Dairy exam 3

Rumen

occupies 75% of the abdominal cavity and can hold 30-59 gallons of feedstuff

large fermentation vat

contains microbes that breakdown feedstuff

Reticulum

“honeycomb”

hardware disease

traps foreign objects and filters feed

Omasum

“many piles”

absorbs water and nutrients

grinds and compaction feed

Abomasum

“true stomach”

glandular stomach secreting enzymes and acid

nutrition

study of obtaining/digesting/absorbing food for bodily function

nutrient

element/compound needed by the body for life processes

feed

food for animals that supply nutrients

diet

blend of feeds that supply nutrient

ration

amount of diet offered to the animals

Ration

amount of diet offered to the animal

digestion

process of breaking down food particles into nutrients that can be absorbed

Dry matter intake (DMI)

amount of feed consumed on a moisture feed basis

water

important for structure, regulation, and homeostasis

relates to milk production, DMI, salt/sodium intake, temperature

Carbohydrates

energy source

accounts for 60-80% dry matter

Carbohydrate grains

higher in energy, low in fiber

carbohydrate roughages

lower in energy, high in fiber

lipids

contains 2.25x more energy than carbs or proteins

used to increase the energy density of diets

can cause negative effects on rumen

protein

provides energy structure, structure, regulation

requirements based on amino acid required for maintenance and milk production

Minerals (macros)

calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, sulfur

vitamins

A - deficiency causes poor fertility

D - necessary for absorption and metabolism, immune cell function

E- protects cellular membrane

Importance of proper nutrition

• single largest expense of a diary

• milk is the primary source of income

• income over feed costs to measure economic health

• affects the health of cows

• affects reproductive performance of the herd

goal of nutrition

ensure a high energy diet to allow cows to achieve their genetic potential to produce milk

what you need to know for feeding strategies

size of a cow, parity, stage of lactation, target milk production level, body condition, reproductive status, environmental factors, feed availability

Feeding strategies - fresh cows

promote intake

provide high quality forage

provide additional energy, protein, and calcium

feeding strategies - early lactation

peak milk, increasing DMI, negative energy balance, breeding time

negative energy balance

when the energy demands for lactation and maintenance exceed the dietary energy intake

feeding strategies - mid lactation

max DMI

milk production declining

gestating

feed strategies - late lactation

DMI and milk production declining

increase body weigh

gastatin

Feeding system - confined feeding rations

total mixed ration or partial mixed ration

feeding systems- confined feeding

wet forage and dry feeds

commodity sheds, silos, indoors

mixing wagon automated mixer

tractor and feed wagon

feeding system - TMR

all components are included in a single uniform mixture

fed once multiple times per day

feeding systems - TMR benefits

stability of rumen, balanced ration in every bite, reduced risk of digestive problems , wider variety of feedstuff

feeding systems - TMR disadvantages

initial investments, grouping of cows based in nutritional requirements

Feeding systems - PMR

forages and grain fed separately

feeding systems- PMR advantages

individual cow rations, less equipment needed

feeding system - PMR disadvantages

laborious, unstable rumen, potential low DMI

Feeding system - intensive grazing

usually utilizes component feeding and/or supplementation

feeding system - intensive grazing advantages

decreased equipment need

lass manure handling and bedding cost

increased exercise for cow health f

feeding system - intensive grazing disadvantages

maintaining DMI, yield, and quality of forages

maintaining high milk yields

pasture rotations

Environmental concerns

nitrates, phosphorus, eutrophication, bacteria, sediment and erosion control

Environmental concern - nitrates

cows use 25-35% of N from feed

65-75% of N is manure

very soluble - leach through soil profile

Environmental concerns - Phosphorus

cows use 20-50% of phosphorus

27% P in milk

73% in manure

excess of P in surface water leads to eutrophication and algae blooms

environmental concerns - bacteria

fecal coliform and E.Coli are bacteria concerned in surface waters

environmental concerns - sediment and erosion control

build of sediment in waters- threaten aquatic life

land conversion and erosion practices

environmental concerns - air quality odors

odors, volatile compounds, and gases (NH3, CH4, H2S)

odors can be a community nuisance

develop an odor management plan

environmental concern - air quality gases

NH3 is a gas lighter than air and has sharp pungent odor- released from livestock systems

CH4 emitted directly from the rumen

H2S anaerobic fermentation

Regulation of the environment

U.S. Environmental protection agency (EPA)

clean water act 1972 and 2003

state regulation

Large CAFO

confines/feeds for 45 days or more in 12 months period, 700 or more mature diary cows

medium CAFO’s

200-699 mature dairy cows, any animal feeding operation

any animal feeding operation that discharges pollutants into water

CAFOs

large CAFO have been required to have a permit (NPDE)

Any operation can designated by TCEQ to have a permit

Nutrient management plans (NMP)

address the amount, source, placement, and timing of the application of nutrients and soil amendments

nine minimum measures

manure storage, mortality management, clean water division, prevention of direct animal contact with water of the US, chemical handling, conversation practices to control runoff, manure and soil testing protocols, land application protocols, record keeping requirements

CNMP

includes additional information plans (land and feed management)

manure management

management of N, P, and K concentrations

manure management practices

flush system

scrapping and dragging

vacuum system

robots

settling basins

solids separation

composting

manure storage

manure application

goals for dry cows

maintain body stores, develop a healthy fetus, maintain the health of the cow, want to be between 3 - 3.25 in BCS

Unconditioned dry cows

feed separate ration to increase score

over-conditioned dry cows

maintain rather than trying to reduce condition, dieting during the dry period = fatty liver and ketosis due to body fat mobilization

steps for drying off

separate from lactating hard, dry the cow, dry treatment

step 1 - separation

separate from the lactating herd, use dry lots of pastures, far off vs. close-up groups,

far off groups

first 4-6 weeks of dry period

close up groups

lasts 3 weeks

Step 1- Separation - feeding

provide fresh forage, protein, fiber, minerals, vitamins

60% of ration made up of high-quality forages

increase energy and diet requirements for close up

Step 2 dry the cow

stop milking the cow when producing less than 30 pounds

can take 4 -14 days

use reproductive records

step 2 - dry the cow - length of drying period

length of dry period = 45-60 days

first time heifers need longer

older cows needs shorter time

Step 3 Dry cow treatment

is the use of intramammary antibiotics after the last milking

treat with mastitis treatment at day of dry off

Step 3 Dry cow treatment infections

70% of cows with subclinical mastitis can be cured

15% of cows get new infections if not treated

blanket therapy for dry cows

treating everyone in the herd regardless if they have mastitis or not

Selected therapy for dairy cows

selecting specific cows that either have mastitis or had it previously

Keratin treatment for dry cows

natural first line of defense - wax-like substance providing a barrier that breaks down 3 wks before calving, supplement with internal and external sealants

external sealants for dry cows

teat dips

apply at dry off 24 hours later, then 2-3 wks pre calving

effective as long as it surrounds the teat opening

factors that influence duration oof external sealant

season, teat characteristics, sealant type

internal sealants

putty-like paste administered into the teat canal creating a tight seal

application of internal sealants

dip with germicide

clean each teat with alcohol

insert treatment tube

insert internal sealant

post dip

The trasnition cow

3 wks pre-calving to 3 weeks post-calving, the most vulnerable time in a cows life

importance of transition cows

influences next lactation and reproductive ability, enter negative energy balance

transition 3 - 5 days pre-calving transition

maternity pen- multiple cows in pen

calving pen - only cow and calf

transition cows post-calving

collect colostrum

move to “fresh pen”

feed high energy, protein, and calcium diet for fresh cows

milk fever- hyppocalcemia

low blood calcium due to the large calcium demand for milk production

more susceptible to other problems and diseases

ketosis

elevated concentration of ketone bodies in body fluids and low glucose levels

due to cows mobilizing fat in a negative energy balance

fatty liver

result from state of negative energy balance, due to cows mobilizing body fat

displaced abomasum

abomasum fills with gas and rotates above the rumen, a multifactorial disorder

three types: LDA, RDA, Av

Retained placenta

When the placenta does not pass 24-hour post calving

caruncles of membrane do not release from cow

Metritis

growth of unhealthy bacteria in the uterus

severely effects reproduction

Define welfare

the physical and mental state of an animal in relation to the conditions in it lives and dies

5 freedoms of animal welfare

freedom from hunger and thirst, fear and distress, heat stress or physical discomfort, pain and injuries and diseases, express normal behavior

freedom from hunger, malnutrition, thirst

cows should have access to feed minimum of 22 hours per day and waterers

freedom from fear and distress

trained employees that know how to work with dairy cows, loud noises, fast movements, wild animals

freedom from heat stress or physical discomfort

heat stress at THI of 68, heat abatement, barn and pen design, flooring, bedding material

freedom from pain, injury, and disease

workers, housing maintenance, vaccines and prevention, milking management, hoof health

freedom to express normal behavior

movement opportunities - being able to move within the pen, eating, lying down, exercise, standing heat

measurable indicators of welfare concerns

behavior, morbidity rate

mortality rate

change in body weight body condition milk yield

reproductive efficiency

physical appearance

handing response

complication from common procedures

measurable behavior indicators

decreased feed intake, altered locomotion and lying time, coughing

measurable indicators morbidity rates

becoming sick or injured

infectious and metabolic diseases

lameness, injury rates

Measurable indicators of mortality rates

frequency/ incidences of mortality, death, culling

measure indicators of change in BW, BC, MY

excessive or reluctance to change in body weight can be an indicator of poor health

decrease in MY can lead to culling

measurable indicators reproductive efficiency

low conception rates, high abortion rates, high dystocia, retained placenta, metritis

measurable indicators physical appearance

dehydration, abnormal posture, feet abnormalities, discharges, swelling

Measurable indicators handling response

excessive flight distance, negative behavior at milking time, injuries from handling

measurable indicators for procedure complications

post-procedure infection, reduced feed and water intake,