Dairy Cattle Management & Evaluation CDE Test Question Bank

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, management standards, dairy breeds, and physiological milestones from the Dairy Cattle Management & Evaluation CDE question bank.

Jersey

The dairy cow breed that ranks first in milk fat production, and is the smallest dairy breed with mature cows weighing approximately $1{,}000\,\text{lbs}$ and bulls weighing around $1{,}600\,\text{lbs}$.

Oxytocin

The hormone that plays an important role in milk let down.

Meaty Udder

An udder that remains firm after milking.

Total Mixed Ration (TMR)

A dairy feeding system where each cow receives a balanced ration, rations can be changed more easily, costs of housing and feeding facilities are lowered, and nonprotein nitrogen is utilized more effectively.

Starter Feeds

Feeds formulated for dairy calves that should begin being fed at $3\,\text{days}$ of age.

Low-fat Milk

Milk containing between $0.5\%$ and $2.0\%$ milkfat.

Dairy Cow Gestation Period

The pregnancy duration for a dairy cow, averaging $283\,\text{days}$.

Milking System Components

The four main functional sections of a mechanized milking installation: the milking unit, the pulsation system, the vacuum supply system, and the milk flow system.

Quarters

The four individual secretory glands that compose a dairy cow's udder.

Milk Cooling Standard

The requirement that milk drawn from a cow must be cooled to $40^\circ\text{F}$ within $90\,\text{minutes}$.

Holstein-Friesian

The dairy breed accounting for approximately $90\%$ of dairy cattle in the United States.

Milking Shorthorn

A breed of cattle classified as a dual-purpose breed.

DHIA Testing Programs

Standardized production recording systems within the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, including DHI, DHIR, O-S, WADAM, and BPM.

Brown Swiss

A dairy cattle breed originating in Switzerland that is recognized as probably the oldest dairy breed.

Maintenance and Production Feed Split

The nutritional division in correctly fed dairy cows, utilizing $50\%$ of feed for maintenance and $50\%$ for milk production.

Challenge Feeding

A feeding strategy that supplies more concentrates to the cow early in lactation and less later in lactation.

Roughages

Fiber-rich feeds that should constitute $60\%$ to $80\%$ of the dry matter in dairy cattle rations.

Haylage

A forage feed produced by ensiling a chopped hay crop.

Corn Silage

A high-energy fermented forage that contains approximately $50\%$ grain on a dry matter basis when of good quality.

Urea

A synthetic nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) source utilized in dairy cattle nutrition.

Body Condition Score (BCS)

A visual scoring system in dairy cattle that evaluates the relative amount of fat the animal is carrying.

Dry Period

A rest period of $55\%$ to $60\,\text{days}$ during which a dairy cow is not milked prior to calving and initiating a new lactation.

Estrus

The recurring period of sexual receptivity (heat) occurring in an average dairy cow every $21\,\text{days}$.

Calving Interval

The span of time between successive calvings, with $12\%$ to $13\,\text{months}$ representing the most profitable interval for a dairy herd.

Mastitis

An udder inflammation characterized by swelling, hotness, hardness, tenderness of a quarter, and a marked drop in milk production.

Grade A Somatic Cell Count Limit

The maximum legal limit of somatic cells in Grade A milk collected at the farm, which cannot exceed $750{,}000\,\text{cells per milliliter}$.

Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA)

The organization responsible for establishing the Dairy Cow Unified Score Card.

Herringbone Parlor

The most widely utilized style of milking parlor in current dairy operations.

Metritis

An infection of the uterus typically developing in a dairy cow within $10\,\text{days}$ following calving.

Milk Fever

A metabolic disorder brought on by an acute shortage of calcium salts in the bloodstream of a dairy cow.

Dry Cows

Mature cows in a dairy herd that are temporarily not producing milk.

Milker Rinse Water Range

Lukewarm rinse water maintained between $100^\circ\text{F}\text{ and }120^\circ\text{F}$ ($38^\circ\text{C}\text{ to }49^\circ\text{C}$) used on metal milker components.