JFHMS Quality Assurance Practice Exam

What should be done with a cow that has been open for the 3rd year but is in good health?

1. Place on a breeding plan

2. Place on a finishing ration and send to harvest

3. Keep for additional breeding

4. Sell for dairy production

The correct answer is: Place on a finishing ration and send to harvest

In considering what to do with a cow that has been open for three years but remains in good health, it's essential to evaluate her productivity in relation to farm goals. Placing her on a finishing ration and sending her to harvest is a practical choice in this context. This decision is often informed by the understanding that a cow that has not conceived after three years may not be contributing effectively to breeding goals. In many breeding operations, the focus is on maximizing efficiency and productivity, and a cow that has failed to breed in multiple seasons could represent a lost opportunity for producing offspring. By placing her on a finishing ration, the aim would be to increase her weight and value for meat production, thus aligning with typical market demands. Maintaining a long-term breeding plan for a cow that has consistently remained open is generally seen as ineffective, as continued investment in her breeding without results may not yield desirable outcomes. Therefore, prioritizing her for harvest would be a strategy to efficiently manage livestock resources and optimize the productivity of the herd. Conversely, options such as keeping her for additional breeding or selling for dairy production wouldn't typically address the underlying issue of her infertility, particularly after such a lengthy period without a successful breeding outcome. Thus, the decision to move towards harvest in