ANSCI 101: Animal Production and Economics - Chapter 1 - PDF

ANSCI 101: ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS Celso S. Sto. Domingo, DVM Assistant Professor IV, College of Agriculture Bulacan Agricultural State College  Chapter I. Dairy and Veal Production Dairy Terminology Breeds Feeding and Operation...

ANSCI 101: ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS Celso S. Sto. Domingo, DVM Assistant Professor IV, College of Agriculture Bulacan Agricultural State College  Chapter I. Dairy and Veal Production Dairy Terminology Breeds Feeding and Operation Housing Milking Identification Record Keeping Life Cycle of Dairy Cattle Lactation  Dairy Terminology Artificial Insemination (AI) introduction of semen passed through a straw and pipette into the cow’s reproductive tract for the purpose of achieving pregnancy.  Dairy Terminology Bulk Tank A large tank used for cooling and storing milk at a cold temperature until it can be picked up by a milk hauler for transport to a creamery.  Dairy Terminology Bulls Male cattle that have not been castrated and are fertile. Bulls can be extremely dangerous and can cause serious injury or death to personnel when appropriate safety precautions are not taken when working around these animals Calf A young bovine, either male or female, up to one year of age.  Dairy Terminology Clean-up Bull A breeding bull that is used to naturally inseminate heifers and cows that do not become pregnant by means of artificial insemination. Colostrum The first milk produced by a cow following calving. Colostrum has higher concentrations of proteins, fats, vitamins and antibodies (immunoglobulins) compared to milk that is used for human consumption. Cull Cows Cows that are removed from the herd for health or production reasons  Dairy Terminology Dairy Calves Female or male dairy cattle being fed a ration that includes milk or liquid milk replacer and which are not intended for veal production Dairy Cow Female dairy cattle that are intended for production of milk for human consumption. Dry Cow Therapy or Treatment An intramammary antibiotic that is administered into each teat at the beginning of the dry period to prevent udder infections that could develop during the dry period and/or treat active infections that are present at the time of drying-off  Dairy Terminology Dry Dairy Cows Female dairy cattle that had previously lactated, but which are not currently producing milk (i.e., cows that are between lactations) Dry Period Approximately two months before she is due to calve again, a lactating dairy cow stops getting milked and is allowed ~60 days to gain back weight that may have been lost during lactation; the udder is also able to repair and regenerate secretory mammary gland tissue during this time before the next calving and resumption of routine daily milking.  Dairy Terminology Extralabel Use of a prescription medication or supplement that is not in accordance with the directions on the manufacturer’s label. Extralabel use can only be done by a producer under the direction of a licensed veterinarian with whom there is an established Veterinarian-Client-Patient relationship First-Calf Heifer After giving birth to its first calf, a replacement dairy heifer is commonly referred to by producers as a first-calf heifer.  Dairy Terminology Formula-Fed Calf A calf raised to about 16 to 18 weeks of age on an all liquid diet. Also called milk-fed or special-fed veal Fresh Cows Dairy cows that have recently calved. Lactating Dairy Cows Female dairy cattle that are producing milk. Lactating Cow Treatment/Therapy An intramammary antibiotic that is designed for use during the normal lactation period  Dairy Terminology Milk Fed Veal A bull calf that is raised on milk replacer for about 16 weeks before slaughter Non-Formula Fed Veal A calf that has been weaned from milk-replacer at about two months of age and has transitioned to a solid food diet of hay and/or grain. Pre-Ruminant An animal with a rumen that is not yet anatomically or functionally mature.  Dairy Terminology Replacement Dairy Bulls Intact male dairy cattle intended for reproductive purposes such as natural breeding or for collection of semen for use in artificial insemination (AI) Replacement Dairy Heifers Female dairy cattle from the time of weaning until the time of first calving  Dairy Terminology Rumen The largest compartment of the forestomach in a mature ruminant animal and the site of microbial fermentation that is required to produce useable nutrients from consumed feed materials that would otherwise be indigestible. The rumen is anatomically joined to the reticulum to form a ‘reticulorumen’ that precedes the next two compartments (omasum and abomasum (the true stomach of a ruminant)). The abomasum corresponds to the stomach of a human being.  Rumen (paunch/towel) Reticulum (honeycomb) Omasum (bible, manyplies) Abomasum (True stomach)  Dairy Terminology Teat Sealant A paste that is infused into the end of each teat following dry cow treatment. Such products are used to seal the end of the teat to prevent introduction of infectious agents into the udder during the dry period. Veal Calves Immature beef and dairy breed cattle that lack a functional rumen and that are intended for meat production.  Dairy Terminology Voluntary Waiting Period A two to three month period of time following calving before which a cow is not rebred by AI or allowed to have exposure to a bull. Weaning The process of transitioning a calf away from a diet containing milk or milk replacer, to an all solid feed diet or ration. Withdrawal Interval Describes a withdrawal period for a drug that has been used in an extralabel manner.  Dairy Terminology Withdrawal Period The period of time that is required to elapse following the administration of an approved animal drug before which milk can be sold for human consumption, and/or the animal can be slaughtered for human consumption.  Breed Holstein-Friesian They are known as the world's highest- production dairy animals. They are famed for their large dairy production, averaging 22,530 pounds of milk per year. Usually black and white or red and white in colour, typically exhibiting piebald pattern.  Breed Jersey The Jersey is a British breed of small dairy cattle from Jersey, in the British Channel Island It is highly productive – cows may give over 10 times their own weight in milk per lactation; the milk is high in butterfat and has a characteristic yellowish tinge. The Jersey cow ranges from only 400 to 500 kilograms (880 to 1,100 lb)lands.  Breed Ayrshire Ayrshires typically have red and white markings; the red can range from a shade of orange to a dark brown. Their milk production can reach 20,000 lb (9,100 kg) or greater per annum.  Breed Brown Swiss The American Brown Swiss is of medium size. The coat is usually a light grayish brown, but varies from almost white to gray or dark brown. There may some shading in the coat, with the forequarters often darker than the legs and hind parts. The muzzle is black, ringed with creamy white.  Breed Guernsey The Guernsey is from the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It is fawn or red and white in colour, and is hardy and docile. It produces rich and flavoursome milk, high in fat and protein, and has a golden-yellow tinge due to its high β-carotene content.  Feeding and Operations 1. Conventional operations feed grown on the farm or purchased elsewhere is brought to the cows. Typical examples of cow feed include hay (which is grown, cut, dried, harvested and baled in the field for later feeding to cows), and corn silage (which is made from chopped and fermented corn that is stored in silos or plastic bags before being fed to cows).  Feeding and Operations 2. Grazing or Pasture operations. On these farms, rather than bringing the feed to the cow, the cows are brought to the feed in the pasture. Many operations take advantage of intermittent pasture by allowing grazing when it is available and then feeding cows indoors during seasonal, inclement weather.  Housing Dairy cattle require proper housing throughout their lifetime in order to maintain safety and health. Dairy farmers typically use different types of housing depending on the age and the stage of the animals’ life cycle and region in which they live. Calves individual pens or hutches typically made of plastic or wood. Raising calves in individual hutches has some health benefits including individual feeding and less opportunity for transfer of diseases between calves. calves can also be raised in groups, although this is less common than the use of individual calf hutches or pens  Housing Adult lactating cows There are three major types of primary housing 1. Tie Stalls/Stanchion This housing type combines housing and milking at one location; cows are restrained in a bedded stall, with an area for eating and drinking in front of them and a manure collection channel behind. The milking system used in this system can be fixed or portable but in either case the cows are milked while standing in the Tie Stall.  Housing 2. Free Stall In this type of housing there are individual stalls with metal pipe partitions between stalls, and cattle are not confined to one particular stall. Cows can move around freely and have access to feeding areas and water troughs. 3. Dry Lot A dry lot is an outdoor pen typically augmented with shade structures. About one-third of dairies in the western U.S. (California, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington) are dry lot operations.  Milking Two general types of milking facilities: 1. Tie stall/stanchion cows are typically milked while standing in their individual stall 2. Parlor cows are walked multiple times per day to a dedicated milking area (parlor)  Milking Types of Milking parlor 1. Side Opening (Tandem) Parlor - Cows are milked from the side in this system. These are more suited to operations with up to about 400 cows where there is a high level of management and more individualized care for cows while in the parlor. 2. Herringbone (Fishbone) Parlor - In this system cows are milked while standing on an elevated platform in about a 45-degree angle facing away from the milker. In this system cows are milked from the side. 3. Parallel (Side by Side) Parlor – In this system cows stand on an elevated platform at a 90-degree angle facing away from the milker who must milk the cows from between the rear legs of the cow. The advantage to this system is that the distance between animals is shorter and reduces walking distance for the milkers. Milking  Milking 4. Rotary (Carousel; Turnstile) Parlor In this type of parlor, cows move onto a rotating platform, facing either inward or outward depending on the system. While this system is typically more costly to construct, the actual day to day milking procedures are more automated and more efficient. As such, this system is best suited to large herds (>1000 cows). This system does not easily allow for individualized cow treatment  Identification Keeping track of which dairy cows are healthy and profitable requires animal identification and accurate record keeping. Common identification methods: Ear tags Neck chains or collars Leg bands Branding Tattoos  Record Keeping It is critically important for farmers to have established control systems in order to avoid drug residues in milk. Recommendations include identifying and tracking animals to which drugs were administered in order to preclude the sale of edible animal tissue, milk, or eggs containing illegal residues. Identification may be by specific animal identification, pen or lot, quarantine or segregation, or other means  Lactation Lactation begins immediately following calving. The first milk that is expressed from the udder after calving and during the first several days of lactation is called colostrum and has higher concentrations of protein, fat, vitamins and antibodies (immunoglobulins) compared to regular milk.  Lactation Milk from recently fresh cows is withheld from the bulk tank for approximately four days following calving to ensure that colostrum is not accidentally collected into the bulk tank and sold for human consumption. Often, milk from cows during the first three to four days following calving is commingled and fed to calves After the voluntary waiting period is over, the cow will be bred again usually by AI.  Lactation Fresh cows (those that have just calved) may be segregated from the rest of the herd for a period of days to make sure that they are not experiencing any complications following calving. After this designated fresh period is over, a cow will be introduced into the main milking herd to enter the normal milking cycle on the dairy. On many dairies, cows are often grouped based on age and/or milk production and fed specific rations to meet the metabolic needs necessary to support the level of milk production in a particular group  Lactation A dairy cow will be milked during most of her pregnancy and will typically produce milk for about ten months. On most dairies cows are milked between two and three times per day. In a typical lactation, milk production increases very rapidly, peaks around two months following calving, and then slowly decreases. A dairy cow will stop being milked about two months before she is due to give birth.  Lactation This two month period, after milking has stopped and before the next calf is born, is known as the dry period. During this time, the cow is able to gain back weight that may have been lost and the udder is able to repair and regenerate secretory tissue At the beginning of the dry period, the farmer may administer antibiotics that are infused into each teat. This practice is known as dry cow treatment and is done to assist in clearing any udder infections that might have developed during lactation and to prevent new udder infections that develop during the dry period.  Lactation The entire cycle of breeding, calving and milking is repeated throughout a dairy cow’s life The average dairy cow has a calf approximately every 13 months and will complete three to five of these cycles during her lifetime prior to leaving the herd A dairy cow will leave the herd for a number of reasons. There is a relatively low on-farm mortality rate for dairy heifers and cows, but it is possible for an animal to become sick or injured and die or need to be humanely euthanized. Thank you