Cattle Management Practices Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What are the potential short and long term effects of dehorning on cattle welfare?

Short term effects may include pain and stress, while long term effects can be behavioral changes and increased risk of injury due to altered social dynamics.

Describe an effective method of disbudding and dehorning in cattle.

An effective method of disbudding involves using a hot iron to apply heat to the horn bud area shortly after birth, while dehorning can be performed using a knife or saw for older calves.

What alternative methods exist to disbudding and dehorning in cattle?

Alternative methods include genetic selection for polled (hornless) cattle or using chemical dehorning agents.

At what age must anaesthetic be used for cattle castration to ensure acceptable animal welfare standards?

Anaesthetic must be used for cattle castration when performed on animals older than 2 months. Signup and view all the answers

How do breeding practices for polled cattle contribute to animal welfare?

Breeding practices for polled cattle reduce the need for dehorning, preventing the associated pain and stress from the procedure. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary timing consideration for joining cattle in relation to calving and pasture growth?

Joining is timed to ensure calving occurs during term time and aligns with spring/summer for optimal kikuyu and clover pasture growth. Signup and view all the answers

What are the vaccination protocols for calves, and how does it differ for adult cattle?

Calves receive a 5-in-1 vaccine at 4-6 weeks and again 4-6 weeks later, with a yearly booster for adults at the time of the first calf's vaccination. Signup and view all the answers

Describe a method used to manage buffalo fly infestations in cattle.

Buffalo flies are managed with a backline pour-on insecticide treatment, which provides protection for 21 days. Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended practice for rotational grazing and its purpose?

The practice involves grazing cattle on sown pasture mixes of grasses and clovers, allowing rest periods to prevent overgrazing and bloat. Signup and view all the answers

How does the use of Ivermectin in chemical applications contribute to pest management?

Ivermectin is used in lousicides and pour-on treatments to effectively control lice and buffalo flies while also addressing other parasites. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of using BREEDPLAN and TACE in cattle breeding?

To compare sire traits and choose sires that can produce calves with desired characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

How is the genetic contribution of a sire to its progeny quantified using the example of a 200-day weight of +40?

Progeny are expected to have a 200-day weight that is 20kg heavier than those from a bull with a 200-day weight of 0. Signup and view all the answers

What is hybrid vigour, and why is it important in cross-breeding programs?

Hybrid vigour, or heterosis, refers to the superior qualities exhibited by cross-bred animals compared to their parents. Signup and view all the answers

Identify two common disadvantages of pure breeding practices.

It increases the chance of passing down undesirable recessive traits and has lower overall production. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between outcrossing and inbreeding in pure breeding practices?

Outcrossing involves mating unrelated animals of the same breed, while inbreeding mating individuals that are closely related. Signup and view all the answers

What are the benefits of cross-breeding compared to pure breeding in terms of meat production?

Cross-breeding allows for creating offspring with specific genetic traits and can enhance hybrid vigour, improving meat quality. Signup and view all the answers

How can a farmer maintain pure lines when using cross-breeding methods?

By keeping and managing a separate breeding stock of purebred animals alongside their crossbred program. Signup and view all the answers

Explain why docility is considered an important trait in cattle breeding.

Docility improves safe handling procedures and enhances the overall management of cattle. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'linebreeding' in the context of pure breeding?

Linebreeding involves using a particular superior animal over several generations of mating to enhance desired traits. Signup and view all the answers

Describe one safe handling procedure that should be followed when working with cattle.

Always approach cattle calmly and from the side to avoid startling them, ensuring both handler and animal safety. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Dehorning

Dehorning has both short and long-term effects on cattle.
Short-term effects include pain, stress, and potential infection.
Long-term effects can include changes in behavior, reduced social interactions, and potential for chronic pain.
Disbudding involves removing horn buds from calves before they develop horns usually by using a hot iron or caustic chemical.
Dehorning involves removing horns from older cattle by using a saw or electric dehorner.
An alternative to dehorning and disbudding includes selective breeding of polled (naturally hornless) cattle or using genetic modifications to prevent horn growth.
Castration in cattle can be performed without anesthetic before the animal reaches six weeks of age.

Cattle Breeds

British breeds like Angus and Hereford are known for their early maturing and less feed consumption.
European breeds like Simmental and Limousin are known for their late maturity, increased muscle mass, higher feed consumption, and good maternal traits.
Bos indicus breeds like Brahman are often used in areas with lower nutrition and are known for their survivability in harsh environments, greater parasite resistance, and unique physical characteristics like a fatty hump, drooping ears, and a large dewlap.
Composite breeds are developed by combining two or more breeds.
Composite breeds are typically selected for specific traits that are desirable in commercial herds to increase productivity and profitability.

Breeding Programs

Pure breeding aims to produce offspring with specific breed standards and genetic traits.
Cross breeding involves mating purebred animals from different breeds to produce offspring with hybrid vigor.
Hybrid vigor, or heterosis, provides the ability to overcome breed weaknesses and combine desirable traits from different breeds to produce a more productive offspring.
Pure breeding can increase the risk of undesirable recessive traits being passed on to offspring due to mating close relations.
Crossbreeding may require the maintenance of pure lines to ensure that the desired traits are retained.
Outcross involves mating unrelated animals within the same breed.
Inbreeding involves mating individuals that are more closely related than the average of the population.
Linebreeding involves using a particular superior animal over multiple generations to maintain specific traits.

Calves

Calves are typically joined at 10 weeks of age to ensure calving aligns with pasture availability and maximize milk production.
Castration is usually performed during the first week of life using a method called Elastrator rings.
Ruse ear tags and National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) ear tags are applied to calves at the time of castration.
Calves are vaccinated with a 5-in-1 vaccine at 4-6 weeks of age and receive booster vaccinations at 4-6 weeks and 6 months after the initial vaccination.
Female calves are tattooed and receive yellow Ruse ear tags and NLIS ear tags at their first vaccination.
Adult cattle receive yearly booster vaccinations with the 5-in-1 vaccine when the first calf is vaccinated.
Calves are weaned when they are six months old.

Pests

Cattle are treated for lice in winter with a lousicide.
Cattle are treated for buffalo flies in summer with a backline pour-on insecticide that can protect for up to 21 days.
The insecticide treatment can also control brown stomach worms, ticks, and lice.
Tea tree backrubs are utilized to relieve irritation from buffalo flies.
Paddock rotation is a common practice to manage pests.
Dung beetle-friendly chemical treatments can help to eliminate manure and inhibit fly lifecycles.
Fly traps are used to control pest populations during the end of the year.

Feed

Cattle are rotationally grazed to ensure optimal pasture use and maximize feed availability
Lucerne hay is used as a supplemental feed during winter to bridge feed gaps.
Bulls are fed a mixed grain ration throughout the winter.
Pasture mixes of grass, clover, and Lucerne are implemented for short periods during resting periods to prevent bloat.

Sustainability

Past management practices may have been less sustainable due to the potential for overgrazing, soil compaction, and environmental damage.
Present management practices focus on sustainable methods such as rotational grazing, appropriate supplementation, and pest control methods that minimize environmental impact.

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Description

Test your knowledge on crucial cattle management practices, including dehorning, disbudding, and the implications of castration. Explore the impacts these procedures have on cattle in both the short and long term, as well as an overview of different cattle breeds. This quiz is essential for anyone involved in cattle ranching or animal husbandry.