Calf and Heifer Management Quiz Bowl

what does ADG stand for

average daily gain

what does AFC stand for

age at first calving

what does FPT stand for

failure of passive transfer

what does MBW stand for

mature body weight

what is cold calf housing

housing in which the temperature varies withthe outside temperaturew

define colostrum

first milk secreted after calving

define compensatory growth

term describes a period of increased growth rate that follows a growth restriction imposed earlier in the heifer’s life

define completion rate

percentage of heifer calves that successfully reach maturity and enter the milking herd

define scours

loose manure that lasts for two or more days and can be accompanied by a decrease in appetite, lethargy, dehydration, and fever

define transition milk

milk harvested from the second, third, and fourth milking after calving

define warm calf housing

housing in which environmental temperature is controlled

define weaning

act of taking a young animal off milk as the main source of nutrition

what are important points to consider when selecting a calf as a project animal

• age

• breed

• health

• pedigree

• conformation

• price

heifers account for what percent of total farm expenses on many dairy operations

15-20%

feed costs account for what percent of the total cost of raising dairy replacement heifers

55-60%

what are methods commonly used to identify calves

• eartag

• photo

• sketch

• tattoo

  • freeze branding

what do liquid diet choices for pre-weaned calves include

milk replacer, whole milk, and colostrum

a pre-weaned calf should be fed qhat percent of its body weight in milk or replacer daily

10-17%

when a calf nurses, what is the path that milk travels through the body

esophageal groove→ omasum and abomasum, bypassing the rumen and reticulum because they are not fully developed

what should the temperature of milk or replacer be when it is delivered to preweaned calves

100-105 F

what are some of the qualities of colostrum

contains anitbodies that provide immunity from disease for calves, contains higher level of protein than normal milk

a newborn calf should be fed colostrum at an equal amount to what percent of calf’s bodyweight within how long after birth

10% of calf’s bodyweight within first two hours of life

if colostrum is pasteurized, it should be heated to what temperature for how long

140 F for 60 minutes

what are critical factors in colostrum management

quantity, quality, timing, and cleanliness

what are storage options for excess colostrum

• add preservative acid

• fermented

• frozen

  • refrigerated

how long may frozen colostrum be safely stored

1 year

what are the on-farm tools for estimating colostrum quality

Brix refractometer and colostrometer

to be considered high quality, colostrum should have an IgG concentration of how many g/L

50 g/L

what are some conditions that can result in poor quality colostrum

• cow is dry less than 3-4 weeks

• pre-milking

• leaking teats

• dirty udder and teats

  • young cow

conventional milk replacer should contain what percentages of crude protein and fat

20% and 20%

what % crude protein and fat should accelerated milk replacer contain

26-30% crude protein and 15-25% fat

what are the recommended protein sources for milk replacers

• casein

• modified wheat protein

• dried skim milk

• protein modified soy flour

• dried whey

• soy protein concentrate

• dried whey product

• soy protein isolate

• dried whey protein concentrate

what should the main criteria be when deciding when to wean a calf

grain intake

how many lbs of grain per day for how long should a weaning calfeat before weaning

2-3 lbs for three consecutive days

calf starter should contain at least what % crude protein

20%

what are the available types of calf starters

• commercial textured calf starters

• homemade grind and mix starters

  • commerical pelleted starters

calves should at least double their birth weight by how many weeks of age

8 weeks

what is a significant factor in monitoring growth rates in dairy heifers

ADG

what is the most important factor to consider in determining when to breed a heifer for the first time

body size

heifers usually show heats at what percent of mature bodyweight

40%

what percent of mature bodyweight should heifers start being bred at

55%

what bodyweight % of mature should calves be by the first time they calve

82%

what is the optimal temperature for calves in still air

60 F

what temperature does the calf start using energy from her diet to stay warm

50 F

over what temperature causes increased breathing rate, sweating, and raised body temperature

85 F

what are the systems of calf housing

• calf hutches

• pens on the floor

• counter-slope system

• elevated stalls

  • cold calf housing

what are advantages of calf hutches

• easily moved

• provide better ventilation

• prevent disease spread from calf to calf

• cheaper than building a barn

  • easier to clean

what are the leading causes of death in young calves

scours and pneumonia

what are the major causes of calf scours

• inadequate colostrum

• overfeeding

• overcrowding

• poor quality colostrum

• poor quality milk replacer

• inadequate ventilation

  • unsanitary calving conditions

what are physical factors contributing to pneumonia in calves

drafts, chilling, dampness, and poor ventilation

what can a farmer do to detect pneumonia

ultrasound a calf’s lungs

where are places where a pathogenic organism may enter a newborn calf’s body

mouth, navel, nose

what are signs of illness in calves

• poor appetite

• nasal discharge

• lack of energy

• cough

• drooping ears

• elevated temperature

• watery manure

• dull eyes

what should be applied on the calf’s navel within 30 minutes after birth to seal the entrance from disease causing organism

7% iodine solution or 1:1 mixture of chlorhexidine and 70% alcohol

what are common calf stressors

• changes in routine

• feeding changes

• housing changes

• crowding

• ear tagging

• dehorning/disbudding

• transportation

• improper handling

• extreme weather changes

how old are calves when they begin to chew its cud

2-3 weeks

calves should be dehorned before what age

three weeks

what are the methods of dehorning calves

dehorning paste

cutting or gouging

electric

what are extra teats known as

supernumerary teats

what percent of heifers born have extra teats

30-40%

when should extra teats be removed

as soon as possible, but no later than onset of puberty

what advantages to dairy producers do custom heifer growing offer

• Decreased labor requirement

• Increased milking herd management

• Increased facility capacity for milking cows

• Herd expansion without capital investment with use of existing facilities

• Increased feed inventory for milking cows

• Potential for better replacement heifers because of more specialized care and management

what are the major elements associated with a contract for raising dairy replacements

• time period

• amendments, renegotiations, and renewal

• billing and payment procedures

• conditions for termination of agreement

  • definition of each party’s responsibility

what are the methods of charging for heifer growing services

• per animal per day

• per pound of gain

• option to purchase

• per animal

• feed plus yardage