Dairy Cattle

Introduction

Unit Map Set UpUnit name: Dairy Cattle Industry

Unit Essential Question: How does the dairy industry operate?

Lesson Essential QuestionWhat is the dairy industry?

Warm-upWhat do you think of when you

see this?

Dairy Cattle IndustryMost difficult to manageHigh producing dairy cows bred to give large amounts of milk that can overwhelm the animal without proper management

Dairy Cattle IndustryValue of dairy products exceeded $37 billion nationally

Most labor intensiveMilking 2-3 times a day, 7 days a week

Dairy Cattle IndustryConsumer demand lower fat diets

Food scientists respond with specialty items

Ex: Fat-free yogurt, cream cheese, and frozen dairy deserts

Dairy Cattle IndustryRank in Production- top 5

CaliforniaWisconsinNew YorkPennsylvaniaIdaho

Dairy Cattle IndustryFewer dairy farms own more cows= more milk per farm

Dairy Cattle Industry

Dairy Cattle Industry2008- 70,000 operational dairy farms

40 years ago- 2 million dairy farms

# of farm declines, but pounds of milk increased by 20,000 pounds per cow

Dairy Cattle Industry2009- 9.2 million dairy cows in the US produced over 185 billion pounds of milk worth over $37 billion

US leads the world in milk production per cow and in total milk production

Exit QuestionWhy are there more cows on less farms now then in the past?

Dairy Cattle

Breeds

Warm-upName some breeds of dairy cattle that you know!

Lesson Essential QuestionWhat are the breeds of dairy cattle and how do they differ?

Holstein

Dominate the industryWell over 90% of the dairy cattle in the US

Officially known as Holstein-Fresians

Holstein

From Netherlands and Northern Germany

Arrived in US in mid-1800sSince 1970- genetic progress due to rigorous selection

Holstein

Total solids % are lowerMature Holstein weighs 1500 to 1750 pounds

Holstein

Jersey

Weigh about 1000 poundsDeveloped on the island of Jersey, off the coast of France

First imported early 1800s

Jersey

Coat color ranges from light tan to almost black

2008 registrations- 94,774 (2nd in popularity)

Ability to efficiently convert feed to milk

Jersey

Lower body maintenance needs

Amount of milk lowerTotal solids %- highest of all breeds

Jersey

Brown Swiss

3rd most popularRegistrations totaled 10,824 in 2008

Originated SwitzerlandCame to US in mid-18002

Brown Swiss

Normally brown to graySimilar to Holsteins in sizeKnown for ability to produce milk in hot climates

Brown Swiss

2nd in milk productionTotal solids % in middle of all breeds

Brown Swiss

Ayrshire

Smaller breeds (mature weight 1200 lbs)

4,763 registrations in 2008

Red and white

Ayrshire

Imported early 1800sMilk production midway of all breeds

Total solids % low Originated Ayr district of Scotland

Ayrshire

Guernsey

Developed Island of Guernsey (coast of France)

Imported early 1800sMedium sized red and white breed

Guernsey

Larger then Jerseys Mature weight- 1100 lbsProduce more milk than Jerseys

Golden Guernsey milk lower in total solids then Jersey milk

Guernsey

Deep yellow/golden milk due to beta carotene (precursor to vitamin A)

5,101 registrations in 2008

Guernsey

Milking Shorthorn

3,150 in 2008Originated from base stock of beef shorthorns and may be red, white, red and white or roan.

Milking Shorthorn

Red and White

Open herdMost genetically based in red mutation of the Holstein

4,020 in 2008

Red and White

ID- Tell me what breed the picture is

ID- Tell me what breed the picture is

ID- Tell me what breed the picture is

ActivityStudents will be given a packet on how to judge dairy cattle. They will answer the questions and then judge the pictures they are given.

Dairy Cattle

Milking

Warm-upHow much milk do we get from a cow per day?

8-35 liters per day2.11 to 9.25 gallons

Lesson Essential Question

How do you milk a cow?

MilkingCows are milked 2 times a day, some 3 times

Fill in organizer as we go

The Milking Process

1. At milking time, wash the teats, wear glovesDisinfecting the teats and triggers the release of oxytocin, which initiates milk let-down

The Milking Process

The Milking Process

2. Teats are then dried with individual paper towels

The Milking Process

The Milking Process

3. One inflation of the claw of the milking machine is placed on each teat or quarter

The Milking Process

The Milking Process

4. Vacuum applied to inflation, which draws the milk from the udder

The Milking Process

The Milking Process

5. When milk stops, vacuum is removed

The Milking Process

6. Each teat is then dipped in Iodine to prevent bacterial invasion

Total time: 7 minutes

The Milking Process

The Milking Process

Now lets practice!!

Dairy Cattle

Parasites and Diseases

Warm-up

List the steps in the milking process.

Lesson Essential Question

What are the parasites and diseases for dairy cattle?

Brochure

Students will be assigned a disease/parasite

They are to create a pamphlet on that disease and present it to the class. 30 minutes

MastitisInfection and inflammation of the udder

Causes greatest economic loss to the industry

Acute-hot, swollen udder-drop in milk production

Treated with antibiotics

KetosisMetabolic disorder with a negative energy balance

Caused by underfeeding, stress, other infections

Treated by IV of glucose injections

Displaced Abomasum“twisted stomach” When abomasum moves to an abnormal position

Caused by feeding too much silage or concentrate before calving

Veterinarian consulted for treatment

Milk FeverImbalance of calcium muscle paralysis and prevents cows from standing

calcium and phosphorus supplements to prevent

Treated with infusion of calcium salts

Retained PlacentaPlacenta not expelled after birth

Quickly become infectedVet remove or allow it to hang and it will release

Caused by heat stress, low vitamin E, and selenium in bloodstream

MetritisResulting infection of a retained placenta

Abnormal discharge from vulva, go off feed, and stand with backs arched

Antibiotics treat

Dairy CattleHousing

Warm-up

How must cattle be housed?

Lesson Essential Question

What is the proper housing for dairy cattle?

Newborn and Young Calves Housing

Individual stalls, inside or outside Better ventilation outside

Less respiratory diseaseCalf hutches popular after weaning

Newborn and Young Calves Housing

At 8 weeks, heifers normally grouped with other heifers of similar age

Separate heifer growing barn

Open front sheds are also popular

Traditional HousingTie-stall barns- tied to individual stalls during milking and the rest of the day released into pasture at night in summer

Traditional HousingFree-stall housing- allow cows to enter and leave as they wish. Feed bunk at center. Milked in tie-stalls or a milking parlour

Traditional MilkingParlour System- cows come to the milker.

Group enters at a time- udders at chest level for milker in a pit. All cows washed and milked at same time. Increase # of cows a person can milk per hour

Traditional Milking

Robotic Milking system- reduce milking labor requirements. Allow cows access 24 hours a day. Sensors

Housing and Milking

Draw a picture that represents the different types of housing and the different types of milking. Create 4 different pictures and be sure to label each one.

Dairy Cattle

Care/Nutrition

Warm-up

What are the different types of housing for cattle?

Lesson Essential Question

What is the proper care and nutrition needed for cattle?

Calf Care/Nutrition

Starts within 24 hours of birth

Calves are weaned immediately after receiving colostrum

Colostrum- first milk

Calf Care/Nutrition

Cows returned to the milking herd after parturition

Parturition- giving birth in cows

Calves raised by humans

Calf Care/Nutrition

6 to 8 pints of milk replacer fed to calf for first 5 to 8 weeks

1 week- access to small amounts of grain calf starter

Calf Care/Nutrition

Weaned from milk when calf starter consumption reaches 4 pounds a day

Replace milk with water gradually

Calf Care/Nutrition

Not born with developed Rumen

Develops during first 12 weeks

Calf Care/Nutrition

12 weeks to 1 year- fed a grain mix containing a feed additive (monensin or lasalocid) and high quality hay or silage

Heifers should gain 1.5 to 1.8 pounds per day

Calf Care/Nutrition

Heifers reach breeding size and puberty at 11 to 12 months

Heifer FeedAfter breeding, heifers fed free-choice, high-quality forageGrain mix may be added to ensure proper development and provide minerals and vitamins

Heifer FeedHeifers should weigh 1200 pounds at 24 months of age, when they deliver their first calf

Do not allow heifers to become fat

Lactating Dairy CowsNutritional needs dependent on body size and milk production

Cows are “dried off” (milking stopped) about 60 days before the next expected calf

Feeding Dairy CattleMost dairy producers employ a professional nutritional consultant, feed company nutritionist, veterinarian or extension person to balance dairy diets

Dry Dairy CattleDry cows fed a diet of forages

Often fed grain to provide vitamins, minerals and salt

Activity!On the worksheet you will read about different cattle, give a detailed description about what their diet should contain.

Dairy Cattle

Anatomy

Warm-up

How is a dairy cow able to produce so much milk?

Lesson Essential Question

What are the parts of a dairy cow?

Activity!Fill in the pictures as we go.

Anatomy

AnatomyCows udders have four compartments with one test hanging from each

Cells remove water and nutrients and convert it to milk

AnatomyThe milk drips into a cistern which holds the milk

When teat is squeezed, milk is released

AnatomyMouth is adapted for grazing

Top part of mouth is a hard pad

Bottom part is a row of flat-topped teeth

Grind food between two parts

AnatomyEars can turn in any direction, they are used to hear signs of danger from any direction

Tails are used to shoo insects

AnatomyHorns on BullsFemale cows may have small horns too

Horns made of ‘Keratin’Horns can be removed without discomfort

Anatomy

Stomach4 partsCows swallow their food and then regurgitate a “cud” which is then chewed well and swallowed

StomachRumen- largest part, holds up to 50 gallons of partially digested food

Where ‘cud’ comes fromGood bacteria here help soften and digest the cows food and provides protein

StomachReticulum- if cow eats something it shouldn’t have, it goes here

Grass softened and formed into ‘cud’ here

StomachOmasum- the filter. Filters through all the food the cow eats.

Cud is pressed and broken down further

StomachAbomasum- this part like the humans stomach

Food is finally digested here Essential nutrients are passed to the bloodstream

Remainder passed to the intestines

Book Work

Page 50, True or False, Fill in the Blank, and the Discussion Questions

SHARE BOOKS!

Dairy Cattle

Breeding

Warm-upHow many parts are there in the stomach of a cow? Which one is the most like ours?

Lesson Essential QuestionHow do cattle breed?

BreedingCrossbreeding not common in dairy cattle

Most dairy cows in the US are purebreds

First to adopt artificial insemination on a large scale

BreedingMost dairy cows are a result of artificial insemination

Artificial insemination (AI)- placing of sperm in the reproductive tract of the female by means other than that of the natural breeding process

BreedingProducers using AI release cows to watch for standing heat at least twice a day

Standing heat- standing still when another cow attempts to mount

BreedingStanding heat is primary sign that a cow is ready to conceive

BreedingSecondary signs include- nervous bawling, restlessness, attempts to mount other cows, clear mucous discharge from vulva, and a sharp drop in milk production

ActivityTaste testing dairy products!

Tell me which one is whole milk, 2%, 1% or skim milk

Tell me if any are soy milkHow do you know?