When it comes to dairy and dairy by-products consumers are increasingly looking for natural, sustainable, high-quality products - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 15 - 2022
Question 15
When it comes to dairy and dairy by-products consumers are increasingly looking for natural, sustainable, high-quality products. Grass fed means that for an average ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:When it comes to dairy and dairy by-products consumers are increasingly looking for natural, sustainable, high-quality products - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 15 - 2022
Step 1
Outline two advantages of grass-fed dairy animals.
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Answer
Healthier milk: Grass-fed dairy animals produce milk that is higher in beta-carotene and beneficial fatty acids, contributing to better nutritional quality.
Animal welfare: Grass-fed systems often provide better living conditions for cows, allowing for natural behaviors and more space.
Step 2
Draw a labelled diagram of one named method of grazing employed by the dairy farmer.
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Name of grazing system: Paddock grazing.
(Insert a labelled diagram here showing sectors, movement of cows, and fencing).
Step 3
Identify the cow's peak milk yield in litres/day.
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The cow’s peak milk yield is 26 litres/day.
Step 4
Determine the estimated total yield for the cow using the following calculation.
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Calculation:
Total Yield (litres) = Peak yield (litres) X 220 (days) = 26 X 220 = 5720 litres.
Step 5
Outline the advice you would give to Laura in relation to culling of the cow.
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Advise Laura that the cow’s yield of 5720 litres is lower than the average of 7215 litres per year. It may be beneficial to consider culling this cow in favor of higher-yielding cows.
Step 6
Explain why the cow was dried off at 10 months.
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The cow was dried off at 10 months to allow her body to recover and prepare for the next lactation. This period can help restore body condition score and improve future milk quality.
Step 7
State the length of the dry period (in days).
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The length of the dry period is 60 days.
Step 8
Describe the diet Laura would feed her dairy cows in early lactation.
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In early lactation, Laura would feed her cows a high-quality diet consisting of 75% DMD (Digestible Dry Matter) forage such as grass silage, and concentrate with good quality digestible feed sources to support high milk production.
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