Hoards Dairyman 2020 end of year Q's

What component of corn silage contributes the most to total digestible nutrients?

Starch

What acid do most inoculants aim to improve the production of, known as the most effective silage acid?

Lactic acid

What is the minimum crude protein content for an alternative forage to be considered for inclusion in a lactating diet?

14-15%.

How long does it typically take for a cow's dry matter intake to adjust after a dietary change?

7-14 days.

What are the lowest energy components of forage?

Fiber and ash.

On a dry matter basis, what is the typical ash content in corn standing for silage?

2-3%.

What percentage of milk is roughly made up of lactose?

5%.

What is the recommended daily hay intake limit for calves in the month after weaning?

0.5-1 pound.

What are the two most limiting amino acids in a cow's diet?

Lysine and methionine.

Where is a partial mixed ration (PMR) fed?

In farms using an automatic milking system.

Before weaning, how many pounds of feed should a calf consume daily?

At least 2.2 pounds.

What term describes the combination of cull rate and mortality rate for determining replacement animals needed on an operation?

Herd turnover rate.

Which factor is not important in defining market value for cull dairy cows?

Day of the week.

What type of milk is defined as the milk from the second through fourth milkings after calving?

Transition milk.

What does not increase when cows are heat stressed?

Feed consumption.

What does a calving ease score of 1 indicate?

Easy calving with no difficulty.

At what environmental temperature do calves start using body energy to cool themselves?

78 degrees Fahrenheit.

What type of fly typically gathers on the back sides of cattle?

Horn fly.

Around how many days in milk should most cows reach their lowest body condition score?

40 days.

What is the recommended time between initial udder stimulation and unit attachment for milk let-down?

1-2 minutes.

What is the main cause of hock lesions in cattle housing?

Stall surface.

How much area per animal should pre-weaned and weaned calves up to 4 months have?

30 square feet.

What is the minimum depth required for a footbath?

4 inches.

At what temperature should fans and sprinklers be activated?

65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Where does dairy rank among US agriculture industries for worker injuries?

Second.

What is referred to as the practice of encouraging cows to lie straight in their stalls?

Indexing.

What process in a compost-bedded pack barn raises the temperature and lowers moisture content of bedding material?

Aerating.

Where are bio-films most commonly found on the farm?

In milking equipment and bulk tanks.

How often should barn flooring be refurbished to improve cow footing?

Every 6-8 years.

At what flow rate should flush water for cleaning barn alleys move?

At least 5 feet per second.

What tool measures the extent of soil compaction in a field?

Soil penetrometer.

What field management practice improves soil conditions and fractures soil crusts?

Tillage.

On average, how much less does brown midrib (BMR) corn yield compared to non-BMR hybrids?

10%.

What does soil porosity refer to?

Space between soil particles.

How much more available nitrogen does milk have compared to fluid dairy manure?

6 times.

Which state produced the most corn silage in 2019?

Wisconsin.

Dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) are a co-product of what?

Ethanol.

What process allows rumen bacteria to better utilize starch in corn silage?

Kernel processing.

What type of crop is alfalfa classified as?

Perennial.

How much does a bred heifer grow per day in the third trimester of pregnancy?

1 pound.

Which breed is not commonly crossed with dairy cattle for beef production?

Charolais.

How often is the dairy genetic base in the US updated?

Every 5 years.

What is defined as the percentage of nonpregnant cows becoming pregnant during each 21-day period?

Daughter pregnancy rate.

In what year were genomic evaluations introduced?

When does maternal recognition of pregnancy occur in dairy cows?

Days 8-27.

What is attached to the placenta via maternal caruncles?

Cotyledons.

What is the optimal time to conduct a first pregnancy test after A.I.?

Approximately 32 days.

How do conception rates of dairy animals mated to beef sires compare to dairy on dairy matings?

They are similar.

What hormone is released by a controlled internal drug release (CIDR)?

Progesterone.

What is the most common cause of diarrhea in calves during the first two days of life?

Enterotoxigenic E. coli.

What are the two most prevalent protozoal diseases in young calves?

Coccidiosis and cryptosporidiosis.

What is the average total health cost for a first-lactation cow during lactation?

$43.

Which ketone body is most sensitive for indicating clinical and subclinical ketosis?

Beta hydroxybutyrate (BHBA).

What percentage of calfhood pneumonia cases are subclinical, on average?

70%.

What is the greatest cost associated with mastitis?

Future production loss.

How are anthelmintic products used on a dairy farm?

As dewormers.

What body tissue gets mobilized that causes cows to go into negative protein balance early in lactation?

Muscle.

At what life stage will an animal become persistently infected with Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) if exposed to the virus?

Fetus.

What company became the sole owner of fairlife in 2019?

Coca-Cola.

How much does America’s food and agriculture sectors account for in the nation’s economic activity?

$7.06 trillion.

From 1975 to 2018, by what percentage did dairy consumption in the US grow?

22%.

Which state had the highest recorded milk production per cow in 2019?

Michigan.

What major dairy processor declared bankruptcy in November 2019?

Dean Foods.

What does the acronym IOFC stand for?

Income over feed costs.

What percentage of fluid milk sold is used in cereal?

30%.

In what year were the first “Got Milk” ads released?

Approximately how many farms (not just dairy) exist in the US?

2 million.

Which dairy cooperative marketed the most milk in 2019?

Dairy Farmers of America.