Food Animal Exam 2
What are the characteristics of dairy production?
-historically a combination of multiple enterprises --> growing feed (pasture, forage, grains), raising calves, breeding, milking cows -recently some producers have developed these activities into specialized enterprises -like all animal production, need to also feed, house, manage, dispose of waste
What is the nutrition of a preweaned dairy calf?
-historically not fed for maximum weight gain -concept = promote early rumen development (solid feed intake promotes rumen fxn) -more recently = improved milk replacer composition, increased milk feeding, increased energy and protein intake, improved weight gain, improved disease resistance, improved long term health and production
What are the concerns with cage-free systems?
-housing costs per bird are higher -feed costs are higher -labor requirements are higher -increased risk of disease with litter-based housing -increased dust production -floor eggs = loss of money -cannibalism -regquires lots of space (potential increase of 400% more land)
What are the characteristics of calf housing?
-individual housing is common -outside individual hutches -decrease exposure to pathogens (cows shed pathogens to calves, older calves transmit pathogens to younger, enteric pathogens particularly problematic for young calves) -ventilation to decrease respiratory pathogens -straw or sawdust bedding for preweaned calves -current trend is for group housing -larger farms can segregate easily by days of age which is NOT possible with small herds (still separate from adult animals, still decreases exposure to older calves, better socialization of calves) -new feeding technologies maintain hygienic liquid feed
What are the health concerns with transition cows?
-infectious disease (mastitis, metritis, pneumonia) -metabolic disease (hypocalcemia, ketosis, fatty liver) -increased metabolic disease risk -negative energy balance = milk production has high energy and protein demands, peak production occurs before peak feed intake, generally expect decreasing body condition, heifers have additional needs for growth
What are the concerns with induced molting?
-layer welfare -stress on the birds -mortality -increased infectious disease during/after molt
What are colony systems (aviary) for layers?
-like the conventional broiler housing system -no cages -chickens are free to roam around the entire barn/house
What are some characteristics for dairy cow housing/bedding?
-lying areas must be appropriately sized -cow comfort and time lying (important to cow welfare, production, health) -sand bedding is the BEST material (minimal organic matter --> fewer bacteria, reduced mastitis, maintains cow dryness --> drains water, comfortable, cool in summer)
How do dairy producers add to the beef supply?
-market cows (non-fed) -dairy beef (fed cattle) -veal
What are the benefits to induced molting?
-maximizes layer egg production -hen health --> gives hen a period of rest, loss of weight associated with regeneration of reproduction system -keeps egg prices low by keeping production high through 100+ weeks of age -supported by the AVMA
What is induced (forced) molting?
-methods = fast and photoperiod induced (NOT recommended); non-fast-induced (recommended; nonnutritive diets, high salt diets, control of lighting, many other methods)
What are the requirements for the space a layer needs?
-minimum of 67-86 square inches per bird (the EU requires 295 square inches per bird)
What are some of the dairy information technologies used?
-monitors for animal movement (lameness, estrus, maternity management, lying time, feeding) -rumen sensors to monitor body temp (illness, estrus, calving) -milk monitoring (mastitis, hormone levels, milk constituents) -reproductive hormones (pregnancy detection, estrus synchronization) -genomic selection
What are some of the pros for the current dairy housing methods?
-more efficient use of land (harvesting forages is more efficient land use than grazing --> 30-50% more forage per acre) -minimizes parasitism -minimizes toxic plants -minimizes environmental risks to cows -proper design decreases heat and cold stress and environmental damage -improves animal management (calving, breeding, feeding)
What are some disadvantages to dry lots?
-more weather exposure -inclement weather bid deal -higher pathogen exposure -dusty when dry
What are the advantages to freestalls?
-movement -freedom -feed access
What are the dairy animal life stages?
-newborn calf (critical life stage) = 60-100 lbs at birth; nursing (milk fed or milk replacer), usually orphan reared -preweaning = beginning to eat solid feed (typically weaned at 8 wks; consuming calf starter pellets; 150-225 lbs)
What are some of the statistics for egg production?
-number of layers is 325 million (including table and hatching eggs) -egg production is 96.9 billion table eggs and 1.08 billion hatching eggs (layers and broilers) -daily egg production per 100 layers is 81 eggs/100 layers
What are the characteristics of lactation?
-peak lactation -mid lactation -late lactation -measured by days in milk (DIM) = ideal is 305 day lactation, 365 days to next lactation; infrequently achieved, typically 13.5 month calving interval -breeding = usually commences 60-80 DIM, usually AI, commonly use hormones to manipulate reproductive cycles
What are the characteristics of calving?
-precalving = special diet to decrease metabolic problems -calving = dystocia concerns -"fresh" cows = cows that have recently calved -transition cows = first several wks of lactation
What are the concerns with free-range poultry production?
-predators -biosecurity is very difficult -cannot control feed/water -turf destruction -parasite loads -waste removal -environmental conditions (weather, outdoor hazards like fencing and toxins, water sources) -DISEASE!!!
What are calf ranches/calf growers?
-specialized in calf rearing -may arise from 1 day of age -some raise weaned calves -raise through breeding -return to home farm before calving
What are enriched colony caging systems for layers?
-the cages are bigger and allow for more room for the chickens to walk around -they also have perches for the chickens to use
What are some of the changes the dairy industry has undergone?
-traditionally dairying is pasture based -now the dairy industry rapidly adopts new technology (housing, nutrition, milking, genetics/reproduction, information
What are the characteristics of breeding in dairy cows?
-usually commences 60-80 DIM -voluntary waiting period -usually AI -commonly use hormones to manipulate reproductive cycles -open cows after several AI attempts may be bull bred (clean-up bull) -days open (days to conception) = determines length of lactation
What is heifer rearing?
-weaning to breeding -forage feed -bred at 13-15 months -mostly AI breeding -bred at 850 lbs (about 60-65% mature weight)
True or False: The number of eggs each bird produces has increased in the US over time due to less disease, better genetics, and better nutrition.
True
True or False: The number of hatcheries has decreased by the number of eggs being produced has increased.
True
True or False: The number of herds has decreased over time.
True
True or False: The number of licensed dairies has decreased over time because of the economic changes occurring.
True
True or False: The operations with <100 cows make up the greater number of operations in the US.
True
True or False: The poultry industry is very vertically integrated. It takes a while to go back and change undesirable traits.
True
True or False: The ratio of the number of people per dairy cow has increased.
True
True or False: The total milk production has increased by 44% over time.
True
True or False: There is a large number of small producers but they are less productive. There is a small number of large producers but they are more productive.
True
True or False: There is a shift to larger herd sizes.
True
True or False: Tie stalls are the most common housing method for small dairies (<80 cows) and the stalls are adapted to the size of the animal.
True
True or False: Turkeys are all artificially inseminated because their breast mm. are too big.
True
True or False: Turkeys have been getting bigger and bigger over time. Females are used as whole birds and the males are used for further processed products.
True
True or False: US wholesale milk prices have decreased over time.
True
True or False: Unlike chickens, turkeys can be raised in higher altitudes and like colder temperatures.
True
True or False: We export 18% of the total production of milk.
True
True or False: Yogurt consumption has generally increased over time.
True
True or False: 18% of the total poultry production in the US is exported.
True (we are one of the largest but NOT the largest producer)
What is the primary US diary breed?
holstein
Where are most of the turkeys located in the US?
in the northeast
Where are most of the chickens located in the US?
in the southeast
How many turkeys are there in 2022?
210 million turkeys (6.6 billion lbs production)
What is the average market weight for a turkey?
29.1 lbs (toms are 40+ lbs)
What is the current average live weight of a broiler?
6.33 lbs
How many broilers are there in 2022?
9.2 billion (59.3 billion lbs live weight)
How many dairy cows are in the US?
9.2-9.4 million
True or False: Heifers have lower "peak milk" but are more "persistent through lactation compared to cows.
True
True or False: Hormone use in chickens is banned.
True
True or False: Housing for turkeys and chickens is at a high stocking density close to slaughter.
True
True or False: Ice cream consumption per capita has decreased over time.
True
True or False: In general, the per capita egg consumption in the US has increased over time.
True
True or False: Layers are raised in cages because they are clean and have a low risk for pathogens.
True
True or False: Milk products drive the market NOT fluid milk.
True
True or False: More milk produced per cow = less methane and waste.
True
True or False: Most of the milk supply is utilized for other products besides dry why products., dry skim milk products, frozen products, butter, cheese. fluid milk, and yogurt.
True
True or False: Most of the production and sales in the value of US poultry production is in poultry (specifically broilers)?
True
True or False: Over the past decade, farm-level milk prices have been volatile.
True
True or False: The average live weight for turkeys has increased .
True
True or False: The milk production per cow has increased by 52%.
True
True or False: The number of dairy cows has decreased over time.
True
True or False: The number of dairy operations has decreased 67% over time.
True
What is the combined value of production from broilers, turkeys, and layers?
$77 billion in 2022 (the number has continued to increase over the years)
What are the top five states for total milk production?
-California -Wisconsin -Idaho -Texas -New York
What are the concerns with confinement housing in chickens/turkeys?
-air quality -stocking density -confinement of animals
What are the advantages to tie stalls?
-comfortable for people -traditional -good animal restraint -good fit for small dairies
What are some disadvantages to freestalls?
-concrete (hard on feet, can be slippery) -opportunities for injury -lameness is a MAJOR problem
What are the different mortality rates for the different housing systems for layers?
-conventional = 4.7% -enriched = 4.95% -aviary = 11.75%
What are some of the dairy information systems used?
-cow information = ID, age, DIM, dates of events, lineage -production = milk, protein, fat -reproduction = conception, breedings, status -health events = diagnoses and treatments
What is the dry period?
-cows are dried off = cease lactation -usually 60 days prepartum -rejuvenate mammary tissue -prepare for next lactation -far-off dry cows = 60 - 14 days prepartum -close-up dry cows = 14 days to delivery (freshening) -special dietary needs to prevent metabolic problems -maternity cows = within few days of delivery (seen by "springing" = change of tail head and perineal ligaments)
How are dairy cows housed now?
-dairy animals typically housed for significant periods of the year --> they are NOT on pasture all year round (weather, feed availability, cannot expect good production on year-round pasture) -numerous styles of hosing -match animal needs, human needs (calves vs young stock vs lactating cows, feeding, movement, bedding)
What are some preweaned calf health issues?
-dystocia (impacts on perinatal survival; physiological challenges day 1-3) -enteric disease (viral, protozoal, bacterial; number one challenge 3 days to 3 wks of life) -respiratory infection = viral, bacterial (primary infectious challenge 3 wks to breeding age) -other problems = umbilicus, joints, sepsis, parasites, nutritional
What are the downsides to sand bedding?
-expensive -must be managed
What are some changes in the dairy industry?
-feeding = manual labor, component feeding -mechanization = improved storage -feed movement -feed storage -feed processing -commodity feeds -total mixed rations (TMR) -reproduction = mostly AI, estrus synchronization, timed insemination -clean up bulls = used on many dairies for cows not conceiving by AI (some dairies are still bull bred) -rapidly adopts new technology (housing, nutrition, milk handling, genetics/reproduction, information) -computer monitoring and record keeping -milk monitors -electronic animal identification -AI bull selection based on daughter performance
What are economies of size?
-full use of existing resources -technologies -engineering economics (price of equipment does NOT increase proportionally with size) -use of specialized resources -input prices (discounts for buying in bulk) -management (improve efficiency of labor force)
What are some advantages to dry lots?
-good animal freedom -good footing (when it is dry) -very low cost
What are the concerns with layer bird production?
-hens at the end of their production = spent hens -no use for male chicks (culled)
What are the UEP molting guidelines?
-hens must be provided with a suitable feed -water must be available -light period must be no less than 8 hours/day -body weight loss should not compromise welfare -total mortality should not substantially exceed normal flock mortality
What are the disadvantages to tie stalls?
-high level of restraint -labor intensive -difficult to ventilate -high cost per cow
How many layers are there in 2022?
110 billion eggs
True or False: Information technologies are more easily implemented by larger operations. We are decreasing the number of people needed because of the increase in automated systems being implemented.
True
True or False: Chickens have gotten bigger and bigger and the number of birds slaughtered has increased over time.
True
True or False: Conventional operations produce the most amount of milk compared to other operation types.
True
True or False: Crossbreeding has been minimally used in the dairy industry.
True
True or False: Despite all of the changes in size, scale, and adoption of new technologies, the dairy industry remains very diverse.
True
True or False: Egg production in the US has increased in the number of eggs being produced.
True
True or False: At a global level we have increased to number of cows but NOT at a country level.
True
True or False: Broiler production has increased in the number of lbs produced.
True
True or False: Cheese consumption per person has increased over time.
True
True or False: Chicken has really increased because of the price. Chicken is also very versatile and the most popular meet in America.
True
What is the largest segment of the broiler processing product type?
cut-up/parts
What was traditional housing like for dairy cows?
pasture
Where is most of the weight located on the broiler?
the breast
Why can broilers put a lot of weight on?
they are very efficient with feed conversion
What happens when you wash eggs?
you remove the cuticle
