All Free Veterinary Science MCQs with Answers
Every Veterinary Science question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
758 questions · page 8 of 38
- A. It raises the protein content of feed
- B. It reduces moisture and airborne respiratory hazards
- C. It prevents cows from entering oestrus
- D. It increases the calcium content of milk
Explanation: Good ventilation removes moisture, heat, ammonia, and contaminated air from the shed.
Correct answer: It reduces moisture and airborne respiratory hazards- A. The first week after weaning only
- B. The entire period between two breeding seasons
- C. About three weeks before to three weeks after calving
- D. The final week of the lactation only
Explanation: The transition period generally includes the three weeks before calving and the three weeks after calving.
Correct answer: About three weeks before to three weeks after calving- A. Alkaline phosphatase
- B. Urea nitrogen only
- C. Creatine kinase
- D. Beta-hydroxybutyrate
Explanation: Beta-hydroxybutyrate is a ketone body that rises when a cow mobilizes excessive body fat after calving.
Correct answer: Beta-hydroxybutyrate- A. Excess dietary protein or poor energy synchronization
- B. Severe dietary calcium deficiency alone
- C. Complete absence of rumen microorganisms
- D. Insufficient access to mineral salt only
Explanation: High milk urea nitrogen commonly reflects excess rumen-degradable protein, inadequate fermentable energy, or poor synchronization between…
Correct answer: Excess dietary protein or poor energy synchronization- A. Uric acid
- B. Lactic acid
- C. Hydrochloric acid
- D. Bile acid
Explanation: Lactic acid bacteria convert plant sugars into lactic acid, rapidly lowering silage pH and helping preserve the forage.
Correct answer: Lactic acid- A. Restricting feed before lambing
- B. Washing the fleece after shearing
- C. Increasing nutrition shortly before breeding
- D. Giving extra salt after weaning
Explanation: Flushing means improving the plane of nutrition shortly before and during breeding.
Correct answer: Increasing nutrition shortly before breeding- A. Keeping animals continuously in wet muddy yards
- B. Delaying hoof inspection until lambing
- C. Providing only high-protein concentrate feed
- D. Maintaining dry footing and controlling infected animals
Explanation: Foot rot spreads readily in warm, wet, contaminated conditions, so dry footing, regular inspection, treatment, and control of infected…
Correct answer: Maintaining dry footing and controlling infected animals- A. Calcium
- B. Iron
- C. Iodine
- D. Sulfur
Explanation: Milk fever, or parturient paresis, results mainly from hypocalcaemia when calcium demand for colostrum and milk rises sharply after…
Correct answer: Calcium149. Which cattle breed is widely recognized for the highest average milk yield among major dairy breeds?
- A. Jersey
- B. Holstein Friesian
- C. Ayrshire
- D. Guernsey
Explanation: Holstein Friesian cattle generally produce more milk by volume than other major dairy breeds.
Correct answer: Holstein Friesian- A. To stimulate appetite
- B. To increase milk fat
- C. To destroy organisms on the teat skin
- D. To reduce rumen acidity
Explanation: Post milking teat dipping reduces bacterial contamination of the teat canal while it is still open.
Correct answer: To destroy organisms on the teat skin- A. Grass tetany
- B. Simple indigestion
- C. Ketosis
- D. Ruminal acidosis
Explanation: Rapid starch fermentation produces acids faster than the rumen can neutralize them, causing ruminal acidosis.
Correct answer: Ruminal acidosis- A. Milking cows in a fixed sequence
- B. Changing milking times daily
- C. Skipping low yielding cows
- D. Milking before udder preparation
Explanation: A fixed milking sequence supports consistent udder preparation and reduces unnecessary disturbance in the herd.
Correct answer: Milking cows in a fixed sequence153. What is the usual purpose of a footbath containing an appropriate disinfectant in a dairy herd?
- A. Increasing milk protein
- B. Preventing infectious hoof disease
- C. Improving feed intake
- D. Treating uterine infection
Explanation: Footbaths help reduce infectious organisms on the hoof and lower the risk of conditions such as digital dermatitis.
Correct answer: Preventing infectious hoof disease- A. Body length per kilogram of feed
- B. Milk colour per milking
- C. Milk produced per unit of dry matter intake
- D. Number of calves per lactation
Explanation: Feed efficiency is commonly assessed by relating milk output, often energy corrected milk, to dry matter intake.
Correct answer: Milk produced per unit of dry matter intake- A. To keep all cows at one body weight
- B. To eliminate the need for records
- C. To prevent all infectious diseases
- D. To provide diets suited to nutrient needs
Explanation: Early lactation, late lactation, dry cows, and heifers have different nutrient and management requirements.
Correct answer: To provide diets suited to nutrient needs- A. To place sperm near the uterine horns
- B. To avoid contact with the rumen
- C. To increase ovarian size
- D. To prevent milk letdown
Explanation: Deposition in the uterine body places sperm beyond the cervix and near the reproductive tract where they can move toward the oviduct.
Correct answer: To place sperm near the uterine horns157. Which housing feature most directly reduces competition at the feed bunk in a group of dairy cows?
- A. Higher wall temperature
- B. Adequate feeding space per cow
- C. Darker interior lighting
- D. Reduced water access
Explanation: Providing adequate feeding space allows more cows to eat at the same time and reduces displacement of subordinate animals.
Correct answer: Adequate feeding space per cow- A. To prevent all reproductive disorders
- B. To increase the salt content of milk
- C. To support resting and normal locomotion
- D. To replace hoof examination
Explanation: Comfortable lying areas encourage adequate rest, which supports welfare, circulation, and normal production.
Correct answer: To support resting and normal locomotion- A. Increased lactose synthesis by the udder
- B. Excessive fat mobilisation after calving
- C. Improved bacterial quality of the milk
- D. Subclinical inflammation of the udder
Explanation: A high somatic cell count usually reflects inflammation of mammary tissue, often due to mastitis.
Correct answer: Subclinical inflammation of the udder160. For breeding a replacement dairy heifer, which criterion is generally more useful than age alone?
- A. Body weight relative to mature size
- B. Colour pattern of the hair coat
- C. Length of the tail switch
- D. Amount of horn development
Explanation: Heifers are commonly bred when they reach an appropriate proportion of mature body weight and have adequate reproductive development.
Correct answer: Body weight relative to mature size