Term
| How long ago were cattle first domesticated? |
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Definition
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Term
| What species of cow is our common european cow? |
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Definition
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Term
| How long ago were cattle first domesticated? |
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Definition
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Term
| Give 4 reasons why cows are farmed. |
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Definition
| Meat, milk, leather, fertilizer, draught animals, fuel. |
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Term
True or false?
Cows have a linear hierachy. |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the definition of a 'cow'? |
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Definition
| Any female bovine that has given birth at least once. |
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Term
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Definition
| A cow kept to give bith to calves reared for meat production. |
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Term
True or false?
A bullock is a young male bovine. |
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Definition
| FALSE- a bullock (or 'steer') is a male bovine that has been castrated. |
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Term
| What is a bovine that is a 'store'? |
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Definition
| One that is being underfed over winter cheaply, then turned out onto grass in the spring, where it will undergo compensatory growth. |
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Term
| What are the two main components of a bovine diet? |
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Definition
| Roughage and supplementary feed. |
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Term
| How is grass silage produced? |
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Definition
| Grass is preserved by pickling |
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Term
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Definition
| The stem of cereals (wheat, barley, oats), a waste product after combining. |
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Term
True or false.
Straw can be used as a bedding material. |
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Definition
| TRUE. It is hay that shouldn't be. |
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Term
| Give an example of a 'straight'. |
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Definition
| Soya bean meal, wheat, barley, maize gluten, sugar beat pulp |
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Term
| What is the approximate weight of an adult cow? |
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Definition
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Term
| At what age do most cows reach puberty? |
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Definition
| 10-12 months (40% of adult body weight) |
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Term
| How long is a cow's oestrus cycle? |
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Definition
| 21 days (18-24 days at extremes) |
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Term
True or false.
Cows are induced ovulators |
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Definition
| FALSE- they are polyoestrus and cycle regularly throughout the year. |
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Term
| What is the gestation for a cow? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the signs of oestrus? |
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Definition
| Standing to be mounted, or mounting of other cows (esp the head and neck). Chin resting, Flehmen reaction, string of clear mucus hanging from vulva. Restlessness, dirty flanks (from being mounted), steaming back, unusual behaviour, decreased milk yield. |
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Term
| How often do we aim for a dairy or beef cow to give birth? |
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Definition
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Term
True or false?
Dairy cows almost always use natural service. |
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Definition
| False. AI is usually used because it is easier to get semen from a good bull that will continue to produce good heifers for milking. |
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