Animal Husbandry Techniques Practice Flashcards

Dr. Johnson class

Withdrawal Period

The required length of time between administering an animal-health product to an animal and the safe harvest of its meat or use of its milk.

Why identify?

Medical treatments, reproduction records, performance data, track ownership, track disease outbreaks

Purpose of Animal Identification: Medication Treatments

Essential for recording all administration dates, times, products, and dosages to comply strictly with product withdrawal times; antibiotics, parasite control, vaccines

Purpose of Animal Identification: Reproduction Records

Tracks breeding dates to calculate expected parturition and identifies females that failed to produce offspring for culling decisions (culling is when they can have offspring)

Purpose of Animal Identification: Performance Data

Tracks offspring metrics such as survivability, weaning weights, yearling weights, carcass data, and milk production to select superior sires and dams

Purpose of Animal Identification: Tracking Ownership

Establishes legal proof of ownership for purebred registration, co-mingled range herds, and deterrence of cattle rustling,

Purpose of Animal Identification: Tracking Disease Outbreaks

Traces individual animals back to their farm of origin or movement history to contain and control infectious disease outbreaks; scrapie, avian influenza, etc

Ear Tags

The most common and least expensive form of temporary identification, costing approximately $1.00$ or less, which is easy to read from a distance but can tear out.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

An electronic identification technology utilized in temporary ear tags to track individual livestock; can track how much an animal has eaten and can be scanned.

EID (Electronic Identification)

An electronic ear tag system used for automated individual animal tracking, required by law to be visibly readable and electronically scannable, embossed with a USDA shield

COOL (National initiative for birth-to-harvest tracking)

Country of Origin Labeling; an initiative aimed at tracing meat products to certify them as 'Product of US’; looser since 2015 due to congress, now anything partly made in US can claim it

MCOOL (National initiative for birth-to-harvest tracking)

Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling; a federal requirement for country-of-origin labeling on food products.

ADT

Animal Disease Traceability; a national tracking system designed to trace animal disease origin

APHIS

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, responsible for distributing PINS, makes inventory of Agricultural census

Brisket Tags

Unpopular, temporary identification tags attached to the dewlap/brisket of cattle that cost around $2.00$ each, like a cowbell

Tattoo Identification

A permanent form of identification applied to ears that does not damage hides or fade, but requires catching the animal and cannot be read from a distance; BEST be used in tandem with RFID tag as fail safe

Species Suitable for Ear Tattoos

Cattle, sheep, goats (except LaMancha), hogs, alpacas, llamas, and various zoo animals.

Equine Lip Tattoo

A permanent identification method tattooed on the inside of the upper lip of Thoroughbred horses, which can be hard to read.

Ear Notching

A permanent form of identification used exclusively in swine, where the right ear denotes the litter number and the left ear denotes the individual pig number.

Swine Right Ear Notch

The ear notch location in swine ear notching that designates the litter number; broken up into 4 quadrants (clockwise 1, 3, 9, 27, and 81 at the tip), max of 2 numbers in quadrant

Swine Left Ear Notch

The ear location in swine ear notching that designates the individual pig number within a litter; broken up into 3quadrants ( counter clockwise 1, 3, 9,), max of 2 numbers in quadrant

Freeze Branding (cryobranding)

A permanent, relatively painless branding method that destroys natural hair follicle pigments to cause white hair growth without damaging the hide. Preferable to use liquid nitrogen, but can be done with dry ice and alcohol

Freeze Branding Cold Agents

Dry Ice and Alcohol at $-200^\text{o}\text{F}$ or Liquid Nitrogen (preferred) at $-300^\text{o}\text{F}$.

Hot Branding

A permanent, painful branding method using heat to burn the hide, commonly used in western range states to show ownership despite damaging hide value; indicate group ID, easy to read, can damage hide

Hot Brand Heat Sources

Fire/hot coal heat or electric heating elements.

Sheep Paint Branding

A temporary form of identification using special scourable paint that washes out of the wool during mill processing.

Neck Chains

A form of identification used on dairy cattle and goats, but strictly prohibited for use on beef cattle.

Microchip Identification

A permanent electronic transponder used in companion animals and horses, but strictly prohibited in slaughter food animals.

Wing Bands

Identification devices attached to bird wings, which must not be used on slaughter meat birds due to causing wing muscle damage.

Poultry Leg Bands

Identification bands fastened around poultry legs, commonly used for disease tracking programs such as Avian Influenza.

Grease Crayon / Paintstick

A fast, temporary livestock marking tool safe for use on market hogs bound for slaughter.

Aerosol Paint Marking Rules

Temporary livestock paint that must not be used on slaughter hogs because their skin remains on the carcass during processing.

Paintball Gun Marking

A temporary marking method used at a distance when approaching animals poses safety risks; forbidden indoors and capable of bruising carcasses.

Nose Print

A permanent, unique physical identification method used for cattle, serving a purpose similar to a human fingerprint.

Leg Bands in Cattle

Temporary identification bands worn on the lower legs of cattle, frequently used in dairy operations.

Scrapie Program Identification

A USDA/State tracking program utilizing ear tags or tattoos in sheep and goats to trace individual animals and eradicate Scrapie. Use flock certification program.

Avian Influenza Tracking Method

Official disease tracking in poultry conducted using leg bands.

PIN

Premise Identification Number; a unique code linking a farm's physical location to government agricultural agency databases; apply through department of agriculture

PDA

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; an example of a state agency that issues Premise Identification Numbers.

Premise Identification Purpose

Informs agricultural agencies of livestock locations during disease emergencies, supports the AG Census, and is required for government assistance programs

Permanent Identification Methods List

Tattoos, ear notches, freeze branding, hot branding, microchips, nose prints, and facial/hide color markings.

Temporary Identification Methods List

Ear tags, brisket tags, grease crayons, paint branding, leg/wing bands, neck chains, aerosol paint, and paintballs.

Cattle Rustling

The illegal theft of livestock, which is deterred and investigated using permanent ownership brands.

Scourable Paint

Specially formulated paint used on sheep wool that easily washes out during mill scouring processes.

First Rule of Animal Medication

Always read the product LABEL thoroughly before administering any health product.

Label Use

Using drug EXACTLY as stated on the label

Off-Label Use

Using a drug in any manner non-compliant with its label without the guidance of a veterinarian, which is ILLEGAL.

Extra-Label Drug Use (ELDU)

using an approved drug in a manner not specified on its label, but under the explicit direction of a licensed veterinarian.

ELDU Examples

Increasing dosage, altering treatment duration, changing route of administration, treating an unlisted disease, or treating an unlisted species (also must get a longer withdrawal time from the vet)

Over the Counter Drugs (OTC drugs)

Medications that can be purchased without a prescription and must be used exactly according to label directions.

Prescription Drugs (Rx drugs)

Medications requiring a veterinarian's written prescription or direct purchase, labeled 'For Veterinary Use Only'.

June 2023 Federal Antibiotic Regulation

A federal rule requiring all previously OTC injectable antibiotics to fall under veterinary oversight and prescription, helps with the misuse/overuse of antibiotics that might still be in meat, now require VCPR

VCPR

Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship; a formal professional relationship required for a veterinarian to prescribe Rx drugs or issue VFDs.

Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD

A written order issued by a licensed veterinarian authorizing the use of antimicrobial drugs in animal feed or drinking water, must have this to feed the product, must be given in a defined time limit, must be kept records of for 2 years, extra-label use NOT permitted

ELDU in Feed or Water

Strictly illegal; veterinarians cannot legally authorize extra-label drug use for medications delivered via feed or water.

USDA Regulatory Role in Drugs

The United States Department of Agriculture is responsible for regulating all animal vaccines.

FDA Regulatory Role in Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating all animal pharmaceuticals and antibiotics.

EPA Regulatory Role in Drugs

The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for regulating all pesticides, wormers, and fly sprays.

Routes of administration

Oral, topical, injectable, intranasal, intramammary

Oral Route of Administration

Delivering health products through the mouth, including drenches, pastes, drinking water, boluses (pill), and feed (VFD’s, growth promoters).

Oral Drench

Administering a liquid or paste medication directly into an animal's mouth, commonly used for dewormers.

Limitation of Feed or Water Medication (oral route)

Ineffective for sick animals that have stopped eating or drinking, requiring individual systemic injection or drenching.

Topical Route of Administration

Applying products directly to the skin or body surface, including pour-on wormers, fly sprays, dusts, and hoof sprays.

Injectable Route of Administration

Delivering liquid drugs using a syringe and needle via Intramuscular, Subcutaneous, Intravenous, or Intraperitoneal routes.

Intramuscular Injection (IM)

Inserting a needle directly into a muscle mass to deliver medication.

Subcutaneous Injection (SubQ or SQ)

Inserting a needle beneath the skin into the loose tissue above the muscle.

Intravenous Injection (IV)

Injecting liquid medication directly into a vein or blood vessel.

Intraperitoneal Injection (IP)

Injecting liquid medication directly into the abdominal cavity.

BQA Injection Triangle Boundaries

The safe neck region bounded by the Nuchal ligament superiorly, the vertebrae inferiorly, and the slope of the shoulder posteriorly (THE MAGIC TRIANGLE); Injections must never be given in the rear leg, rump, or loin muscles to prevent carcass defects

BOE Injection Site

Base of Ear; a specific SubQ injection site behind the ear approved for EXCEDE in cattle.

Intranasal Route IN

Administering a fine mist vaccine directly into nostrils using a needleless plastic applicator tip, use mist/spray

Intramammary Route

Delivering medication directly into the teat canal using a soft needleless cannula to treat mastitis or apply teat sealants, directly into the t*t

Treatment Record Required Elements

Animal ID, date/time, product name, dosage, route, withdrawal period, completion date/time, and administrator's name.

Needle Gauge

The numeric rating of needle shaft thickness or diameter, where smaller gauge numbers represent thicker needles.

Needle Length Selection

Chosen based on animal species, size, and administration route (shorter for SubQ, longer for IM).

Bent Needle Rule

Never straighten and reuse a bent needle, as its structural integrity is compromised and it may snap off inside the muscle.

Dropped Needle Rule

Discard any contaminated or dropped needle immediately without applying any '3-second rule'.

Multidose Dose Gun

An automatic repeating syringe that accelerates livestock processing by eliminating frequent manual refills, reduces amount of times you need a syrinhe

Dose Gun Internal Barrel Cleaning

Never clean the inner barrel with soaps or detergents, which destroy modified live vaccines; flush with distilled or boiling water.

Dose Gun Maintenance

Replace rubber O-rings regularly to prevent leaks, and keep guns used for vaccines strictly separated from antibiotic guns.

Meat Abscess

A localized infection and pus pocket in muscle tissue caused by injecting animals with dirty, dull, or contaminated needles.

Sharps Container

A puncture-resistant biohazard box required on farms for the safe disposal of used needles and blades.

Ivomec - Sheep anthelmintic

Drench medication used for treatment of adults and a fourth stage larvae of parasites (always round up for dewormers)

Round Up Dewormer Rule

Dewormer dosages should always be rounded up to the next weight unit to ensure complete parasite elimination and avoid resistance.

Risk of Dewormer Under-Dosing

Exposing parasites to sub-lethal chemical levels promotes the rapid development of drug-resistant worm strains.

Black Angus

A popular beef cattle breed originating from the counties of Aberdeen and Angus in Scotland, most popular US breed, completly black

Black Angus Adult Weights

Mature cows weigh $1100-1400\text{ lbs}$ and mature bulls weigh $1800-2100\text{ lbs}$.

Hereford

A major beef cattle breed originating from the county of Herefordshire in England, brown back white face

Hereford Varieties

Comprises Polled (naturally hornless) and Horned lines, ranking as the second most popular beef breed in the US.

Black Baldie

A highly popular commercial crossbred beef cow produced by mating Black Angus and Hereford cattle.

Restraint Definition

Controlling the movement and actions of an animal to ensure maximum handler safety, animal comfort, and successful procedures (point of balance and flight zone)

Psychological Control in Cattle

Utilizing voice tone, soothing music, herd instinct, and routine feeding schedules to move and manage livestock predictably.

Herding Instinct

The natural instinct of cattle to remain grouped together, which keeps them calm during movement.

Routine

Most effective way to move animals, makes animals more predictable

Nose Tongs / Nose Lead

A mechanical restraint tool clamped onto the nasal septum of cattle to control head movement.

Halter / rope

Used to control the head, be led, or tied

Whips and Slappers

Cattle handling tools being phased out

Electric Prods

A cattle handling device that delivers a mild electric shock to encourage movement and compliance, livestock facilities weaning off them

Cattle Handling Rattles and Flags

Humane visual and auditory movement tools that have replaced traditional whips and slappers.

Cattle Handling System Components

Consists of three sequential parts: the Sweep/Tub/Funnel, the Chute/Alley, and the Head Gate.