Rules for Education in Beef Cattle
Introduction
Using these notes
These notes:
-
- accept been written to be consequent with community, industry and research and instruction based animal welfare legislation
- apply to all schools in NSW, government and non-authorities
- contain standards (in a red box at the showtime of each section) and guidelines. The standards must be met past schools, in accordance with the requirements of the Animal Research Authority. The guidelines are the desirable practices to achieve desirable creature welfare outcomes
- reverberate available scientific noesis, current practice and community expectations.
Each section of these notes lists any approved activities, with their approved categories, that are applicable to cattle. A complete list of the canonical activities for all species can be constitute in Canonical activities.
Category 4 and 5 activities may be undertaken past students only if prior written approval from the SACEC has been obtained using Application form 1.
Before a teacher demonstrates a category five activeness to students, the instructor must take written certification from the SACEC. Certification is sought using Application form 4.
Varietal range differences
Cattle belong to the genus Bos and subspecies either Bos taurus or Bos indicus. Within these subspecies there are many unlike breeds that have been developed with particular production goals. In full general, these production goals focus on either meat product or milk product.
Breeds of livestock
Breeds of beefiness cattle
Notice Dairy
Physical characteristics
| Size: | Varies greatly between breeds. Mature heights up to one.5 metres. |
| Weight: | Varies greatly with breed and phase of growth, may vary from 400 to 800 kg. |
| Age at adult size: | Varies between breeds, between 2 and 4 years. |
| Weight at birth: | Small breeds: fifteen – xx kg. Large breeds: 35 – l+ kg |
| Gestation menses: | Average 282 days, range 275 – 290 days |
| Number of offspring: | In the case of multiple mixed sex births where placentation is shared females are generally infertile and known as a "freemartin". They develop with a malformed reproductive tract and business relationship for 90-97% of multiple mixed sex activity births in cattle. Triplets in cattle occur much less often than twins. It is reported that triplets in dairy cows will occur approximately one in 3,500 births and in beef cows approximately ane in 105,000 births. |
| Range of breeding ages: | Sexual maturity usually xv – 18 months, reproductive life 8 – 10 years. |
| Weaning historic period: | In general beef calves 6 – 8 months. Weaning of beefiness calves maybe earlier dependent on product system and season. Early on weaned calves crave additional care. Dairy calves are weaned at much earlier ages. They perchance removed from their mothers as soon every bit they have received their colostrum. |
| Salubrious characteristics: | Temperature: 38.6°C, range 37.0°C – 39.3°C. Respiration rate: 20 – 40/min. Heart rate: 40 – 100/min. Moist muzzle, active and alert, glossy glaze, clear bright eyes. |
Vision
Cattle have eyes on either side of their heads enabling them to accept a broad field of vision, approximately 330°.This feature is typical of prey species. This is in contrast to predators that have eyes on the front of their heads.
Cattle field of vision
The expanse to the side of the animate being that is viewed by one eye is known as panoramic vision, in contrast to the narrow area in forepart of the animal where 2 eyes are used and known as binocular. Cattle detect sudden movement better than humans but are very deadening to focus speedily on close objects. As a upshot they demand to turn and face the motility and and then view with both eyes to calculate the distance. This means that they frighten easily if handlers suddenly enter their field of vision without warning.
Cattle also take a bullheaded spot behind them.
Cattle distinguish long wavelengths of light ameliorate than short wavelengths, significant that they see xanthous, orange and red colours more easily than green, grey and purple colours. They are unable to distinguish blues.
Hearing
Cattle are very sensitive to high-pitched noise. Yelling, whistling, whip-cracking and clanging metal volition increase stress in cattle. Cattle are able to point their ears in opposite directions thus concentrating on two things at once.
Behavioural characteristics
Cattle are animals that accept evolved to exist are preyed upon. This means that they observe condolement and protection in a herd. They find condolement from being with familiar cattle. Isolating animals from their herd causes stress and may upshot in the isolated animate being existence extremely agitated and dangerous.
Stress may be as well be induced by mixing or crowding with unfamiliar stock.
Private cattle, such every bit house cows or school cows, may adapt to solitude, provided other welfare requirements are met. Only in general cattle should exist kept in groups.
The flight zone is the distance that cattle want to maintain between them and humans. A mob or herd take their commonage flight zone. If the flying zone is penetrated animals move in an attempt to regain a comfy distance from the intruder. The Flight Zone demonstrates the flight zone of sheep just the principles illustrated employ similarly to cattle.
Flight zones are not static. They vary in size, and are influenced by the environment or surroundings, the genetics and previous experiences of the cattle. When cattle become excited their flying zones increase. Bos indicus cattle tend to have bigger flight zones than Bos taurus cattle.
Temperament
In general the cattle used in school situations should non have large flight zones. Cattle showing difficult temperaments should be culled and not used in the school situation. When students are involved in working with cattle in a commercial or piece of work placement situation, care should be taken to select cattle with calm temperaments.
Cattle kept in schools should non require the use of an electrical goad or cattle prod but if in exceptional circumstances, an electric goad or cattle prod is required, simply the instructor or farm assistant should employ it.
Source: https://nswschoolanimals.com/cattle/