1. Feeding and Managing Dairy Cattle Part1

2. Objectives Analyze the production practices involved in the care of dairy calves from birth to weaning. Analyze the production practices involved in the care of dairy replacement heifers, lactating cows, and dry cows.

3. What production practices are involved in the care of dairy calves from birth to weaning? Dairy calves need an appropriate environment, a quality nutritional program, and a preventive health care plan to ensure high-quality care. The greatest chance for high mortality within a dairy herd is between birth and weaning.

4. What production practices are involved in the care of dairy calves from birth to weaning? A. Dairy calves should be housed in a clean, dry environment with little stress and protection from heat, cold, wind, and rain. – Calves need adequate space and proper ventilation. – Individual pens and calf hutches are the most common facility type used in the care of dairy calves. – These facilities should be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis to reduce disease-causing pathogens.

5. What production practices are involved in the care of dairy calves from birth to weaning? B. Feeding and nutrition are important considerations in maintaining healthy calves. 1. The calves receive colostrum (the first milk given by the mother, containing important nutrients, such as immunoglobulins, protein, fat, minerals, and vitamins) during the first few days. – It is important for the producer to collect, store, select, and feed colostrum to calves within the first 24 hours.

6. What production practices are involved in the care of dairy calves from birth to weaning? 2. Colostrometers are used to select the highest quality and to measure the specific gravity of colostrum. – a. The ability to absorb important immunoglobulin starts to decline within hours of birth; therefore, it is important for the producer to feed calves immediately. – b. Some cows will produce an excess of colostrum, which can be frozen or refrigerated for later use.

7. What production practices are involved in the care of dairy calves from birth to weaning? C. A well-managed health care program will decrease death losses. – 1. Calves should be born in a dry, clean environment because this is the best way to control infections. – 2. Equipment used for feeding should be cleaned and sanitized after every use. – 3. Vaccinations should be used to prevent any major/common diseases within the herd. – 4. Some heifer calves are born with extra teats—more than four. – 5. Dehorning is conducted before weaning to protect other animals and the handlers and to reduce feeder space requirements.

8. What production practices are involved in the care of dairy calves from birth to weaning? D. All calves should be identified. – 1. Ear tags, neck chains, neck straps, and ankle straps are common temporary identification. – 2. Ear tattoos, hide brands, and computer chips are common permanent identification methods.

9. What are the production practices involved in the care of dairy replacement heifers, lactating cows, and dry cows? Several common production practices occur during the different stages of heifers/cows. The quality of care the animals have received during various life stages affects lactating cow performance. Over the past 20 years, the dairy industry has made improvements in genetics, nutrition, milking systems, facility design, health programs, care, and management. These changes have attributed to an increase in milk production. Dairy animal welfare is critical to dairy success and to providing high-quality, safe, and wholesome dairy products.

10. What are the production practices involved in the care of dairy replacement heifers, lactating cows, and dry cows? A. Replacement heifer care starts at weaning and continues onto the first calving period. – 1. Calves should be weaned gradually to allow for adjustments in feeding before joining a group of growing calves. – 2. Careful management decisions will prevent health problems and maintain growth schedules. – 3. Clean and fresh water should be provided at all times. – 4. Calf pens should be designed to drain well and should provide ample amounts of shade.

11. What are the production practices involved in the care of dairy replacement heifers, lactating cows, and dry cows? 5. As heifer calves grow, group sizes may increase. 6. Providing appropriate housing, proper feed and management, and weather stress attention will help producers maintain a healthy replacement herd. 7. Vaccinations are recommended for heifer calves. 8. Other good health production practices include parasite and fly control.

12. What are the production practices involved in the care of dairy replacement heifers, lactating cows, and dry cows? B. Lactating dairy cow care starts with proper facility design to provide comfort as well as a clean and safe environment. 1. Comfortable environments reduce stress. 2. Clean and safe environments reduce the risk of disease or injury.

13. What are the production practices involved in the care of dairy replacement heifers, lactating cows, and dry cows? C. Dry cows are cows that are not producing milk. The dry stage usually occurs 40 to 60 days prior to the next calving period. This allows the cow to prepare itself for the new calf and for the production of colostrum.

14. What are the production practices involved in the care of dairy replacement heifers, lactating cows, and dry cows? 1. Dry cows are usually housed within groups and should be protected from the weather in one of several types of facilities. 2. Proper feeding and attention to body condition are critical production practices for dry cows.

15. Review What production practices are involved in the care of dairy calves from birth to weaning? What are the production practices involved in the care of dairy replacement heifers, lactating cows, and dry cows?