Cattle operations
Worksheet 1: Animal husbandry operations
Activity 1
Brainstorm all the husbandry operations carried out in a beef cattle enterprise.
Use the knowledge in your class to discuss the nature and reason for each of the
tasks.
Record the names of these husbandry operations and make notes to help you
remember what each operation involves and why it is carried out.
Activity 2
The timing of most of these husbandry operations is influenced or determined by
a number of factors, e.g. calving occurs ten months after joining, castration must
be carried out before six months of age. This means that all factors that affect the
timing of operations must be investigated.
In table 1 below, list each of the operations and then complete the column factors
influencing time that operation is carried out.
You may need to use a variety of resources to help you complete this activity.
Resources that may help you include:
Cattle species-specific notes, Animals in schools: Animal welfare guidelines for
teachers, Part B, pages 15–22.
SCARM (1992) Australian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals:
Cattle. CSIRO, Australia.
NSW Department of Primary Industries, Cattle health.
Bannerman S., Thornthwaite S. and Gant L. (2001) Enterprising Agriculture.
MacMillan, Australia. Beef production, pp. 431–438.
Product labels from vaccines, drenches, pour-ons or sprays that may be used
routinely in animal husbandry operations.
Animal welfare in agriculture
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/animalsinschools/
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Cattle operations
Table 1
Operation
Factors influencing time that operation is carried out
Activity 3
Before you construct a calendar of operations you need to ensure that you have
considered all the factors that impact on your timing of operations. Use these
discussion questions to help you in this consideration.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What determines when heifers should be mated?
Why should heifers be mated to small bulls?
What age should calves be when weaning occurs?
By what age should bull calves be castrated using a knife?
By what age should bull calves be castrated using an elastrator?
By what age should bull calves be castrated using an emasculator?
At what age should calves be vaccinated?
What method of internal parasite control do you plan to use in your calendar
of operations?
9. What method of external parasite control do you plan to use in your
calendar of operations?
10. Do your cattle require dehorning?
11. What husbandry operations are effected by the weather conditions?
12. Why is it advisable when marking calves to mark small numbers of calves at
one time?
Animal welfare in agriculture
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/animalsinschools/
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