Beef 1 Flashcards
***emphasized in class*** Covers beef cattle content up to (but not including) finishing phase.
the average number head per farm is ______ while the number of farms is ______
increasing, decreasing
province responsible for 70% of beef production in Canada and a lot of export to US
Alberta
how are nutrient intakes in absolute amounts per day (kg/day, g/day, IU/day) to satisfy requirements calculated?
nutrient concentrations in feedstuffs (%DM, g/kg of DM) x dry matter intake (kg/day)
list the priority use of nutrients in descending order
maintenance of pregnancy and body, production (growth or milk), reproduction (breeding or rebreeding)
list the priority use of nutrients in descending order
maintenance of pregnancy and body, production (growth or milk), reproduction (breeding or rebreeding)
3 major components of beef cattle production
cow-calf, stocker/backgrounding, and finishing
fill in schematic of beef cattle production cycle in North America:
1. ________
2. ________ (from 2 may go to 3, 4, or 5)
3. ________
4. ________
5. ________
6. ________
- late winter/spring calving
- summer grazing (from 2 may go to 3, 4, or 5)
- winter feeding
- stocker programs
- feedlot finishing
- slaughter
compare and contrast conventional and alternative production systems
conventional: most widely utilized; uses implants, feed additives; antimicrobials; alternative production systems have niche markets, eg. grass-fed, natural beef, certified organic, locally grown
goal of cow calf is
produce one live calf per cow each year
coat-calf production uses what kind of crops and land?
high-fibre forages, lands that are not suitable for row-crop production, crop residues, cover crops
what kind of cows do you want for cow-calf production
medium sized cows for efficiency (average 520 kg at weaning). cow breed, size, milk production should be matched to feed resources and environment.
what is cow-calf system diet
mainly forages, supplement with protein, vitamins, minerals as needed. small farms in Eastern and Southern US and Canada mostly introduced forages, larger ranches in the West use native grasses and forms
what are the 3 times calves can be born in the cow-calf system and when are most calves born
60% born in spring calving season (Feb to Apr), 25-30% born year round, rest are born fall calving season (Sep to Nov)
what is the cow-calf COW culling rate (as a percentage)
15-20% (72% of these are reproductive failure/age/lack of productivity; 28% due to lightweight calves at weaning, temperament, udder, or other economic reasons)
what trait is economically important in beef cow herds in regard to cow-calf system
cow longevity
when are beef calves weaned
5-9 months, about 240 kg weight (then they are sold in 60 days following weaning)
what are newborn calves born without? how do they get this thing they are missing?
immunity, depend on colostrum consumption
immunoglobulin absorption ceases after ________, so must maximize colostrum ingestion in _______
first 24 h of life, first 3h of life
what is cut-off for failure of transfer of passive immunity? how many calves show this? how does this value compare to dairy calves?
serum IgG 24 g/L, 1/3 of calves are below this level. for dairy cows the cut-off is 10 g/L
what are 3 potential outcomes of failure of transfer of passive immunity
6x increase risk getting sick in first month, 5x increase risk of dying before weaning, 15 kg decrease calf weaning weight
if calf is able to find cow teat, but still having difficulty suckling, what can you do
feed colostrum or colostrum replacer, ideally 10% BW in 1st 6h after birth
define creep feeding
provision of supplemental feed to calves before weaning, concentrate formulated specific for the calves
name at least 4/7 objects of using creep feeding
increase ADG of calves, supplemental feed when pasture or quality is bad, supplement calves (eg. if lower milk production), improve nutrition of fall born babies, ease weaning stress, reduce burden on thin or young. growing cows, increase stocking rates
creep fed calves will have these 4 good things
2-45 kg heavier at weaning, consume grains in drylot backgrounding more readily, regain losses from weaning and shipping faster, lower incidence post weaning morbidity and mortality