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Chapter 2: Breeds and Life Cycles of Livestock and Poultry. Unit 2b: Dairy Life Cycle - history and general production of dairy cattle. Dairy Cattle in the Americas :. 1607 : Virginia colony, all eaten 1611 : Jamestown colony, survival! 1625 : Dutch colonies; herds began.
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Chapter 2: Breeds and Life Cycles of Livestock and Poultry Unit 2b: Dairy Life Cycle - history and general production of dairy cattle
Dairy Cattle in the Americas: • 1607: Virginia colony, all eaten • 1611: Jamestown colony, survival! • 1625: Dutch colonies; herds began
Dairy Cattle Genealogy: • Genus: Bos • Species: taurus(typicus) • Common term: bovine • All 6 major US breeds come from European stock
Historical Perspectives: • Early American dairy cattle were dual and triple purpose • Milk • Meat • Draft labor • Dairy herds developed around population centers for ease of delivery of fresh product
Dairy Life Cycle: Calving • Year-round calving is most common in the US to promote a steady flow of milk for sale • Some seasonal calving utilized to reduce milking and calving in the coldest months or to support grazing-based systems • Gestation in cattle is about 9 months
Newborn Calf Management: • Birth weight: 60-100 pounds • Colostrum feeding - hand feeding compared to beef nursing • Weaning from dam - within first day as compared to 7 months for beef • Navel dipping - antiseptic solution • Identification - begin record keeping
Colostrum Feeding: • The first milk produced by the cow around the time of calving • Concentrated in preformed antibodies • Provides passive immunity to the calf • Should be received within an hour of birth • Colostrum often bottle fed to assure consumption
Other Contrasts to Beef: • After colostrum, calves are fed reconstituted milk-replacer and weaned from milk at approximately one month of age • Calves are raised in hutches or specialized calf facilities
Calf Management: First Month • Horn removal - if not genetically polled • Males are generally sold at one day of age to specialty growers for beef production • Castrate - bull calves for beef will be castrated in the first week to month of age
Female Replacements: • Goal 1: first calf by 2 years of age • Selected females will be bred at about 15 months of age • Goal 2: 12 month calving intervals • Rebred by 90 days post-calving • Full maturity reached at about 5-6 years
12 Month Production Cycle: • Lactation is initiated by calving • Standard lactation period: 10 months • Peak production reached at 45 days • Dry period: 2 months • Cessation of production and rebuilding of body stores and mammary gland • Lactation is reinitiated by calving
Dairy Bulls: • Compared to beef: • Pre-selected via planned matings • Very few bull calves selected • AI organizations (“bull studs”) predominate • Feedlot performance not tested (USA)