what type?
Ciliates with a few flagellate species
181
Classification of protozoa?
Amoeboids, Ciliates, Sporozoa, Flagellates
182
How often do protozoa multiply in the rumen?
15-24 hours
183
How often do bacteria multiply in the rumen?
As little as 13 minutes
184
What % of the total mass in the rumen is occupied by fungi?
8%
185
What feedstuff is routinely added in dairy rations to achieve high production levels?
Cereal grains
186
The rapidly fermented cereal grains provide substrates for rumen bacteria that cause what?
Decrease rumen pH and produce lactate
187
Fibre-degrading bacteria are inhibited as the pH drops below what?
pH 6.0
188
In addition to cellulose fermentation, the functional rumen also produces a large amount of?
Bacterial protein which contains large amounts of essential amino acids which is an excellent protein source for the cow
189
Dietary protein in ruminants is extensively degraded by what?
Degraded by rumen microbes into amino acids and ammonia
190
Microorganisms in the rumen use ammonia as a nitrogen source to do what?
Synthesise cell protein
191
Multispecies forages are…
Forages that contain 2 or more plant species from at least two functional groups
192
3 primary functional groups of multispecies forages?
Grass, legumes, herbs
193
Grass energy content (ME)?
High energy - 10-11ME
194
Energy content of red and white clover (ME)?
Red clover 10ME
White clover 11ME
195
Protein content of herb functional group?
18-20% protein (high protein plants)
196
What sort of diet causes the production of acetate, butyrate, and propionate?
Acetate – increases in forage diets
Butyrate – formed from acetate
Propionate – increased in starch diets
197
Two forms of protein that it is available in?
Rumen degradable protein (RDP)
Rumen undegradable protein (RUP)
198
NDF, ADF, and ME content of straw?
85% NDF, 55% ADF, 6-6.5ME
199
NDF, ADF, and ME content of maize meal?
10% NDF, 3% ADF, 13.5ME
200
NDF, ADF, and ME content of soya hulls?
60% NDF, 50% ADF, 11.5ME
201
Microbial protein = ? + ?
Energy + Ammonia = Microbial Protein
202
Approx 8 weeks post-sowing, how many leaves does chicory have fully grown?
7 fully grown leaves
203
Approx 8 weeks post-sowing, how many leaves does plantain have fully grown?
6 fully grown leaves
204
What is the stocking rate of the milking platform in Lyons?
3.27 LU per ha
205
What is the stocking rate of the whole farm in Lyons?
2.3 LU per ha
206
What is the milk yield per cow in Lyons?
7,108kg
207
What is the milk solids per cow in Lyons?
577kg
208
What is the total annual DMI estimation of a cow in Lyons?
3.5t grass, 1.3t silage, 1.5t concentrates
209
What is the EBI value of the dairy herd in Lyons?
€238 (Top 1%)
210
What is the milk and fertility values of the dairy herd in Lyons?
Milk €75 (Top 1%)
Fertility €102 (Top 5%)
211
How long is the breeding season in Lyons?
10 weeks beginning 1st Tuesday in May
212
In Lyons, what are the team of bulls for AI selected for?
High milk fat and protein milk PTA, good health and high fertility sub-index values
213
What group of animals in Lyons are being inseminated with sexed semen?
Maiden heifers and first calvers
214
In Lyons, what is the first service conception rate %?
70%
215
In Lyons, what is the 6-week pregnancy rate %?
84%
216
In Lyons, what is the empty rate of total cows %?
8.8% (5/57 cows)
217
In Lyons, what size is the milking platform?
17.43ha
218
In Lyons, how often is grass measuring carried out and where is the data of covers entered into?
Weekly grass measuring and entered into PastureBase Ireland
219
In Lyons, what are three conventional grassland management tools that are used throughout the grazing season?
Spring rotational planner, grass wedge, autumn rotational planner
220
In Lyons, what is done to manage surplus grass?
Bale excess grass
221
In Lyons, what is the reseeding policy on the Milking Platform?
Aim to reseed 10% of the milking platform every year
222
In Lyons, how much grass was grown in 2023?
11,026kg/ha
223
In Lyons, how much grass was utilised in 2023?
8,779kg/ha
224
In Lyons, how many days at grass did the cows have in 2023?
280 days
225
Sustainability measures in Lyons?
High EBI
Improved fertility
Lower crude protein diets
Native feed ingredients
Incorporation of clover
Protected urea
Less chemical N
LESS slurry spreading
226
What is the national amount of concentrate/cow/year?
1,156kg
227
What have feed imports increased to since 2022?
6.5m tonnes
228
What % reduction in GHG is required by 2023?
25% reduction
229
What are the target BCS at drying off, calving, and breeding?
Drying off 2.75-3.0
Calving 3.0-3.25
Breeding 3.0
230
Explain 3 of the most critical aspects in preventing excessive BCS loss in early lactation?
Don’t over-condition dry cows
Avoid situations where cows are being underfed (supplement concentrates)
Optimise feed intake in early lactation
231
What are the 3 trace elements implicated in affecting fertility?
Copper, Iodine, Selenium
232
If a cow/herd had liquid or runny faeces, what might that suggest?
Sudden dietary changes, infection, toxins, stress, or illness
233
After 100 days post-calving what is a normal decline in milk yield? What would a more severe drop in yield indicate?
Normal decline is 2.5% per week, 10% per month. A more severe drop in yield would indicate cows are being underfed.
234
What is the main cause of milk fever/hypocalcaemia?
Where cows are unable to match their rapidly increasing requirements for calcium for milk secretion by absorbing sufficient calcium from their gut or by mobilising calcium from their own skeleton.
235
Name a common problem associated with the use of high starch diets?
Acidosis
236
Negative energy balance (NEB) after calving will cause what?
BCS will drop
237
What is the pH of the rumen?
~6.2
238
Negative energy balance in early lactation cows is caused by?
High milk energy output and relatively low feed intake
239
The key monitoring criteria for dietary energy balance is….
>95% of energy requirements should be supplied by the diet at 8 weeks post partum
240
Raised blood urea levels have been related to what fertility issues in dairy cows?
Delay of first ovulation, lowered conception rates, increased embryonic death and general reproductive inefficiency
241
Butterfat levels are influenced by what in the diet?
Fibre levels
242
Milk protein is largely dependent on what?
Supply of microbial protein
243
Low milk protein and low BCS are frequently accompanied by what?
Poor fertility
244
What can be a useful predictor of energy status in dairy cows?
The ratio of milk fat:milk protein percentage (<1.5)
245
What is the average Family Farm Income across all systems in 2023?
€19,925
246
Top 3 average incomes in agriculture (2023)
Dairy - €49,432
Tillage - €21,399
Cattle - €7,425 to €14,735
247
What country is the biggest producer in the EU?
Germany
248
Yield per hectare calculation
Yield (kg DM/ha) = Fresh weight (g) x DM% x 0.4
Eg. 200g fresh grass, 15% DM
200 x 15 x 0.4 = 1,200kg DM/ha
249
Herbage yield per ha using the rising plate meter
(Closing reading-opening reading/No. of readings) x 140 - 1,000 = kg DM/ha
Eg. (5881-5337/30) x 140 - 1,000 = 1538.67kg DM/ha
250
DMD calculation
88.9 - (0.779 x ADF%)
