Dairy Cattle

What are the four routes of income for dairy farms?

- Milk

- Sale of young stock

- Sale replacement heifers

- Embryo sales

List some expenses of dairy farms.

- Feed (50-60%)

- Labor

- Calf and heifer-raising

- Utilities

- Veterinary services

- Pharmaceuticals

- Equipment maintenance

The breeding period starts around ________ months of age or ________ days in lactation. The weaning period starts when?

- 12

- 45-60

- 2-3 months

Dairy cows fear _________ but become accepting of a ______________. They are __________ animals.

- Novelty

- Routine

- Social

The flight zone is affected by what two things?

1) Size of animal enclosure

2) Previous contact with people

How can one encourage forward movement?

- Enter flight zone behind point of balance; move back and forth parallel to direction of desired movement (Point A and B)

How can one encourage backwards movement?

- Move in front of point of balance

List some methods of dairy cattle restraint.

- Halter

- Head lock

- Restraints that divert attention

- Casting restraints

What are restraints that divert attention?

- Tail restraint

- Nose lead

What are two methods for casting?

- Rope squeeze or Half-hitch method

- Running "W" or criss-cross method

What 3 things are involved in a pre-examination routine?

1) Inspection of holding/housing facility

2) Evaluate animal before restraint

3) Assess animal's gait

What is the BCS score range in dairy cattle?

1-5

Where should one auscultate the heart in dairy cattle?

- Ventral part of thorax between 3rd and 6th ribs

What is a normal HR in dairy cattle?

- 60-84 BPM

Where should one auscultate the lungs in dairy cattle? What should one observe?

- Caudal border of 11th rib

- Observe rate and effort

What is a normal RR in dairy cattle?

- 12-36

In dairy cattle, what should one auscultate in addition to the lungs and heart?

- Rumen

When examining the udder, what should one do?

- Strip every teat and evaluate milk

- Evaluate udder consistency

What is a normal temperature in a dairy cow?

- 101-102.8

In dairy cattle, products labeled for SQ or IM administration should be administered where?

- In the neck region

In dairy cattle, injections should be spaced how far apart?

- At least 4 inches apart

No more than what volume of product should be administered per IM or SQ injection site?

- 10 mL

What are two sites for blood collection in dairy cattle?

1) Jugular vein

2) Coccygeal vein ("tail vein")

What are some popular areas for dairy production in the U.S.?

- Midwest

- California

- New England

Why is the Midwest such a popular area for dairy production?

- Feed is produced there

Lately, there has been more ____________ of the dairy industry. There are more __________ dairies and less _________ dairies.

- Consolidation

- Large

- Small

Milk is the #______ commodity in Oregon.

- 4

Jersey milk is higher in ____________, making it better for products like ____________.

- Components

- Cheese

What is the most popular dairy breed in the U.S.?

- Holstein

What are the 4 primary types of dairies?

1) Conventional (all feed is provided in the facility)

2) Grazing (Majority of forage is consumed during growing season)

3) Combination (grazing + conventional; conventional in winter, grazing in summer)

4) Organic

Majority of larger operations are what type of dairy?

- Conventional

What type of dairy are most small operations?

- Grazing

Which type of dairy is equally present amongst large and small operations?

- Organic

What are the types of housing systems? Describe them.

1) Open-dry lot: Essentially a dirt pen with shading

2) Loose housing: Multiple animal area

3) Free-stall barn: Each cow has access to a bedded stall

4) Pasture: What it sounds like

What type of housing system does the OSU dairy use?

- Free-stall

What are the types of parlors? Describe their characteristics.

- Parallel: More affordable, but can't milk as many cows per hour.

- Herringbone: Can fit slightly more cows than parallel.

- Rotary: Milks the most cows per hour; Used to be very expensive but are becoming more accessible

Cows are creatures of ___________.

- Habit

Do all cows milk at the same pace?

- No

Majority of cows are done milking after __________ loops in a rotary system.

- One

The income from milk is based on what?

- Volume (paid per 100 lb)

- Components

- Quality (SCC)

Milk pricing is set by the ___________ and is influenced by ___________.

- Government

- Supply

What is the primary expense on a dairy farm?

- Feed

High levels of SCC indicate what?

- Possible mastitis

When young stock are sold by dairy farms, they are often what used for what?

- Bull calves used for meat

Once a dairy cow calves, she is referred to as what?

- Fresh cows

A cow in the late stage of her dry-period is referred to as what?

- Close-up

A cow in the early stage of her dry-period is referred to as what?

- Far-off

What is the most sensitive/high "disease risk" period for a dairy cow?

- Immediately after calving (fresh)

Milk production peaks at what phase of the production cycle?

- At the end of early lactation, beginning of middle lactation

What are calves fed after separation from the cow?

- Milk replacer

- Stored milk from cows

The cow has better __________ vision, meaning they have _________ vision directly in front of them and ________ vision immediately to their side.

- Monocular

- Poor

- Best

Where is the cow's blind spot?

- Directly behind them

What should be available when cows exit the parlor, particularly for fresh cows? Why?

- Feed

- They are in a negative energy balance when fresh

In open-stall systems, beds must be what? What can happen otherwise?

- Long enough for cow to lay and stand comfortably

- Lameness

Maternity pens should not be ___________.

- Crowded

How many cows should be present in a calving pen?

- One

When an animal crosses their limbs while moving, this indicates _______________.

- Lameness

Much of a physical exam is simply ________________.

- Observational

How does one collect urine in dairy cows?

- Stroke the area below the vulva

When does one measure urine pH often in dairy cows? Why?

- Cows in late lactation which are about to calve

- They are being fed a diet which puts them at a higher risk for acidosis to prevent hypocalcemia