Question

Farmers often use the technique of 'selective breeding' in order to obtain cows that give high yields of milk. Which of the following describes this technique?
Cows that produce a lot of milk are _____.

• A. Chosen to be milked
• B. Allowed to produce offspring
• C. Put on a special diet to produce good quality milk
• D. Kept separately from the cows that are not producing good quality milk

Answer 1

The correct option is A Chosen to be milked

Farmers often use the technique of 'selective breeding' in order to obtain cows that give high yields of milk. Cows that produce a lot of milk are chosen to be milked. The production of milk requires that the cow be in lactation, which is a result of the cow have given birth to a calf. That means after the birth of a calf, the cow begins to lactate. Lactation cycle is the period between one calving and the next.Lactation will continue for as long as the cow is milked that means production levels peak at around 40 to 60 days afterwards until milking is stopped at about 10 months i.e. the production declines steadily. The cow is dried off for about 60 days before calving again. Dairy farmers are familiar with the pattern of milk production. Hence, to maximize the milk production the dairy, farmer carefully time the cow's next breeding to produce lot of milk.