Exam 1 from Jenn's Notes Flashcards
(49 cards)
What is the gestation period for cows?
283 days
How much earlier should heifers calve compared to mature cows?
40 days
What is the target calving period length for optimal production?
Less than 60 days (40 days is ideal)
What percentage of calves should be born in the first 21 days of the calving period?
65%
What is the postpartum anestrus interval for cows?
40-60 days
What is the postpartum anestrus interval for first-calf heifers?
80-90 days
What are the three categories for why animals don’t get pregnant?
- Inadequate female fertility
- Inadequate delivery of fertile semen
- Infectious or non-infectious agents
What is the ideal bull-to-cow ratio for breeding?
25:1
What are the types of infectious diseases that cause early gestation losses?
- Trichomoniasis
- Campylobacter
- Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD)
Name some activities that need to be done at specific times in a well-managed herd.
- Pregnancy exams
- Bull breeding soundness exams
- Female BCS measurements
- Processing/culling
- Feed analysis and feeding plan
What should be measured to determine the performance of a beef herd?
- Herd metrics
- Performance losses
- Risk factors
- Disease
What influences beef herd profitability?
- Calves sold per breeding female
- Fertility
- Calving rate
- Calf survival
- Weight of calves
What can a veterinarian do to influence cow-calf profitability?
- Increase herd income
- Enhance reproductive efficiency
- Improve market value
- Control costs
What is the typical pregnancy percentage for a well-managed beef herd?
90-96%
What should be the acceptable fetal loss percentage in a beef herd?
3%
What are the features that define colostrum quality?
- Quickness
- Quality/composition
- Quantity
- Cleanliness
How is colostrum quality evaluated?
- Measure IgG with a Brix Refractometer (target >22%)
- Total plate count for cleanliness (<20,000 bacterial cells/ml)
What is the industry standard for milk feeding duration in calves?
60 days
What is the Sandhills Calving System?
A pasture management system that moves cows to new pastures based on calving stages
What are the typical causes of calf disease and death?
- Non-infectious causes prior to 2 days old
- Infectious causes after 3 days old
What pathogens are responsible for calf scours?
- E. coli K99
- Rotavirus
- Cryptosporidium
- Coronavirus
What are the clinical signs of septicemia in calves?
- Red/inflamed mucous membranes
- Profound depression
- Multiple organ system problems
What management measures help prevent newborn calf health problems?
- Pre-calving management
- Dystocia prevention
- Newborn calf management
What is the ideal weight gain for calves per day?
2 lbs/day