CIAN LAB Dairy Cattle Breeds

Most common cow breeds in PR?

• Holstein-Friesian

• Brown Swiss

• Jersey

• Guernsey

• Ayrshire

• Milking Shorthorn

Holstein-Friesian

• Origin: Holland (the Netherlands)

• Size: Large

• Bull weight (M): 2,000 lb.

• Cow weight (H): 1,500lb.

• Color: Black and white or red and white

• Milk: Highest milk volume, but lower solid content

• Most common in PR

Brown Swiss

• Origin: Switzerland

• Size: Large

• Bull weight: 2,000 lb.

• Cow weight: 1,400 lb.

• Color: Light brown to dark brown

• Distinctive feature: Black nose and tongue, with a white band around the muzzle

• Presence in PR: Very few are present today

Jersey

• Origin: Island of Jersey

• Size: The smallest of the main breeds

• Bull weight: 1,500 lb.

• Cow weight: 1,000 lb.

• Color: Yellowish, with or without white spots and with or without black shading

• Muzzle: Black, surrounded by white

• Milk: Higher fat and nonfat solids content

• Milk Color: Yellowish due to carotenoid pigments

Guernsey

• Origin: Island of Guernsey

• Size: Small

• Bull weight: 1,700 lb.

• Cow weight: 1,100 lb.

• Color: Yellow-orange with white spots

• Skin and milk: Yellowish due to carotenoid pigments

Ayshire

• Origin: Scotland

• Size: Intermediate

• Bull weight: 1,850 lb.

• Cow weight: 1,200 lb.

• Color: Mahogany red, solid brown, brown and white, or white with red markings

• Presence in PR: Few

Milking Shothorn

• Origin: Scotland

• Color: Red, red and white, or roan (a mixture of red and white hairs)

• Cow weight: 1,250 lb.

• Presence in PR: Few

If you see a black-and-white cow…

Holstein

If you see a small, yellowish cow with a black muzzle surrounded by white…

Jersey

If you see a brown cow with a black nose and a white band around its muzzle…

Brown Swiss

If you see a yellow-orange cow with white spots…

Guernsey

If you see a cow with red or mahogany markings…

Ayshire

If you see a red, white, or mixed red and white coat…

Milking Shorthorn

Cattle Identification

Allows farmers to distinguish one animal from another using a number, mark, or other identification methods

• Herrete

• Pantalla and transponder

• Ear tatto

• Numbered chain

• Chalk

• Freeze branding or hot branding

Ear Tattoo

Used to mark identification on animal’s ear with ink

Numbered Chain

Allows an animal to be identified by number it carries

Chalk

Used to mark cattle temporarily

Freeze brandling or hot brandling

Identification by applying a cold or heated branding instrument, depending on the method

Mark on Body (Identification)

Tattoo and brandling

Carry Identification

Numbered Chain and transponder

Temporarily marking (Identification)

Chalk

Cattle Restraint

Restraint animals to make handling easier and safer

• Restraint chute or squeeze chute

• Head gate

• Nose Lead

• Nose Ring

• Halter

Restraint chute or squeeze chute

Holds and restricts teh animal’s body movement to facilitate handling procedures

Head Gate

Restricts movement of the animal’s head

Nose Lead

Used to control the animal through the nose area

Nose Ring

A ring placed in the nose and used for handling certain animals

Halter

Fits around the head to guide and control the animal

Dehorning

The practice of removing horns or horn tissue from cattle

Instruments:

• Electric dehorner

• Sharp tube

• Guillotine

• Saw

• Barnes dehorner

• Dehorning paste

Electric dehorner

Uses electricity to generate heat and treat horn tissue

Sharp tube

A tubular instrument with a cutting edge

Guillotine

A cutting instrument used for horns

Saw

A cutting tool

Barnes Dehorner

The name of a dehorning instrument

Dehorning Paste

A chemical used to present horn growth when applied correctly to appropriate animals

Important note: Dehorning

Can cause pain or injury.

Method selection, appropriate timing, pain control, and application should be handled by a veterinarian or trained personnel

Castration Instruments

• Emasculator

• Emasculatome

Emasculator

SurgicalE

Emasculatome

Non-surgical

Weaning (Destete)

Seperating calf from its mother

• “taking away from teat“

• Immediately after birth

Milk weaning (Desleche)

Stopping milk feeding

• Using a bottle or bucket

• Recommended from approximately 45-60 days of age, depending on solid-food intake, especially starter concentrate

Rectal Palpation

• Determine whether the cow is pregnant

• Between 45-60 days after breeding or service

Ultrasound

• Detecting ovulation

• Detecting pregnancy

• Pregnancy can be detected as early as 28- 30 days after breeding

Medication Administration Instruments

• Bailing gun

• Dosing syringes

• Syringes with needles

• Container with cannula

• Needle and tube for blood samples

• IV fluid administration set

• Medication gun

• Bag with esophageal tube

Bailing gun

Used to administer boluses orally

Dosing syringes

Used to measure and administer a specific quantity of a product

Syringes with needles

Used to administer medications by infection when appropriate

Container with cannula

A container with a narrow tube for administering a product to the intended location, depending on its design

Needle and tube for blood samples

Used to collect blood samples

IV fluid administration set

Equipment associated with administering fluids intravenously

Medication gun

Facilitates repeated or measured administration of products compatible with the equipment

Bag with esophageal tube

Equipment for feeding or administering liquids through an esophageal tube, used by trained personnel

Other Livestock Equipment

• Electric cattle prod

• Clipping machine

• Obstetrical ring

• Toothed ring

• Trocar

Electric cattle prod

Low-stress handling methods during routine animal management

Clipping machine

Used to cut or remove hair from specific areas

Obstetrical chains

Used to assist with delivery when indicated and performed by trained personnel

Toothed ring

Deterrent ring that stops cow from drinking milk from other cows

Trocar

An instrument used by veterinary personnel to access a body cavity for specific procedures, such as relieving certain cases of ruminal bloat

Moving Cattle without causing stress

• Bovine vision

• Bovine hearing

• Flight zone

• Lead cow

Bovine vision

Cattle have a wide field of vision because their eyes are positioned on the sides of their heads. However, there are areas they cannot see directly

Avoid approching suddenly from an area the animal cannot see

Bovine hearing

Cattle can hear sounds and may react to loud or sudden noises

Work calmly; avoid shouting, and reduce unnecessary noise

Flight zone

Space around an animal that influences its reaction when a person approaches

Lead cow

Help guide the rest of the group because other animals may follow its movement