Bovine HandlingMelissa L. Hayden BS,CVT,LATThis workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded under the Presidents Community-Based Job Training Grants as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labors Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.

Reproduction/Production

Cattle gestation: ~ 280 days Milk production: ~ 305 days Dry period: ~ 60 days

Top 3 Dairy Breeds-WIHolsteinJerseyBrown Swiss

Milk AveragesHolstein- WI avg. 80lbs./Day*Avg. mature weight = 1300lbs.* Highest output while maintaining mod. high fat & protein levels in milkJersey- WI avg. 65lbs./Day*Avg. mature weight = 1000lbs.* Lower overall milk output, BUT highest fat content of any milking dairy breedBrown Swiss- WI avg. 85lbs./Day*Avg. mature weight = 1500lbs.*Slightly higher milk output than a holstein but on avg. much lower fat & protein content

Top 3 Beef BreedsAngus (Black or Red)SimmentalHereford

VocabularyCow intact adult femaleHeifer 1-2 yrs of age never had a calfSpringing Heifer within 1-2 weeks of having her first calfCalf newborn bovineBull intact adult maleSteer castrated male

Handling/RestraintThe single most important thing to know about the way animals perceive the world: animals see details people don't see. They are totally detail-oriented. That's the key.

Dr. Temple Grandin

What influences cattle behavior?Dairy Cattle have evolved from prey animals

Designed to eat and drink large quantities in a short time

Social animals w/ a herd hierarchy

Vision & Thermal comfort is much different than that of humans

Cattle VisionCan see behind themselves without turning their heads (approx. 300 degrees)

Do have depth perception, but they have difficulty perceiving depth at ground level

*Cattle will balk (throw head and stop moving forward) at unknown objects & shadows at ground level. This is NORMAL cattle behavior. The walking path should be free of obstruction and/or foreign objects.

Cattle Vision

Cattle MovementPOINT OF BALANCE

The point of balance is at the animal's shoulder

The animal will move FORWARD if the handler stands behind the point of balance & vice versa.

Cattle Movement

NutritionRuminant Four compartments to the stomach *Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum, Abomasum

Monogastric One stomach

Ruminant Digestion

VocabularyHerbivore an animal with a diet consisting of plant and fiber material (Example: Cattle)

Omnivore an animal that can digest most plant material and meat (Example: Humans)

Carnivore an animal with a diet consisting mostly of meat (Example: Lions)

Cattle Disease -NutritionalKetosisDisplaced AbomasumHypocalcemia Milk FeverWhite Muscle DiseaseHardware Disease

KetosisWhen glucose is not available as an energy source for the body, Ketones are metabolized instead

Ketones are acidic and are difficult for the body to efficiently get rid of

Ketones (in high amounts) can be toxic to the liver and kidneys*Atkins Diet in humans has a VERY similar effect

Displaced AbomasumCause: Feeding high energy diet (high grain, little or no hay)

Lack of fiber/hay in the diet = no rumen fill & increased gas production, gas production causes the rumen to twist over on itself

HypocalcemiaHigh demand for calcium at calving

Calcium is rapidly being taken up from blood and bone

The body cannot keep up with demand for calcium and the cow goes down.

Tx = SLOW push IV Calcium Gluconate

White Muscle DiseaseCause: Selenium deficient diets WI is a Se deficient state!

Hardware Diseasecommon disease in adult cattle caused by the ingestion and migration of a foreign body in the reticulum Metal door spring removed from a cows reticulum (image courtesy of Noahs Archive, University of Georgia).

Other Cattle DiseasesLeptospirosis (Reproductive)Brucellosis (Reproductive)Enterotoxemia (Clostridial)Tetanus (Clostridial)Scours calf diarrheaJohnes DiseaseLameness

*All can be vaccinated against except lameness & Johnes

Research UsesGenetic AdvancementNutritional StudiesMeat QualityReproduction/Embryo TransferOphthalmology

Area Cattle ResearchUW Arlington Agricultural Research Stations Location: Arlington, WI

UW Dairy Cattle Center Location: UW Campus (Downtown Madison)

US Dairy Forage Research Center - Field Facility Location: 30 miles North of Madison