National Licensure Examination for Veterinarians Livestock Farm Practices: practice questions

Question 1 · easy

A handler wants a steer standing in an alley to walk forward. Where should the handler stand relative to the animal's point of balance?

1. Behind the point of balance at the shoulder, at the edge of the flight zone
2. Level with the point of balance, deep inside the flight zone to force movement
3. In front of the point of balance at the shoulder, close to the animal's head
4. Directly behind the tail, in the blind spot, so the steer cannot see the handler

Question 2 · easy

Why is a cow tied to a post with a quick-release knot rather than a fixed knot?

1. So that the knot cannot be undone by the cow chewing at the rope
2. So that the rope tightens progressively and stops her from moving
3. So that one pull on the free end frees her at once if she falls or panics
4. So that the halter loop around the nose cannot loosen at all

Question 3 · easy

How many deciduous (milk) teeth does a calf have?

1. 28
2. 32
3. 20
4. 24

Question 4 · easy

What is the purpose of post-milking teat dipping?

1. To kill bacteria on the teat skin while the teat canal is still open
2. To stimulate a second release of oxytocin ready for the following milking
3. To soften the teat skin so that the next milking is faster and smoother
4. To seal the teat canal permanently until the cow is next dried off for calving

Question 5 · easy

What is the single most reliable sign that a cow is in oestrus during heat detection?

1. She has a reduced milk yield on that day
2. She stands still when another cow mounts her from behind
3. She mounts other cows in the group repeatedly
4. She bellows loudly and walks more than usual

Question 6 · easy

A dairy cow's water trough is found blocked one morning. What is the most immediate production effect expected?

1. An increase in feed intake to compensate
2. No effect for at least a week
3. A fall in milk yield within hours
4. A rise in milk fat within one hour

Question 7 · easy

On a five-point locomotion scoring system for dairy cows, what does a score of 1 indicate?

1. A cow with one claw missing
2. A cow that cannot rise unaided
3. A sound cow walking normally
4. A severely lame cow on three legs

Question 8 · easy

What is the genetic alternative to disbudding in cattle?

1. Selecting only cows with short horns for breeding
2. Breeding polled cattle, since polledness is a dominant trait
3. Breeding cattle that shed their horns every year
4. Crossing with buffalo so that horn buds never form

Question 9 · easy

What must be checked by palpation before any castration of a calf, lamb or piglet?

1. That the scrotum has been shaved and dyed for later identification
2. That the animal's horns or horn buds have already been removed
3. That both testes are in the scrotum and no hernia is present
4. That the animal has been fasted for at least two full days

Question 10 · medium

Why are male calves on many farms castrated?

1. To raise the protein content of their meat at slaughter
2. To increase their growth rate above that of entire bulls
3. To make them produce more milk and fat as adult animals
4. To prevent unwanted breeding and reduce aggression