RCVS Statutory Membership Examination Livestock Farm Practices: practice questions

1 · Milking · hard

A parlour shows rising rates of rough, hyperkeratotic teat ends and new mastitis cases. Which check comes first?

1. A dynamic test of vacuum, pulsation and liner condition
2. Extra fore-stripping to collect milk for fat analysis
3. A switch from full-hand milking to stripping throughout
4. A change to a higher-protein concentrate for the whole herd

2 · Daily farm routines · medium

How should visual heat detection be organised for a dairy herd?

1. Watch once a day during milking, when all the cows are already gathered and easy to see
2. Watch for one minute at each feed, since cows show heat signs only when food is offered
3. Watch for 20-30 minutes at least two or three times a day, away from feeding and milking times
4. Watch only at night, since oestrous behaviour in cows is never shown during the daylight

3 · Daily farm routines · medium

In temperate pasture systems, which seasonal risk is linked to turning cattle out onto lush spring grass?

1. Grass tetany (hypomagnesaemia)
2. Heat stress (hyperthermia) with panting
3. Milk fever immediately before calving
4. Pink eye spread by close winter housing

4 · Daily farm routines · medium

Why are ewes in temperate regions usually mated in autumn?

1. Sheep are short-day breeders that cycle as day length falls
2. Rams are fertile only in autumn because of the colder weather
3. Shearing must be finished before the ewes can come into heat
4. Grass is at its best in autumn for late pregnancy and lambing

5 · Hoof trimming · easy

In the hind feet of a dairy cow, which claw carries more weight and more often develops sole ulcers?

1. The two dew claws at the back
2. The medial (inner) claw
3. Both claws equally, as in front feet
4. The lateral (outer) claw

6 · Hoof trimming · medium

During trimming, a beginner pares the sole until it flexes under thumb pressure. What is the problem?

1. The sole is now ideal and needs no further attention
2. The heel is too high and should be lowered at once
3. The claw needs to be shortened further to compensate
4. The sole is now too thin and the cow will be sore

7 · Castration methods · hard

How is an emasculator oriented on the spermatic cord?

1. Placed across the scrotal skin, before the scrotum is opened
2. Crushing jaw on the body side, with the cutting blade towards the testis
3. Both jaws on the testis side, so the cord stump is left long
4. Cutting blade on the body side, crushing jaw towards the testis

8 · Castration methods · hard

When the closed bloodless method is used to castrate a calf with an emasculatome, how is it applied?

1. The scrotum is opened and the cords are crushed under direct view
2. Each spermatic cord is crushed separately through the intact skin
3. A rubber ring is applied first and then crushed with the tool
4. Both cords and the whole scrotal width are crushed in one bite

9 · Castration methods · medium

Why is a scrotal or inguinal hernia a problem when castrating a piglet?

1. It may make the testes too small to remove by any method
2. It causes immediate tetanus whenever a rubber ring is used
3. It doubles the boar taint in the meat of that piglet later
4. Cutting into it can let intestines out through the incision

10 · Castration methods · hard

A steer castrated with an open method several weeks ago has a firm, swollen, discharging cord stump. What is the most likely diagnosis?

1. Scirrhous cord
2. Cryptorchidism
3. Hydrocele
4. Orchitis