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Assam ASSEB HSLC NSQF Agriculture Dairy Worker study materials
Assam ASSEB HSLC NSQF Agriculture Dairy Worker study resources

Assam ASSEB HSLC NSQF Agriculture Dairy Worker practice questions

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Question 1Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which cattle breed is recognised as the best Indian dairy breed, known for its high milk yield and resistance to hot, humid conditions?

  1. Sahiwal
  2. Tharparkar
  3. Gir Correct answer.
  4. Red Sindhi

Explanation

The Gir breed, originating from the Gir hills of Gujarat, is widely regarded as one of the best dairy breeds of zebu cattle, prized for high milk production, heat tolerance and disease resistance. Its milk also has good fat content. Sahiwal and Red Sindhi are also dairy breeds but are usually ranked below Gir for overall yield potential in humid conditions.

Question 2Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

The Jaffarabadi buffalo is best known for which characteristic?

  1. Pure draught purpose with very low milk yield
  2. Long curved horns used as a breed marker for Red Sindhi cattle
  3. Small size and low milk fat content
  4. Heavy body weight and high milk yield with a prominent forehead Correct answer.

Explanation

Jaffarabadi, from the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, is one of the heaviest Indian buffalo breeds, with a characteristic prominent, bulging forehead and heavy horns. It is a high-yielding milk breed. The other options describe features of different animals or purposes.

Question 3Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which of the following is a crossbred cattle breed developed in India for higher milk production?

  1. Hallikar
  2. Kankrej
  3. Amritmahal
  4. Karan Fries Correct answer.

Explanation

Karan Fries is a crossbred strain developed at the National Dairy Research Institute by crossing Tharparkar cattle with Holstein-Friesian, and it is used for higher milk production. Kankrej, Hallikar and Amritmahal are indigenous zebu breeds used mainly for draught or dual purposes.

Question 4Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

In cattle breeding, what does the term 'heat' (oestrus) refer to?

  1. The period when the animal is sexually receptive and can conceive Correct answer.
  2. The stage of maximum milk secretion in the udder
  3. The period of late pregnancy before calving
  4. A high body temperature caused by infection

Explanation

Oestrus, or heat, is the recurring period in the reproductive cycle when a female is sexually receptive, shows standing behaviour and can conceive if mated. It is detected by signs such as restlessness, mucus discharge and standing to be mounted. The other options describe different physiological states.

Question 5Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which buffalo breed is the highest milk-producing breed in India and is also called the 'black gold' of the buffalo world?

  1. Murrah Correct answer.
  2. Surti
  3. Bhadawari
  4. Nagpuri

Explanation

The Murrah buffalo, originating from Haryana and Punjab, is the premier milk breed of India, famous for high yield and high fat content, and is often nicknamed 'black gold'. Its characteristic curled horns and heavy build are breed markers. The other breeds yield less or are dual-purpose.

Question 6Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Selection of a dairy bull for breeding is mainly based on which criterion?

  1. The length of the tail and hooves
  2. The milk yield and fat record of his dam and daughters Correct answer.
  3. The weight of the bull at birth only
  4. Colour of the coat and shape of the horns

Explanation

A dairy bull cannot be judged by his own milk yield, so selection relies on the performance of his female relatives, especially his dam and daughters, through progeny testing and pedigree records. Coat colour and horn shape are cosmetic markers and do not predict transmitting ability for milk.

Question 7Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

What is the main purpose of artificial insemination (AI) in dairy cattle breeding?

  1. To allow one superior bull to sire many offspring and control disease spread Correct answer.
  2. To shorten the gestation period of the cow
  3. To change the sex of the calf at conception
  4. To increase the number of calves per pregnancy beyond twins

Explanation

Artificial insemination allows semen from a single proven bull to be used across many herds, greatly extending the influence of superior sires, and it reduces direct contact so venereal diseases spread less. It does not change gestation length or guarantee twins.

Question 8Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

A farmer wants to improve the milk yield of a local non-descript cow herd quickly. Which breeding approach is most appropriate?

  1. Avoiding any record keeping and relying on appearance
  2. Crossing with a proven high-yield exotic or crossbred bull Correct answer.
  3. Inbreeding within the local herd
  4. Selecting only the heaviest males for breeding

Explanation

Crossing local cows with a proven high-yield exotic or crossbred bull gives rapid genetic gain in milk yield through hybrid vigour and the superior genes of the sire. Inbreeding within a low-yield herd tends to fix poor traits and causes inbreeding depression.

Question 9Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which of the following correctly pairs a cattle breed with its typical home tract?

  1. Kankrej - Kerala
  2. Gir - Gujarat Correct answer.
  3. Red Sindhi - Rajasthan
  4. Sahiwal - Assam

Explanation

The Gir breed originates in the Gir hills and forests of Gujarat. Sahiwal belongs to Punjab and Pakistan, Red Sindhi to Sindh, and Kankrej to Gujarat. Matching breed to tract is a standard way of identifying indigenous breeds.

Question 10Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

What is meant by 'progeny testing' in dairy cattle breeding?

  1. Evaluating a bull by the performance of his daughters Correct answer.
  2. Testing the milk of a cow immediately after calving
  3. Checking the fertility of a cow by rectal examination
  4. Measuring the weight gain of calves on a farm

Explanation

Progeny testing evaluates a bull's genetic merit by comparing the milk records of several of his daughters with herd or breed averages. Because a bull's own milk yield cannot be measured, this is the most reliable way to prove his transmitting ability before wide use.

Question 11Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which buffalo breed is famous for extremely high fat content in its milk, often above 8 per cent?

  1. Jaffarabadi
  2. Bhadawari Correct answer.
  3. Pandharpuri
  4. Mehsana

Explanation

The Bhadawari buffalo of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh is noted for very high milk fat, commonly reported above 8 per cent, though its total yield is low. This makes it valuable in breeding programmes aimed at improving fat percentage.

Question 12Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

A cow shows restlessness, mucus discharge and stands still when mounted by another cow. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Reduce her feed and water for a day
  2. Isolate her and wait for the next month
  3. Record the time and plan insemination at the proper time Correct answer.
  4. Treat her with antibiotics immediately

Explanation

These are classic signs of standing heat, so the animal should be recorded and inseminated at the correct time, generally 12 to 18 hours after the onset of standing oestrus. Prompt insemination within the fertile window raises conception rate.

Question 13Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which of the following is an indigenous dual-purpose cattle breed of Gujarat known for its prominent hump and lyre-shaped horns?

  1. Rathi
  2. Kankrej Correct answer.
  3. Hariana
  4. Ongole

Explanation

Kankrej, from Gujarat, is a dual-purpose breed with a characteristic large hump and lyre-shaped horns, used for both milk and draught. Ongole belongs to Andhra Pradesh, Hariana to Haryana and Rathi to Rajasthan, so the Gujarat pairing identifies Kankrej.

Question 14Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

What is the main advantage of keeping pedigree and milk records in a dairy herd?

  1. It prevents all diseases in the herd
  2. It helps identify superior animals for selection and culling Correct answer.
  3. It shortens the calving interval automatically
  4. It increases the fat content of milk directly

Explanation

Pedigree and production records provide the data needed to select high-yielding animals and cull poor performers, which is the basis of genetic improvement. Records do not by themselves change milk composition, calving interval or disease occurrence.

Question 15Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which of these is a well-known Indian crossbred cattle strain developed for milk production?

  1. Nili-Ravi
  2. Khillari
  3. Kangayam
  4. Jersey crossbred (Jersind or Friesian cross) Correct answer.

Explanation

Crossbred strains such as Jersey crosses and Friesian crosses (for example Karan Swiss and Karan Fries) were developed in India to combine exotic dairy yield with local adaptability. Khillari and Kangayam are indigenous draught breeds, and Nili-Ravi is a buffalo breed.

Question 16Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Inbreeding in a small dairy herd most commonly leads to which problem?

  1. Increased milk yield with better fertility
  2. Automatic improvement in disease resistance
  3. Guaranteed production of twin calves
  4. Inbreeding depression with reduced fertility and vigour Correct answer.

Explanation

Continued mating of close relatives raises homozygosity and causes inbreeding depression, seen as lower fertility, reduced vigour, smaller calves and sometimes lower milk yield. It does not improve performance and can increase the expression of recessive defects.

Question 17Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which buffalo breed is a good dairy type originating from Gujarat and is often described as a 'Surti' type with a walled, straight back?

  1. Nagpuri
  2. Bhadawari
  3. Surti Correct answer.
  4. Murrah

Explanation

Surti is a dairy buffalo breed of Gujarat, medium in size with good milk yield and fat. It is distinct from Murrah of Haryana, Nagpuri of Maharashtra and Bhadawari of Uttar Pradesh, which have different home tracts and body types.

Question 18Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

A farmer has a Murrah buffalo that gives 12 litres of milk daily at peak, but the calving interval is 18 months. Which factor most directly affects the calving interval?

  1. The fat content of the milk
  2. The interval from calving to first fertile service and conception Correct answer.
  3. The size of the udder at peak lactation
  4. The colour of the buffalo's coat

Explanation

Calving interval is the sum of the days open (calving to conception) and gestation length, so the service period and conception success are the main controllable factors. Milk fat, coat colour and udder size do not determine how soon the animal conceives again.

Question 19Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which statement best explains why progeny testing of dairy bulls takes several years before a bull is widely used?

  1. Daughters must be born, reared and complete a lactation before their records can be compared Correct answer.
  2. Bulls must reach old age before producing semen
  3. Bulls must be trained for draught work before breeding
  4. Semen cannot be frozen until the bull is five years old

Explanation

Progeny testing requires enough daughters to be born, reared to calving and then milked through a lactation so their records can be compared with herd averages. This biological delay is why several years pass before a bull's merit is proven and he is used widely.

Question 20Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which combination of traits is most useful when selecting a dairy cow for a breeding herd?

  1. High birth weight and aggressive temperament
  2. High lifetime milk yield, regular calving and good udder conformation Correct answer.
  3. Large horns and dark coat colour
  4. Heavy body weight and slow milking speed

Explanation

Selection of a dairy cow should combine production, reproduction and functional conformation, because high yield is only useful if the cow calves regularly and has a sound udder. Horns, coat colour, birth weight and temperament are not primary criteria for dairy merit.

Question 21Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which of the following crosses is an example of grading up in dairy cattle improvement?

  1. Mating a buffalo to a cattle bull
  2. Mating two unrelated local bulls to local cows
  3. Mating a local cow repeatedly to bulls of a superior dairy breed over generations Correct answer.
  4. Mating a cow to her own son

Explanation

Grading up is the repeated use of purebred bulls of a superior breed on local females over successive generations, gradually raising the blood level of the improved breed. Mating close relatives is inbreeding, and cattle and buffalo cannot be crossed.

Question 22Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which statement about the Sahiwal breed is correct?

  1. It is a crossbred strain of Holstein-Friesian and Tharparkar
  2. It is a dairy zebu breed of the Punjab region known for tick resistance and good milk yield Correct answer.
  3. It is a buffalo breed known for draught power
  4. It is a draught breed of Karnataka with long horns

Explanation

Sahiwal is a dairy-type zebu cattle breed from the Punjab region, valued for its milk yield and notable resistance to ticks and heat. It is neither a buffalo breed, a crossbred strain nor a Karnataka draught breed.

Question 23Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

A dairy farmer records that a cow's milk yield falls sharply after the third month of lactation while feed is adequate. Which management-linked cause should be considered first in a breeding and selection context?

  1. The cow is showing heat and should be inseminated
  2. The breed is always low-yielding
  3. The cow is definitely pregnant and this is normal
  4. Poor genetic potential for persistency of lactation Correct answer.

Explanation

Persistency of lactation is a heritable trait, and a sharp fall despite adequate feeding points to poor genetic potential for persistency, which matters in selection decisions. Pregnancy and oestrus do not by themselves cause such a sharp early decline, and blanket statements about breeds are not valid.

Question 24Dairy Cattle and Buffalo Breeds, Selection and Breeding

Which of the following best describes the term 'species' in relation to cattle and buffalo breeding?

  1. Species refers only to coat colour variation
  2. Buffalo are a breed of cattle
  3. Cattle and buffalo are the same species and cross freely
  4. Cattle and buffalo belong to different species and cannot produce fertile offspring together Correct answer.

Explanation

Cattle (Bos indicus or Bos taurus) and buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) belong to different species, so they cannot be crossed to produce fertile offspring. A breed is a subgroup within a species, and coat colour is only a breed characteristic.

Question 25Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

A dairy farmer in Assam wants to feed a balanced concentrate mixture to a crossbred cow. Which feed ingredient is included mainly to supply energy rather than protein?

  1. Fish meal
  2. Groundnut oil cake
  3. Soybean meal
  4. Maize grain Correct answer.

Explanation

Maize grain is a cereal energy feed, rich in starch and low in crude protein, so it is used to raise the energy density of a concentrate mix. Oil cakes and fish meal are protein-rich supplements used for a different purpose.

Question 26Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Which of the following is classified as a leguminous fodder crop commonly grown in Assam for green feeding of dairy cattle?

  1. Berseem Correct answer.
  2. Napier hybrid grass
  3. Para grass
  4. Maize

Explanation

Berseem is a legume fodder, so it fixes nitrogen and gives a green fodder richer in protein than cereal grasses. Maize, Napier hybrid and Para grass are non-leguminous grasses.

Question 27Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

In dairy cattle feeding, the term 'roughage' refers to feeds that are characterised mainly by which feature?

  1. High mineral mixture content
  2. High crude fibre content Correct answer.
  3. High fat content
  4. High digestible protein content

Explanation

Roughages such as grasses, straw and hay are bulky feeds with a high crude fibre content, which stimulates rumination and maintains rumen function. Concentrates are the low-fibre, nutrient-dense feeds.

Question 28Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

A cow is fed a ration in which the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is far too wide. Which problem is most likely to result?

  1. Phosphorus toxicity with sudden bloat
  2. Excess milk fat depression
  3. Immediate nitrate poisoning
  4. Calcium deficiency symptoms such as poor bone mineralisation Correct answer.

Explanation

A very wide calcium-to-phosphorus ratio reduces absorption of both minerals, and the imbalance commonly shows up as poor bone mineralisation and related deficiency signs. The recommended ratio for dairy cattle is roughly 2:1.

Question 29Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Which practice best describes 'chaffing' of fodder in dairy feeding?

  1. Drying green fodder in the sun to make hay
  2. Treating straw with urea to raise its nitrogen content
  3. Cutting green fodder into small pieces before feeding Correct answer.
  4. Mixing concentrate with water to make a slurry

Explanation

Chaffing means chopping green fodder into short pieces, which reduces wastage, improves intake and makes the feed easier to mix. It is different from hay making, urea treatment and wetting of concentrates.

Question 30Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Urea is sometimes added to paddy straw before feeding it to dairy cattle. What is the main purpose of this treatment?

  1. To increase the nitrogen content and digestibility of the straw Correct answer.
  2. To increase the fat content of the straw
  3. To remove all crude fibre from the straw
  4. To make the straw completely free of minerals

Explanation

Urea treatment raises the nitrogen content of straw and breaks down some fibre bonds, improving digestibility and voluntary intake. It does not add fat or remove fibre, and minerals are not eliminated.

Question 31Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

A dairy cow producing 12 litres of milk per day is to be fed a concentrate mixture. What is the usual practical thumb rule used to decide the concentrate allowance for milk production?

  1. About 1 kg concentrate for every 2.5 to 3 litres of milk Correct answer.
  2. Concentrate is given only when milk yield crosses 25 litres
  3. About 1 kg concentrate for every 10 litres of milk
  4. About 5 kg concentrate for every 1 litre of milk

Explanation

A common field thumb rule is to provide roughly one kilogram of concentrate for every 2.5 to 3 litres of milk produced, in addition to the maintenance allowance. The other figures are far outside normal feeding practice.

Question 32Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Which of the following is the correct description of a maintenance ration for a dairy animal?

  1. The ration that keeps the animal in good condition without gain or loss of body weight Correct answer.
  2. The ration given only to growing calves
  3. The ration that supports one litre of milk production
  4. The ration fed only during the last month of pregnancy

Explanation

A maintenance ration supplies just enough nutrients for the animal to stay in good condition with no change in body weight and no production. Nutrients above this level are used for milk production or growth.

Question 33Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

In a dairy ration, which feed is the best example of a 'bypass protein' source intended to escape rumen degradation?

  1. Formaldehyde-treated oil cake Correct answer.
  2. Green berseem fodder
  3. Rice bran
  4. Molasses

Explanation

Bypass protein feeds are protected so that the protein escapes rumen fermentation and is digested in the small intestine. Formaldehyde-treated oil cake is a classic protected protein, whereas green fodder, molasses and rice bran are not.

Question 34Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

A farmer notices that a newly calved high-yielding cow has lost appetite and her milk yield is falling sharply, with a dull coat and slow rumen movements. Which feeding-related cause should be checked first?

  1. Feeding a mineral mixture as per recommendation
  2. Excess concentrate feeding with too little fibre in the ration Correct answer.
  3. Providing clean drinking water throughout the day
  4. Feeding adequate green fodder and dry fodder together

Explanation

When concentrate is pushed up and fibre is too low, rumen function is disturbed, leading to off-feed, poor rumination and a drop in milk yield. Adequate fibre, water and minerals are protective practices rather than causes of the problem.

Question 35Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Silage is made from green fodder. Which condition is essential for good-quality silage?

  1. Complete drying of the fodder before storage
  2. Addition of large amounts of lime to raise pH
  3. Anaerobic conditions with adequate moisture and fermentable sugar Correct answer.
  4. Full exposure to air during storage

Explanation

Good silage depends on anaerobic fermentation, in which lactic acid bacteria convert sugars to lactic acid and lower the pH, preserving the fodder. Air exposure, drying and heavy liming all spoil the process.

Question 36Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Which of the following is a non-protein nitrogen source sometimes used in dairy cattle feeding?

  1. Maize grain
  2. Groundnut oil cake
  3. Urea Correct answer.
  4. Bone meal

Explanation

Urea is a nitrogen compound that rumen microbes can use to build microbial protein, so it serves as a non-protein nitrogen source. Oil cakes and maize supply true protein or energy, and bone meal supplies minerals.

Question 37Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

A farmer feeds a large quantity of urea to a cow in a single meal. Which risk is most serious?

  1. Sudden increase in body condition score
  2. Ammonia toxicity leading to nervous signs and even death Correct answer.
  3. Immediate milk fat increase
  4. Complete loss of appetite for water

Explanation

Urea is rapidly converted to ammonia in the rumen, and a large single dose can overwhelm the microbes, causing ammonia toxicity with nervous signs and possible death. It must be introduced gradually and mixed well in the ration.

Question 38Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Which mineral is most closely associated with prevention of nutritional anaemia in dairy animals?

  1. Iron Correct answer.
  2. Selenium
  3. Calcium
  4. Iodine

Explanation

Iron is needed for haemoglobin formation, and its deficiency leads to nutritional anaemia. Calcium, iodine and selenium are important for other functions such as bone, thyroid and antioxidant status.

Question 39Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Which statement correctly describes the role of cobalt in the nutrition of dairy cattle?

  1. It is required for blood clotting
  2. It is the main mineral for bone formation
  3. It is needed by rumen microbes to synthesise vitamin B12 Correct answer.
  4. It directly supplies energy to the animal

Explanation

Cobalt is a component of vitamin B12, which rumen microorganisms synthesise; a deficiency therefore shows up as a B12 problem. Bone formation, energy supply and clotting depend on other nutrients.

Question 40Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

A dairy calf is to be given colostrum soon after birth. What is the main nutritional reason for this practice?

  1. Colostrum supplies antibodies and concentrated nutrients to the newborn calf Correct answer.
  2. Colostrum is used to increase the fat content of the calf's milk
  3. Colostrum is given to replace the need for water
  4. Colostrum supplies extra crude fibre for rumen development

Explanation

Colostrum is rich in immunoglobulins and in nutrients, so it gives passive immunity and energy to the newborn calf in the first hours of life. It is not a fibre source and does not replace drinking water.

Question 41Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Which practice is recommended when changing the concentrate mixture fed to a dairy cow?

  1. Stop all roughage for three days during the change
  2. Introduce the new mixture gradually over about a week Correct answer.
  3. Replace the whole mixture suddenly in one day
  4. Withhold drinking water during the change

Explanation

Rumen microbes need time to adapt, so a new concentrate should be introduced gradually over roughly a week to avoid off-feed and digestive upset. Sudden change, roughage withdrawal and water restriction are all harmful.

Question 42Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

For a dairy animal, the term 'total mixed ration' (TMR) means which of the following?

  1. All ration ingredients are mixed together and fed as one uniform blend Correct answer.
  2. Roughage is fed only at night
  3. Only green fodder is fed throughout the day
  4. Concentrate is fed separately before each milking

Explanation

A total mixed ration blends roughage, concentrate and supplements into one uniform mix so that every mouthful is balanced and selective feeding is prevented. Feeding only green fodder or separate concentrate and roughage does not constitute a TMR.

Question 43Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Which of the following correctly states the water requirement of a high-yielding dairy cow?

  1. Water should be given once a day in a small bucket
  2. Water should be replaced entirely by green fodder
  3. Water should be available freely, since a cow may drink well over 60 litres a day Correct answer.
  4. Water should be withheld for two hours before and after milking

Explanation

Milk is about 87 percent water, so a high yielder needs free access to clean water and may drink more than 60 litres daily. Restricted or timed watering reduces intake and milk yield.

Question 44Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

A ration contains excessive molasses. Which problem is most likely to appear in the dairy herd?

  1. A sharp fall in milk yield with no digestive sign
  2. Complete refusal of all roughage
  3. Improved rumination with no side effects
  4. Loose dung and digestive disturbance due to rapid sugar fermentation Correct answer.

Explanation

Molasses is rich in sugars, and a large amount ferments rapidly in the rumen, producing loose dung and digestive upset. It should be introduced gradually and limited in the ration.

Question 45Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Which fodder conservation method produces hay?

  1. Storing green fodder in a pit under anaerobic conditions
  2. Drying green fodder to a low moisture level for safe storage Correct answer.
  3. Fermenting green fodder with lactic acid bacteria
  4. Treating straw with alkali

Explanation

Hay is made by drying green fodder to a low moisture content so that it can be stored without spoilage. Pit storage under anaerobic conditions and lactic fermentation describe silage, while alkali treatment is a straw treatment.

Question 46Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

A dairy farmer wants to reduce feed cost without harming milk production. Which approach is most sound?

  1. Remove all concentrate from the ration immediately
  2. Use locally available green fodder and by-products to replace part of the costly concentrate Correct answer.
  3. Feed only dry straw throughout the year
  4. Stop feeding mineral mixture to save money

Explanation

Replacing part of the purchased concentrate with locally available green fodder and by-products lowers cost while maintaining nutrient supply. Removing concentrate, minerals or feeding only straw would reduce production and health.

Question 47Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

Which of the following best explains why green fodder is considered important in the ration of a dairy cow?

  1. It supplies carotene, minerals and good-quality protein along with bulk Correct answer.
  2. It supplies only crude fibre and no vitamins
  3. It replaces the need for any concentrate feeding
  4. It increases the crude fibre content beyond the rumen's capacity

Explanation

Green fodder is a cheap source of carotene (the precursor of vitamin A), minerals, good-quality protein and bulk, all of which support rumen function and milk production. It is not a fibre-only feed and cannot fully replace concentrates.

Question 48Dairy Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices

A cow's ration is suddenly changed from dry straw to a large amount of lush green legume fodder. Which problem is most likely?

  1. Immediate phosphorus deficiency
  2. A rise in milk fat with no digestive effect
  3. Improved digestion with no risk
  4. Bloat due to rapid gas production in the rumen Correct answer.

Explanation

Lush legume fodder ferments rapidly and can cause frothy bloat because gas is trapped in the rumen. Changes should be gradual, and legumes are often fed with dry roughage to reduce the risk.

Question 49Animal Health, Hygiene and Common Disease Management

In a dairy shed, which practice most directly reduces the spread of mastitis organisms between cows during milking?

  1. Milking all cows in the herd with the same machine without rinsing
  2. Washing the udder with cold water only after milking
  3. Feeding concentrates immediately before milking begins
  4. Dipping teats in a disinfectant solution after milking and using a separate clean cloth per cow Correct answer.

Explanation

Post-milking teat dipping kills organisms on the teat skin while the teat canal is still open, and using one clean cloth per cow prevents transferring bacteria from an infected udder to healthy ones. Together these break the main route of mastitis spread during milking.

Question 50Animal Health, Hygiene and Common Disease Management

A dairy worker notices a cow with a swollen, hot quarter and clots in the milk. What is the most appropriate first action?

  1. Stop milking that quarter completely until it heals
  2. Apply ice to the quarter and withhold all water
  3. Continue normal milking and observe for a week
  4. Strip out the affected quarter frequently and report to the veterinarian for treatment advice Correct answer.

Explanation

A hot swollen quarter with clotted milk indicates clinical mastitis, and frequent stripping of the affected quarter helps remove infected milk and relieve pressure. Prompt reporting allows the veterinarian to choose an appropriate antibiotic and withdrawal period.