Calves

• What is calving?


  A cow giving birth.
• What is steaming up?


  Putting a cow on a high concentrate diet on her last month of pregnancy so the cow has enough energy for (+ after) calving.
• What is dry-cow feeding?

  Feeding the cow a high-fibre roughage diet.
• What is colostrum (beestings)?


  The first milk produced during late pregnancies.
• What makes colostrum beneficial?


  Prevents disease through active passive immunity.
• How does colostrum prevent disease?

  It is filled with antibodies and white blood cells.
• Give 2 examples on the feeding value of colostrum.

  Acts as a laxative for the calf, and raises the body temperature.
• What is a suckler beef system?

  Refers to when the calf is fed milk replacement.
• Why is a suckler beef system ideal to use?

  It is cheaper, as the farmer can sell the mother's natural milk.
• When + how should solid food be introduced to a calf?


  Solid food (hay and concentrate) should be introduced in small amounts in the first week.
• Why do calves need to be introduced to solid food?

  Calves are born with access to the abomasum, but need to consume fibre in order to open the rumen, reticulum and omasum.
• What is the daily target weight of a calf?

  Gaining 1kg / day.
• How much should a calf weigh at birth?

  40kg.
• What does turnout refer to?

  A period of stress linked o rapid feeding + environmental change.
• How much should a calf weigh at turnout?

  72.5kg.
• How much should a calf weigh before first housing?

  200kg.
• How much should a calf weigh after first housing?

  280kg.
• How much should a cow weigh during mating?

  300kg.
• How much should a cow weigh during calving?

  550kg.
• Why does a calf need to be 300kg at 15 months?

  To ensure it's sexual organs are fully developed, and to avoid difficult calving.
• What factors are looked at in the selection critera for AI?


  Records, physical characteristics, and BCS.
• What does EBI mean?


  Economic breeding index.
• What does BCS stand for?

  Body condition score.
• What does BCS mean?

  The ratio of fat to lean meat.
• What is a calving interval?

  The time between 2 succesive births.