HSC Agriculture - Animal Production Overview

A digestive system with one stomach, relying on animal enzymes for digestion.

A digestive system with four stomachs, relying on microbes to break down food, like cellulose.

Ruminants' stomachs contain rumen, which houses bacteria to digest feed, including cellulose.

Ruminant saliva helps keep a neutral pH in the rumen, supporting microbial activity.

Physical, chemical, and sometimes microbial breakdown of food into absorbable form.

A digestive process where microbes in the rumen break down complex carbohydrates into simpler molecules, like volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which provide energy for the animal.

Monogastric animals (like pigs and chickens) efficiently convert feed to body weight and spend less time eating than ruminants; they are also less prone to bloat.

A condition where excessive gas buildup in the rumen disrupts digestion and can be life-threatening.

The primary energy source for ruminants, produced by rumen microbes from carbohydrate digestion.

Rumen microbes break down feed proteins into amino acids, some of which are further broken down into organic acids, ammonia, and CO2.

FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles.

Estrogen levels rise, triggering a change in hormone balance, leading to follicle release.

LH (Luteinizing Hormone) causes the follicle to release the egg.

After the egg is released, the ruptured follicle forms the corpus luteum (CL).

Progesterone maintains pregnancy by supporting uterus development, and inhibits FSH release.

High levels of progesterone prevent further ovulation and oestrus (heat) from occurring.

Prostaglandin ends the cycle if the animal isn't pregnant, enabling a new cycle.

Hormone levels change significantly during pregnancy, affecting various bodily functions.

High temperatures reduce sperm production and quality.

Adequate shelter and water are critical for animals during summer mating.

Low temperatures, wetness and wind can cause newborn losses.

Some animals (e.g., horses, sheep) breed based on daylight hours.

Diseases can reduce reproductive capacity by affecting organs or embryo implantation.

AI is a technique used to inseminate animals with sperm.

AI is relatively inexpensive and increases production, especially in dairy cows.

Management techniques enhance breeding success, for example detecting heat, removing infertiles & providing proper nutrition.

A pest or disease control strategy combining multiple methods, like biological, chemical, and cultural techniques, for effective pest management in animal production systems.

Identifying pest, monitoring occurrences, using control methods, and evaluating their effectiveness.

A bacterial udder infection causing inflammation, swelling, pain, and reduced milk production in dairy cows.

Bacteria, like Staphylococcus aureus, entering the udder through contaminated milking systems, unclean environment and poor milking techniques.

Preventing mastitis through procedures like teat disinfection ,udders cleaning with water, hygienic conditions (dairy shed and yards), and culling infected cows.

Treating mastitis by administering antibiotics to infected cows and isolating them from the rest of the herd.

Combining management practices (like hygiene) with chemical treatments (like antibiotics) to control mastitis, which helps avoid the development of resistance.

Keeping pest or disease occurrence levels at their lowest by consistently applying control measures.

Surgical removal of skin around the breech and tail of lambs to prevent fly strike.

Blowfly eggs laid in damp wool, leading to flesh-eating maggots.

Increased risk of infection and more flystrike due to open wounds.

Approximately 70% of merino sheep are mulesed.

A combination of methods used to control blowfly infestations, including tail docking, jetting, and checking.

Performing mulesing in cooler months or dry periods for less fly activity.

Spraying the wound with antibacterial powder or spray to reduce infection.

Mulesing should be handled in small groups to minimize stress and increase mother-lamb bonding and decrease yard infections.