Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science
Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science
This domain tests livestock breeds, reproduction, feeding, milk composition and dairy management. BSEB questions often ask breed identification, gestation length or a simple milk-yield comparison.
Core rules
- Cattle breeds include Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Gir and Tharparkar; exotic dairy breeds include Holstein Friesian and Jersey. Buffalo breeds include Murrah, Mehsana and Surti. Goat breeds include Jamunapari, Beetal and Sirohi.
- The estrous cycle in cattle is about 21 days. Gestation is about 280-285 days in cattle and about 310 days in buffalo. Colostrum is the first milk and is rich in antibodies; it is not ordinary market milk.
- A balanced ration supplies energy, protein, minerals and vitamins in required proportions. Roughage is fibrous feed; concentrate supplies denser nutrients.
- Fat-corrected milk (4% FCM) compares milk of different fat levels: FCM = milk kg x (0.4 + 15 x fat fraction).
Worked example
A cow yields 10 kg milk with 5% fat. FCM = 10 x (0.4 + 15 x 0.05) = 10 x (0.4 + 0.75) = 11.5 kg of 4% FCM. If the same cow yielded 10 kg at 4% fat, FCM would be 10 kg. The reasoning is that 5% fat milk contains more energy per kg, so its 4% FCM value is higher than its actual weight.
Traps
Do not use cattle gestation for buffalo. Colostrum is not discarded as waste; it is essential for newborn immunity. Jersey is a dairy breed, not a buffalo breed. FCM is not the same as total milk weight. Roughage and concentrate are not interchangeable.