• A comprehensive and thoroughly revised text on dairy science that contains information on the most recent developments

    The fully updated third edition of Understanding the Dairy Cow explores the scientific principles that provide a foundation for understanding the animal’s body system. The comprehensive text also reveals how to properly manage dairy cattle with economic efficiency whilst taking into consideration the cow’s welfare.

    The revised new edition contains expanded coverage on topics including insight into cow behaviour and welfare, genetic selection indices, new strategies for control of mastitis and lameness and information on the overworked cow. It also contains the most recent developments in breeding, nutrition and management.

    • Is an authoritative text on the dairy cow that covers a wide-ranging subject area including the science, disease and husbandry
    • Presents the information and knowledge necessary for the efficient and humane management of cows
    • Includes expanded coverage on a variety of topics such as cow behaviour and welfare, and genetic selection indices
    • Highlights major new developments in the field

    Covering both the basics and recent developments in dairy science, Understanding the Dairy Cow 3rd Edition is ideal for students in agriculture and veterinary science and for professionals working in the complex business of dairy farming.

  • Acknowledgements xiii

    Preface to the Third Edition xiv

    About the Companion Website xvi

    Part I How the Cow Works 1

    1 Introduction – The Dairy Cow of Today 3

    Milk as Food 6

    Nutrient Supply 7

    Healthy Digestion 8

    Taste and Appetite 9

    Do no Harm 9

    Biological Efficiency of Milk Production 10

    Milk Production: Species and Breed Comparisons 11

    Efficiency of Feed Conversion to Milk, Eggs and Meat: Competitive and Complementary Feeds 12

    Behaviour and Welfare 14

    2 Digestion and Metabolism 18

    Structure of the Digestive Tract 18

    Eating and Rumination 22

    Grazing 22

    Salivation 23

    Rumen Movements 23

    Rumination 25

    Digestion 26

    Fermentation of Carbohydrates in the Rumen 28

    Utilization of Metabolizable Energy for Maintenance and Production 31

    Digestion of Crude Protein 32

    Microbial Protein Synthesis 35

    Truly Absorbed Amino Nitrogen 37

    Urea Recycling 38

    Digestion of Lipids 38

    Absorption and Secretion of Minerals 39

    Calcium Exchange 41

    Appetite and Food Intake 42

    3 Reproduction and Lactation 45

    Anatomy of the Female Reproductive Tract 45

    Follicle Development and Ovulation 45

    The Oestrus Cycle 49

    Puberty 49

    Fertilisation 50

    Pregnancy 51

    Placental Transfer and Foetal Nutrition 53

    Parturition 53

    Dystocia 55

    Lactation 56

    Anatomy of the Udder 56

    Milk Yield 58

    Extended Lactations 59

    Hormonal Control of Lactation 60

    Reproduction in the Male 61

    4 Environment, Behaviour and Welfare 64

    Environmental Needs 64

    Behaviour 65

    Physical Comfort 66

    Thermal Comfort 68

    Sensible Heat Loss 68

    Evaporative Heat Loss 69

    Metabolic Heat Production 71

    Climate, Production and Welfare 73

    Tropical Climates 73

    Cold Climates 74

    Security and Social Behaviour 74

    Sexual and Maternal Behaviour 75

    Behaviour as an Indicator of Welfare 76

    Part II Feeding the Dairy Cow 77

    5 Nutrition: Supply and Demand 79

    Nutrient Requirements and Responses 81

    Nutrient Allowances for the Lactating Cow 84

    Mineral Requirements 88

    Nutritive Value of Feeds 90

    Ration Formulation 93

    Prediction of Food Intake 93

    Assessment of an Existing Ration 94

    Feeding Plans for Dairy Cows 95

    Inputs 95

    Outputs 96

    Allowances for Growing Heifers 97

    6 Feeds and Feeding Strategies 99

    Pasture 100

    Grazing Strategies 102

    Legumes 104

    Grass Silage 104

    Dry Matter 105

    Metabolisable Energy 106

    Protein 106

    Silage Additives 107

    Hay 107

    Straw 108

    Ensiled Whole-crop Cereals 108

    Other Green Feeds 109

    Root Crops 109

    Cereals 109

    By-products 111

    Oilseed Cakes and Meals 111

    Miscellaneous By-products 113

    Sugar Beet Pulp 113

    Maize Gluten 113

    Brewers’ and Distillers’ Grains 114

    Wheat Bran 114

    Balancing Forages and Concentrates 114

    Feeding Strategies 117

    Feeding to Yield 117

    Total Mixed Rations and Flat Rate Feeding 119

    7 Feeding Problems and Metabolic Diseases 121

    Feeding Problems 123

    Rumen Acidosis 123

    Abomasal Disorders 125

    Bloat 126

    Metabolic Disorders 127

    Ketosis 127

    Prevention and Treatment 129

    Parturient Hypocalcaemia (‘Milk Fever’) 130

    Prevention and Treatment 131

    The Downer Cow 132

    Hypomagnesaemic Tetany (Grass Staggers) 133

    Prevention and Treatment 135

    Other Mineral Deficiencies 136

    Phosphorus 136

    Copper and Molybdenum 137

    Cobalt 138

    Selenium 138

    Vitamin Deficiencies 139

    Vitamin A 139

    Vitamin D 140

    Vitamin E 140

    Last Words on Minerals and Vitamins 141

    Part III Housing Health and Management 143

    8 Healthy and Humane Housing and Handling 145

    Accommodation 145

    The Cow House 146

    Cubicle Design 150

    The Cubicle Bed 153

    Passageways 154

    Calving and Isolation Boxes 154

    Heifer Yards 156

    Handling Facilities 156

    Lameness 157

    Conditions that Cause Lameness 159

    Sole Haemorrhage and Sole Ulcers 159

    White Line Disease 161

    Digital Dermatitis 161

    Interdigital Necrobacillosis ‘Foul’ 162

    Aseptic Laminitis, ‘Founder’ 162

    Risk Factors for Lameness 162

    Transport and Slaughter 164

    Loading and Unloading 164

    The Journey 165

    A Gentle Death 166

    9 Milking and Mastitis 168

    The Milking Machine 171

    The Milking Parlour 174

    Hygiene in the Milking Parlour 174

    Mastitis 175

    Indicators of Mastitis 176

    Contagious Mastitis 177

    Environmental Mastitis 178

    Summer Mastitis 180

    Dry Cow Therapy 181

    10 Miscellaneous Maladies 182

    Signs of Disease 183

    Sudden Death 183

    Drooling 185

    Abdominal Symptoms 186

    Nervous Symptoms 187

    Fever 187

    Inappetence and Anorexia 188

    Notifiable Diseases 189

    Bovine Tuberculosis 191

    Foot and Mouth Disease 192

    Other Infectious Diseases 193

    Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) 193

    Johne’s Disease 194

    Salmonellosis 194

    Leptospirosis 195

    Parasitic Diseases 195

    Part IV Breeding and Fertility 197

    11 Breeding 199

    Selection Criteria 202

    Genomic Selection 206

    Sexed Semen 206

    Cow Selection 207

    Beef Bulls 209

    12 Fertility 211

    Fertility Management 212

    Behaviour at Oestrus 212

    Aids to Oestrus Detection 213

    Synchronisation of Oestrus 216

    Time of Insemination 217

    Pregnancy Diagnosis 217

    Rebreeding 219

    Infertility 219

    Ovarian Dysfunction 220

    Uterine Disorders 221

    Retained Placenta 221

    Endometritis 222

    Early Foetal Death 222

    Abortion 223

    Nutrition and Infertility 223

    Condition Score at Calving? 225

    Condition Score at the Time for Rebreeding? 225

    Milk Yields in Early and Mid-lactation? 225

    How Well Does Nutrient Supply Match Requirements? 226

    Transition Management 226

    Part V Cows, People and the Environment 229

    13 Cows, People and the Living Environment 231

    Most of Those who can Consume Too Much Meat and Milk 232

    Food We Could Eat is Fed to Animals While the Poor Grow Hungry 233

    Intensive Livestock Production is Incompatible with Animal Welfare 233

    Livestock’s Long Shadow is Destroying the Planet 235

    Methane Production and Climate Change 237

    Pollution from Dairy Units 238

    Alternative Husbandry Systems 240

    Organic Dairy Farming 240

    Traditional and Village Systems 241

    Fair Play for Cows, People and the Planet 242

    Herd Health and Welfare 242

    Herd Health Management 243

    Animal Welfare: Quality Assurance and Quality Control 243

    Further Reading 247

    Index 252

  • John Webster, MA, Vet MB, PhD, DVM (Hon), MRCVS, is Emeritus Professor of Animal Husbandry in the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

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