ANFS251: Dairy Cattle

Dairy Classification

ruminant herbivores

Dairy Metabolic Disorders

rumen acidosis, milk fever, displaced abomasum, ketosis

Rumen Acidosis

metabolic disease where the rumen pH falls under 5.5

Rumen Acidosis Cause

feeding high levels of concentrate

Rumen Acidosis Process

carbs ferment which produces acid, acid drops rumen pH, acidic conditions kill fiber digesters and encourage acid producers, acid producers continue to produce more acid

Rumen Acidosis Symptoms

reduced feed intake, poor body condition, weight loss, lethargy

Rumen Acidosis Treatment

increase forages, decrease grain, drench with a basic solution

Rumen Acidosis Result

absorption of acid causes metabolic acidosis, shock, and death

Milk Fever

hypocalcemia, low levels of blood calcium

Milk Fever Cause

near calving, milk and calf drains calcium

Milk Fever Symptoms

agitation, tremor, down, kink in neck, recumbent, coma, death

Milk Fever Treatment

oral calcium gel or bolus, injectable calcium gluconate

Milk Fever Result

1 in 20 die, reduces productive lifespan and short term lactation production

Displaced Abomasum

gas trapped in abomasum causes it to rise

Displaced Abomasum Cause

shortly after calving due to internal organs moving around

Displaced Abomasum Symptoms

appetite loss, milk production decrease, reduced rumination, mild diarrhea

Displaced Abomasum Treatment

casting and rolling, tacking abomasum to body wall

Displaced Abomasum Prevention

maintain dry matter intake, good body condition at calving, high quality feed, total mixed ration, minimize feed changes

Ketosis

disorder where energy demand exceeds intake and ketones are produced

Ketosis Cause

excess fat utilization in a negative energy balance, during first weeks of lactation

Ketosis Symptoms

decreased milk yield, weight loss, reduced appetite, alcohol smell

Ketosis Treatment

quick acting glucose supplement

Dairy Cow Annual Production

34,000 pounds, 4,200 gallons

Dairy Cattle Requirements Comparatively

3 to 10 times more protein and energy at peak lactation than dry period

Dairy Lactation Cycle Stages

peak lactation, maximum dry matter intake, body weight regain, dry period

Dairy Peak Lactation Stage

rapid increase in milk production while dry matter lags behind, negative energy balance and weight loss

Dairy Maximum Dry Matter Intake Stage

dry matter intake peaks then declines while lactation declines, positive energy balance

Dairy Body Weight Regain Stage

continued positive energy balance with decreasing lactation allows condition to be regained

Dairy Dry Period Stage

last trimester of gestation while no lactation occurs, slight body weight regain

Dairy Stage 1 Timing

peak lactation, 0 to 2.5 months

Dairy Stage 2 Timing

max dry matter intake, 2.5 to 6 months

Dairy Stage 3 Timing

body weight regain, 6 to 10 months

Dairy Stage 4 and 5 Timing

dry period, 10 to 12 months

Dairy Peak Lactation Timing

6 to 9 weeks post calving

Dairy Peak Intake Timing

12 to 15 weeks post calving

Dairy Body Weight Loss

90 to 135 kg during stage 1

Dairy Bovine Somatotropin

hormone that causes a second increase in lactation and a second negative energy balance

Dairy Bovine Somatotropin Numbers

10% production increase needs 2-3% more dry matter intake

Dairy Dry Period

60 days pre parturition with no lactation

Dairy Stages of the Dry Period

active involution, steady state involution, lactogenesis, colostrogenesis

Dairy Active Involution

reabsorption of milk secreting tissue, first 30 days dry

Dairy Steady State Involution

mammary gland exists in a collapsed state, can be indefinite

Dairy Lactogenesis and Colostrogenesis

third stage of involution in the 15 to 20 days before parturition

Dairy Body Weight Gain By Stage

energy to body weight is more efficient in late lactation

Dairy Body Condition Score

3.5 is ideal for milk yield, fat test, and reproductive performance

Dairy Dry Cow Feed

legume grass hay mix and corn silage, supplement vitamins and phosphorus

Dairy Dry Cow Forage Amount

1% of body weight as long stem dry forage (grass hay)

Fat Cow Syndrome

high blood lipids and fatty livers

Fat Cow Syndrome Cause

excess energy from grain or corn silage

Fat Cow Syndrome Results

calving difficulties, displaced abomasum, ketosis

Dairy Corn Silage Feed Amount

limit to 9.5 to 11 kg per day, excess causes fat cow or other issues

Dairy Bred Heifer Feeding

some grain in the last 3-4 months of gestation, slightly higher requirements than dry cows, still growing

Dairy Feed Transitions

introduce small amounts of lactation ingredients in dry period to help rumen adjust

Dairy Poor Feed Transition

sudden changes can trigger ketosis, acidosis, and other issues

Dairy Post Calving Feed Goal

rapidly increase feed intake without causing problems

Dairy TMR Ratios

55:45 or 50:50 forage to concentrate

Dairy Lactation Concentrate Amount

0.5 to 0.7 kg per day

Dairy Lactation Forage Amount

no less than 45% of diet

Dairy Successful Phase 1

maximizes milk, prevents ketosis, positive energy balance by 8 to 10 weeks

Dairy Negative Energy Balance

takes energy from body fat, must be supplied protein

Dairy Non Protein Nitrogen

can be fed in late lactation

Dairy Bypass Protein

can be fed in early lactation

Rumen Escape/Bypass Protein

protein sources coated or chemically treated to prevent microbial breakdown

Dairy Nonstructural Carbohydrates

starch and sugar should be limited to 30 to 40%

Dairy Distiller's Grain

readily digestible fiber that can replace high starch feeds

Dairy Forage Feed Amount

more than 2.25 kg dry hay daily

Dairy Supplemental Fat

can increase energy density and adequate fiber

Dairy Maximum Dry Matter Percent

3.5 to 4.5%

Dairy Feed Energy Increase Strategies

increase energy density, readily fermentable carbohydrates, and dry matter intake

Forage Fat Content

2 to 4%

Dairy Fat Intake Max

5 to 7%

Dairy Free Oils

adversely affect rumen and microbe function

Dairy Feed Groups

by reproductive status, move as one group to minimize stress

Dairy Calf Birth Health

depends on last 60 days nutrition of dam

Dairy Calf Colostrum Requirement

2 quarts in 2 feedings within 12 hours

Dairy Calf Digestion

similar to monogastric with esophageal groove right to omasum and abomasum

Dairy Calf Rumen Development

microbe population begins at 60 days, VFAs help rumen development, fully developed at 200 kg

Dairy Calf Efficiency Factors

natural feeding, more frequent is better

Milk Replacer Ingredients

dried whey, skim milk, casein

Milk Replacer Additives

antibiotics/tetracyclines, vitamin E

Dairy Calf Starter Diet

standard ration ingredients not finely ground, good quality alfalfa hay

Dairy Calf Weaning

abruptly remove replacer or gradually dilute with water

Dairy Calf Weaning Movement

hutches to group pens

Dairy Calf Group Pens

100 square feet per calf, 10 or less per pen

Dairy Heifer Goals

maximize growth and minimize fat, puberty at 15 months

Dairy Gestation Goals, Early to Dry Period

growth with no fat deposition

Dairy Gestation Goals, Late

grain mix similar to lactation to adjust rumen population