ANSC 3120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Estrous Cycle, Milk Fever, Trypsin Inhibitor
Document Summary
Calves: most males castrated, steers and surplus females sold as feeders to be eventually finished. Certain number of heifers kept as replacement to enter cow herd. Heifers: some marketed as bred heifers to enter other cow herds. Cows are culled on the basis of productivity, temperament, age, and health problems. Lactation necessary to minimize cost for raising the calf. Market calves for main source of revenue. The goal is to produce and wean as many calves as possible. Calves: males usually sold or fed for veal and beef. Most heifer calves kept as replacements to enter cow herd. Heifers: some culled as undesirable, marketing opportunity for excess desirable heifers as bred heifers. Cows are culled on the basis of productivity, age, and poor reproduction and health problems. Pregnancy and calving needed to initiate lactation to market milk which is the main source of the dairy producer"s revenue. First secretion from the mammary gland for the first 24hr after parturition.