Exercises

2. Translate the following words and word combinations:

A muzzle, a sire, a dam, a strain, prepotent, flesh, dense, protection, shelter, to supply.

3. True or false:

1. It will be better if the owner manages to learn as much as he can about the sire and the dam of the cow or heifer.

2. In warm climates shelter is necessary for beef herds.

3. Beef cattle need no equipment.

4. Beef cattle can be pastured in large numbers in one large field.

5. In selecting beef cattle the quantity of offspring is most important.

6. There are special features according to which the owner can choose a good producing animal.

4. Read and learn the dialogue:

• I’ve read a lot of books about breeding dairy cattle, but I know very little about beef cattle. Can you give me some advice?

• Of course. What are you interested in in particular?

• Oh, I don’t know. Are there any peculiarities in breeding beef stock?

• Each breed has its own typical features. Selecting good producing animals is the first step. It’s extremely important.

• What is most important in selecting beef cattle?

• Rapidity of growth is most important. Females should weigh about 400 lb or more at 6 months of age and about 700 lb or more as yearlings. Bull should weigh about 500 lb or more and about 850 lb or more respectively.

• What about special equipment?

• You know, beef cattle have a thick covering of flesh and a thick skin. So, they can be housed in buildings which are quite cold.

• That’s good. And what about feeding?

• The main rules of feeding are very similar to those of breeding dairy cattle. You won’t have problems.

Maintaining the Health of Beef Cattle

Beef cattle are comparatively free from diseases causing heavy losses. Nevertheless pay attention to the diseases and parasites discussed below.

Tuberculosis is one of the most serious diseases of cattle. The only remedy is to test the animals regularly and to eliminate those found to be infected.

Splenetic fever is also a very serious disease. The main symptom is a high fever accompanied by loss of appetite, listlessness, and a rundown condition. The carrier of the disease is a species of cattle tick. To eradicate the cattle tick cattle should be repeatedly dipped.

The external symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease are sores appearing on the lower extremities of the legs, between the toes, in the mouth, on the tongue, and on the lips of the cattle. Cattle cannot eat at the time the disease is running, so they lose weight. Recovery is slow.

Influenza and pneumonia have much the same symptoms. They are running at the nose, difficult breathing, and loss of appetite. The most effective method of controlling these diseases is to prevent them by good care and by providing dry, well-ventilated barns.

Exercises

1. Find the equivalents for the following words and word combinations:

Лекарство, высокая температура, потеря аппетита, лихорадка, внешние признаки, апатичность, ликвидировать, выздоровление, клещ, выделения из носа, затрудненное дыхание.

2. Do you know some more diseases that can be dangerous for beef cattle? Make a report and tell you groupmates about one of them.

3. Sum up all the information you’ve learnt. Complete the table:

Disease	Symptoms	Prevention and treatment
Tuberculosis
Splenetic fever
Foot-and-mouth disease
Influenza and pneumonia
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