ANS 150 Exam 3 Domestication/Beef and Dairy Cattle Production

Cultural and Biological

What are the two distinct processes of domestication?

resembles a form of genetic selection in that the parent animals (1st domesticated) becomes isolated from its wild population

Describe the biological process of domestication

genetic drift (active or passive)

What does biological process of domestication lead to?

involves changes in how the animal becomes included in the social structure of humans. what role does it play in its interactions with humans.

Describe the cultural process of domestication

Symbiotic

Domestication is what type of relationship?

symbiosis

all conditions of permanent living-together of two different species

subordinate (submissive), dominant

Guest is _____
Host is_____

they both derive equal benefits without domination by one partner

What is perfect symbiosis?

FALSE! this is very very rare

True or False: Perfect symbiosis is very common

Dmitry Belyaev, a russian scientists

Who hypothesized tamability?

Wild Foxes

What animals did Belyaev experiment his hypothesis on?

--> initiated by humans
--> unable to breed for behavioral traits

Before his idea of tamability, what did humans believe domestication to be?

20 generations

For how many generations did Belyaev test his hypothesis?

Class III: least domesticated, bite/flee when approached or stroked
Class II: allow handling/pets, no emotion or friendly response
Class I: friendly, approachable, wagging tails, whining
Class IE: 'Domesticated Elite' eager to establish human contact, lick/sniff experimenters

Describe the four classes of domestication in Belyaev's foxes.

Blazed forehead, curled tail, floppy ears, piebald coat, curly/wavy hair, dwarf/giants

What are some of the phenotypic traits associated with domestication?

"higher order" genes

What is tamability controlled by?

increases it, animals see/hear later in life

How does domestication effect sight and hearing age?

Domestication Age

When the domestication of each species is thought to have begun.

There is a Direct Positive relationship

Is there a positive or negative relationship between a Species' domestication age and the frequency (%) of phenotypic traits associated with domestication (Belyaev) that they possess?

4500 B.C. (6000-6500 years ago)

When were cattle believed to have domesticated?

Auruch

What were wild ancestors of cattle called?

Pockets through Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, and South Asia/ India. This tells us that people became more stationary and less nomadic.

Where did domestication of cattle begin and what does this tell you about the habits of human development?

Religion and Food

What were the two main reasons for original domestication?

European and Asian Explorers

Who brought cattle domestication to the Americas, New Zealand, and Australia?

914,246

What is the number of total beef operations in the United States?

89.9 Million

What is the total beef inventory in the United States?

$76.3 Billion

What is Gross income of beef cattle for the United States?

Texas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota

What are the top producing states for number of beef cows?

Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, California, Oklahoma

What are the top producing states for market cattle sold?

NC is more about cow/calf production, so we sell smaller cows which means smaller income for the smaller weight sold.

Why isn't North Carolina a major beef market/production state?

Piedmont, foothills

Where in NC are beef cattle operations mostly located?

Urban Sprawl

What is causing a decline in the number of beef cattle operations?

Total beef operations: 18,413

What is NC's total beef operations?

Total beef inventory: 776, 271

What is NC's total beef inventory?

Gross Income: $275 million

What is NC's total gross income for beef cattle production?

Total operations of Market Share: 2%

What is the % of NC's total operations of market share in US?

Total inventory of market share: 0.9%

What is the % of NC's total inventory market share in US?

Gross income of market share: 0.4%

What is the % of NC's gross income of market share in US?

Mild winters, can grow both cool and warm season grasses for foraging.

What is an advantage of beef cattle production in NC?

social aggression and vocalizations

What are two types of behavior patterns?

pecking order

What does social aggression determine?

Swine waste management

Why has there been a large influx in cattle entering the southeastern part of NC?

Turn roughages into meat/usable products

What is an advantage to cattle?

polled

'Bunt' occurs in what kind of cattle?

horned

"Hook" occurs in what kind of cattle?

head down, ears back with surface pointed to the side

Describe a submissive cattle stance

feet underneath and head down, ears back inner surface down and back

Describe a dominant cattle stance

whoever retreats first is submissive and whoever wins more (NOT ALL) interactions

What determines if a cow is dominant/submissive?

"Mm" --> low amplitude, between cow and calf
"mm(h)" --> higher amplitude, frustration (isolated)
"(M)enh" --> very high amplitude sound given when animals are threatening or when calves are hungry

Describe the three main types of cattle vocalization.

Bos taurus

European breeds of cattle

Bos indicus

Zebu breeds of cattle

10-15 months

When do Bos taurus breeds reach puberty?

17-27 months

When do Bos indicus reach puberty?

minimum age and weight

What must be achieved for puberty to occur?

2 years old

When is the ideal first time calving age?

14-15 months

When do most operations usually breed heifers?

Don't want the bulls to get "over-used." The average ratio is 30/1

Why are cow/bull ratios important, and what is the average cow/bull ratio?

21 Days

How long is the Estrous Cycle?

12-18 hours

What is duration of estrus?

Cows ovulate AFTER estrus

Why is it good/beneficial to artificially inseminate cows?

TRUE

True or False: Scrotal circumference of bulls is positively correlated to sperm production and serving capacity.

Prostaglandins and (synthetic) Progesterone

What are the two very effective types of products on the market for controlling estrus in beef cattle?

oral implant or intravaginally --> give for 14 days

What are ways to give cows progesterone and for how long should you give it?

14 days apart and it is given if estrus randomly starts showing.

How far apart are prostaglandin shots given and why is it given?

284 days (270-280 days)

What is the average length of gestation among beef cattle?

rectal palpation
--> rump to crown
-->estimate length to determine fetal age

How is pregnancy diagnosed?

Theriogenologist

Studies Reproduction

not enough nutrition can lead to low birth weights, which can lead to death. the most rapid growth occurs in the last 3 months.

What is the purpose of increasing nutrition in the last 3 months of gestation?

Dystocia

Calving difficultly

The umbilical chord could easily break, suffocating the calf.

Why is it dangerous for a calf to be in the backwards position?

You could potentially harm the calf or affect the mobility or nursing ability of the cow.

Why is it important to conduct the 3 tests before assisting in parturition?

Test 1: Pull on both legs, see if it can passthrough the pelvic cavity
Test 2: can you pull out the first leg a hand-length away from the vulva
Test 3: can you pull the second leg a hand-length away from the vulva

What are the three ways to test if it is okay to pull the calf?

Call a vet, the cow needs a c-section

What should you do if the calf is breached?

TRUE

TRUE or FALSE: if a calf has its arms are head turned/in the wrong position, you can actually reach in and turn the arms or head

The first milk produced for 24 hours, has essential antibodies, lots of energy and nutrients.

What is colostrum?

Colostrum

What do young animals get passive immunity from?

It is cleaned, cut, and treated with an iodine solution.

What happens to the umbilical cord after parturition?

to transport the milk directly into the omasum and abomasum.

What is the purpose of the esophageal groove?

colostrum, clean/cut umbilical cord, vaccinations, castration

What are the important steps of caring for a calf?

Let mom and baby be.

Is it good to let the young be or be super attentive at all times?

7 months (205 days)

For how long do beef cows lactate?

To get one calf per year

What is the goal of rebreeding?

improving pasture quality or supplemental feeding

How can you achieve enhanced nutrition for beef cows through their lactational period?

Lactation

When does rebreeding and part of gestation occur?

It is better to wait (preferably about 60 days after calving) because this increases the chances of having a viable pregnancy.

Is it better to breed right after calving or to wait and why?

A positive relationship

Calving to breeding interval and fertility have what kind of relationship?

It prevents the release of LH and FSH

What does the suckling action of the young do to the mother's gonadotropins?

The weaning weight

What determines the price of the calf?

At Weaning

When are calves sold?

--> Reproductive performance of cows
--> Milk production of cows
--> Mothering ability of cows

What factors influence the sale of calves at weaning?

They are put on grazing pastures

How do calves put on weight?

400-500 lbs

How much do cows weigh when they enter the backgrounding operation?

600 to 900 lbs

How much do cows weigh when they are sold?

--> Weaned 45 days prior to being sold or shipped
--> Veterinary exam (vet health assessment)
--> Vaccinations (and medications)
--> Taught to eat from trough

What does it mean to be "pre-conditioned" before entering backgrounding?

frame score or size of cattle

What does final market weight depend on?

Hip height

What determines frame score?

Drylot

Confined area usually not a pasture

They are handled more and associate better things with humans (milking every day rather than just touching them for vaccines for example)

Why are dairy COWS more friendly?

64,098

What is the total number of dairy operations?

9.2 million

What is the total dairy cow inventory?