Husbandry and health in cattle

Question 1

At what age/weight does puberty occur in cattle

Answer 1

40% of adult body weight

10-12 months

Question 2

Describe oestrus in cattle

Answer 2

cattle are polyoestrous

occurs every 21 days and lasts for 15 hours

Question 3

What is the gestation of a cow

Answer 3

280-285 days

Question 4

Describe the primary signs of oestrus in cattle

Answer 4

• standing to be mounted

- mouting other cows (especially the head and neck)

Question 5

Describe the secondary signs of oestrus in cattle

Answer 5

• Chin resting
• Flehmen reaction (lip curling)
• Clear mucus string hanging from the vulva ‘bulling string’

Question 6

Describe the tertiary signs of oestrus in cattle

Answer 6

• Restless and increased activity
• Dirty and marked flanks
• steaming back
• change of behaviour
• decreased milk yield

Question 7

List common welfare problems

Answer 7

• decreased veterinary involvement
• Intensification of the dairy and beef industries
• Reduced resources available in the beef sector
• Reduced farm manpower
• Routine procedures

Question 8

When does castration of cattle usually occur

Answer 8

0-8 weeks old

Question 9

List the different methods of castration of cattle

Answer 9

• Rubber ring
• Surgical castration
• Burdizzo ‘bloodless’ castration

Question 10

when must rubber ring castration need to occur

Answer 10

Must be applied in the first week of life

Question 11

Describe surgical castration of cattle

Answer 11

testicles are surgically removed under local anaesthetic

Question 12

Describe burdizzo ‘bloodless’ castration in cattle

Answer 12

spermatic cord containing blood and nerve supply crushed and destroyed

Question 13

Who can perform castration on cattle

Answer 13

Anyone can castrate without local anaesthetic up to 2 months of age after this need to be performed by a vet using local anaesthetic

Question 14

When does disbudding occur

Answer 14

first 2-3 months of life

Question 15

What is disbudding

Answer 15

Removal of the horn bud to prevent horn from growing

Question 16

Describe methods of disbudding

Answer 16

• Application of a caustic paste at <1week of age

- Burned out with a hot iron after injection of local anaesthetic over the nerve that innervates the bud

Question 17

Describe the removal of supernumerary teats

Answer 17

Extra teats are removed with curved scissors usually under local anaesthetic.
Up to 3 months can be done by anyone with or without local anaesthetic after this it needs to be done b vets with or without anaesthetic

Question 18

List common cattle diseases

Answer 18

Infertility 
Mastitis 
Lameness
Calf scour
Calf pneumonia

Question 19

What are the 3 types of mastitis

Answer 19

• Contagious
• Environmental
• Summer

Question 20

Describe contagious mastitis

Answer 20

spread from cow to cow during milking

e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactia

Question 21

Describe environmental mastitis

Answer 21

infection picked up from the environment e.g. Escherichia coli, Streptococcus uberis

Question 22

Describe summer mastitis

Answer 22

spread by flies, only occurs in the summer months

Question 23

What are 4 different causes of foot lameness

Answer 23

• Digital dermatitis
• White line disease
• Sole haemorrhage/ulcer
• Interdigital necrobacillosis

Question 24

Describe digital dermatitis

Answer 24

bacterial infection of the skin behind the heel bulbs

Question 25

Describe white line disease

Answer 25

small stones and dirt carry infection up the join between the sole and wall

Question 26

Describe sole haemorrhage / ulcer

Answer 26

cells that produce the sole are damage and killed leading to a small area where the sole does not form. ' A pressure sore' type lesion

Question 27

Describe interdigital necrobacillosis

Answer 27

bacterial infection of the skin between the claws

Question 28

What are the clinical signs of calf scour

Answer 28

Profuse diarrhoea, dehydration and collapse, reduced growth rates

Question 29

What causes calf scour

Answer 29

Caused by a variety of different organisms e.g. Escherichia coli, rotovirus, cryptosprodia, coccidia, coronovirus, salmonella

Question 30

What are the clinical signs of calf pneumonia

Answer 30

Coughing, inappetence, dull, pyrexia, tachypnoea (rapid breathing), dyspnoea (difficulty breathing), nasal and ocular discharge, reduced growth rate

Question 31

What is the normal temperature range for a cow and a calf

Answer 31

``` Adult= 38-39 Calf= 38.5-39.5 ```

Question 32

What is the normal pulse of a cow and calf

Answer 32

``` Adult= 60-80 beats per minute Calf= 80-120 beats per minute ```

Question 33

What is the normal respiratory rate of adult cows and calves

Answer 33

``` Adult= 15-30 Calf= 24-36 ```

Question 34

What is the reproduction efficiency

Answer 34

Target is to calve once ever 12 months. Most dairy farms use artificial insemination and most suckler herds use natural service

Question 35

How do heifer replacements work

Answer 35

Approx 25% of heifers are culled each year, and half of the calves born are heifers so need double the amount of cows to be serves

Question 36

Code of recommendations for the welfare of livestock

Answer 36

Contains all relevant legislation and relevant advice on cattle heath and husbandry