2021 Hoard's Dairyman

Which of the following is NOT an example of a forage extender?

Cottonseed

The brown midrib (BMR) trait in corn substantially reduces what component?

Lignin

In what way does the Penn State Particle Separator filter forage particles from the top sieve to the bottom sieve?

Longest to shortest

What is the most used feed ingredient on a farm?

Water

Cows can unlock more calories from which feed component?

Starch

When submitting a forage sample, how much should your sample weigh?

1 pound

What role do Koster testers perform?

Help determine forage moisture

Plastics used for covering forage can be evaluated by OTR. What does OTR stand for?

Oxygen Transmission Rate

Cows can derive about what percentage of their amino acid needs from rumen microbial synthesis?

Oxygen Transmission Rate

Cows can derive about what percentage of their amino acid needs from rumen microbial synthesis?

65%

Soybean meal mainly provides what nutrient to the dairy ration?

Protein

Emollients are used in what farm product?

Teat dips

Guidelines for which of the following groups do NOT allow for stocking densities above 100%?

Fresh cows

The most effective rumination occurs when a cow is doing what?

Lying down

What natural substance seals the teat canal during a cow’s dry period?

Keratin

After udder stimulation, how long does it take for the cow to reach optimal oxytocin levels?

1 to 2 minutes

What body condition score should a cow be in at dry-off?

3.25 to 3.5

What should be supplemented to calves that are dehydrated?

Oral electrolytes

Which of the following is a risk factor for udder edema in pre-fresh heifers?

Less exercise

Cows will spend about how many hours each day ruminating?

7 to 10

What is the recommended bedding to keep young calves warm during the winter?

Straw

In a robot barn, there should be a crossover alley every how many stalls?

20 to 30

When were the first freestalls developed?

1960s

What is a recommended recharge rate (gallons per minute) for waterers?

6 to 10

How often should a bulk tank be cleaned and disinfected?

Every time it’s emptied

Approximately how many anaerobic digesters in the U.S. are processing dairy manure?

200

What location should be the highest priority for placing fans to alleviate heat stress?

Over the lying area

What should be the minimum speed air in the cow resting area to avoid heat stress?

2.25 mph

It’s estimated that a footbath needs to be refilled after how many cow passes?

150 to 300

Which of the following is NOT one of the three most common types of TMR mixers used on dairies?

Bucket mixers

Tie stalls are the main form of housing on what share of U.S. dairy farms?

39%

What is the ideal moisture content for harvesting grass silage?

65%

In regard to growing crops, what does GDD stand for?

Growing degree days

What is the quickest way to improve soil aggregation on row crop land?

Continuously covered no-till

Where are nutrients applied in foliar feeding application?

To the leaves of a plant

Alfalfa, grass, and grass rangeland cover what share of land in the U.S.?

55%

What state produced the most corn silage in 2020?

Wisconsin

What is the recommended tractor speed for mowing hay?

8 to 14 mph

When photosynthetic capability is reduced, corn plants will transition nutrients from what part to fill kernels?

Stalk

Which of the following is NOT a good choice to plant in soils with poor drainage?

Alfalfa

For corn silage chopped with a kernel processor, what is the recommended theoretical length of cut?

19 mm

Cows that are cycling normally will start showing estrus at how many days in milk (DIM)?

10 to 15 DIM

In 2020, what percentage of Holstein A.I. breedings were to sexed semen?

21%

In 2020, what percentage of Holstein A.I. breedings were to sexed semen?

21%

What organization manages the national database of dairy genetic information?

Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding

Cows carrying twins often calve when in relation to cows with a single calf?

A few days earlier

Which of the following was a new trait introduced in the December 2020 genetic evaluations?

Feed saved

A genetic selection tool that weighs multiple traits in developing a single number is referred to as what?

Selection index

When was the first calf born in the U.S. from A.I. with frozen semen?

1953

How many units of dairy semen were sold in the U.S. in 2020?

18 million

The genetic trait Productive Life is a prediction of an animal’s what compared to the average cow?

How many months the cow will remain in the herd

In regard to genetics, what are loci?

Locations on a chromosome associated with a gene

When culturing milk samples, MacConkey’s medium supports the growth of what kind of organisms?

Gram negative

About how many documented organisms can cause infection in a dairy cow’s udder?

100

Which should be done first in the milking procedure?

Either predip or forestrip

On average, what percentage of heifers on dairy farms survive from two days old to 18 months?

96%

What is the most common cause of high bacteria counts in milk?

Dirty milking equipment

Certain types of bacteria can form what kind of cell structure that are resistant to heat and sanitizers?

Endospores

Subclinical rumen acidosis occurs when the rumen pH drops below what level?

5.8

What is the common name of the dairy cattle disease hyperketonemia?

Ketosis

What country is the U.S.’s top dairy product trading partner?

Mexico

Class II encompasses what type of dairy foods?

Soft products

Which state added the most cows and most milk to its dairy industry in 2020?

Texas

How many licensed fluid milk plants were there in the U.S. in 2019?

445

What is the predominant method of pasteurization used for milk in the U.S.?

High-temperature, short-time (HTST)

Milk contains how many essential nutrients?

13

What was the top yogurt-producing state in 2020?

New York

What dairy cooperative marketed the most milk in 2020?

Dairy Farmers of America

In business terms, what does COP stand for?

Cost of production

On a milk-equivalent basis, annual per capita dairy consumption has increased in the U.S. for the last how many years?

3 years