Beef Flashcards
Beef agricultural output shares
2.2/2.5 million
What % of agricultural output shares comes from milk and beef together?
65%
What % of farmers in Irish beef enterprise?
60% (100,000)
What % of beef farmers are part-time?
50%
What is the most dominant system in farming in Ireland?
Beef enterprise
What % of beef farms are located in the BMW region?
60%
Avg beef herd size?
18 cows
Avg beef farm size?
27.5 hectares
Avg farm size in Ireland?
32.7ha (83 acres)
How many breeding cows in Ireland?
~2.5 million
900,000 suckler cows, 1.5 million dairy cows
From 2008 to 2020, by what % has the suckler cow population in Ireland dropped by?
12-15%
What country has Europe’s longest season of grass growth?
Ireland
What % of the diet relies on grass?
60-85%
How many times cheaper is grass compared to silage?
Grass is 2 times cheaper than the cost of silage
Cost of grass per tonne of DM?
€100/tonne DM
What % of suckler calvings in Ireland occur between January and May?
70%
What % of Ireland’s agricultural land area is devoted to grass?
80%
The Irish beef supply chain can be analysed through what 5 key stages?
Farm inputs
Production/farming
Processing & packaging
Branding, marketing and distribution
Sales and retail
How much do specialist cattle farms spend including both direct and overhead costs each year?
€1.6 billion on farm inputs
Beef farm viability in Ireland?
20% viable
40% sustainable
40% vulnerable
What % did direct payments of average farm incomes for cattle rearing and cattle other account for?
Cattle rearing – 158%
Cattle other – 111%
Pillar 1
Direct Payment €1.2 billion – beef and tillage support payments
Pillar 2
Rural Environmental Schemes (eg. GLAS, ACRES)
On what conditions must an abbatoir require an EU export licence?
Any abbatoir slaughtering in excess of 1000 cattle per annum
AIBP, Dawn Meats and Kepak control what % of the kill in Ireland?
60%
Liffey Meats, Slaney, Dunbia, and Donegal Meats control what % of the kill in Ireland?
25%
MII
Meat Industry Ireland – processed ~85% of the total beef production
Weekly cattle availability ranges from…
25,000 to 38,000
How many cattle is slaughtered per year?
1.6-1.7 million
What country is the largest net exporter in the Northern Hemisphere?
Ireland
Beef production in Ireland (tonnes) per annum?
560,000-580,000
Beef production in USA p.a.?
12 million tonnes
Beef production in Brazil p.a.?
10 million tonnes
Global beef production p.a.?
Just under 70 million tonnes
What % of Irish beef is available for trading/sold to the global market?
12%
What % of Irish beef is consumed domestically?
10%
What amount of Irish beef is traded annually?
9 million tonnes
Where is Ireland in terms of beef exports in the world?
5th largest beef exporter in the world
Beef exports valued at…?
560-580,000 tonnes valued at €2.5 billion
Live exports and value?
200,000 head live worth €200-250 million
Value of industry combined of beef and live animals?
€3 billion
Beef price has increased by what % in the last 10 years?
70%, 33% increase in 5 years
Rise in beef per head in past 5 years?
€350/head
Self-sufficiency of Ireland in relation to beef?
~700%, therefore there’s a need for export
Calf exports 2023?
208,000 (+21% in 2023)
What % of Irish calf exports do the Netherlands take?
51%
White veal market locations?
Belgium and Netherlands
Slaughter under 6 months of age
Rosé veal market locations?
Spain
Slaughter 6-12 months
What % of national steers production are O and P grade?
60%
2023 Average beef price Ireland & EU
€4.96/kg (+4%)
Who buys Irish beef exports?
UK 47%, EU 45% - total 92-95% between EU and UK
When did US market open to Irish beef exports again?
2015 after the 15 year bam caused by the BSE crisis
Continued fall in EU beef output?
2023: -3.6%
2024: -1.3%
Carbon sequestration
With the help of grazing animals, carbon is taken from the air by plants and pumped into the soil, providing energy for soil microbes to build humus and store carbon
GAEC
Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition
Ireland’s GHG per kg of beef
17-18kg CO2 per kg beef
Average Nitrogen balance for suckler farms
38.1kg/ha
What % of consumers in Ireland are vegetarians?
6%
Beef farming only accounts for what % of global GHG’s?
6%
2017 EU suckler cow herd size
12.4 million heads
Beef imports have increased by what %?
11.3%
Mercorsur EU Beef Deal: To import to EU you need:
Full traceability from weaning to slaughter
Animals have to be slaughtered less than 36 months of age
Fed on grass-based diet only
Min. carcass weight 260kg steers, heifers 210kg
Asia accounts for what % of the global beef trade?
35%
Total Global Exports increasing by what %
2.7%
The objective of growth and carcass development is:
High lean tissue
Minimum bone
Market-suitable fat
Growth rate and point of decline are influenced by…?
Breed and sex
Growth rate in cattle is linear until they reach…?
Mature size
FCR = ?
DM Intake/ADG = FCR
Fat is deposited in carcass in what order?
Kidney channel fat
Intermuscular fat
Subcut fat
Intramuscular fat
Kill Out % Calculation
(Cold carcass weight/Unfasted final weight) x 100
Key anabolic growth hormone that impacts muscle growth
IGF-1
Role of insulin in the body
Glucose metabolism, fat deposition
Rise in stress and cortisol leads to..
A weakened immune system
Hypertrophy definition
Increase in tissue size
Hyperplasia definition
Increase in cell numbers (muscle, fat, skeletal cell numbers)
Androgen
Male sex hormone
Oestrogen
Female sex hormone
Anabolic
Constructive metabolism, eg. adding muscle and bone
Endogenous
Produced by the body
Exogenous
Derived from outside the body
Xenobiotic
Synthetic hormone
When was the European Union Beef Classification Scheme introduced and what are its functions?
1982
- Provides a common beef classification system for farmers, meat plants, and retailers across the EU
- Acts as the basis for payment for different carcass types
Cold carcass weight calculation
Hot carcass weight x 0.98
What is the average carcass weight?
338.3kg (280-400kg)
How many extra kg carcass weight will improve conformation by one score (eg. O to an R)
70kg
Carcass value definition
The sum of wholesale values of individual meat cuts & lean trim with a small deduction for bone
When was the mechanical grading system introduced for carcass classification?
2004
Dairy farm mortality rate
3-5% but can reach up to 8%
Growth rate expected of a beef calf suckling a dam
1.2-1.3kg LWG/day
Ideal calving interval
Calf per cow per year
What % of breeding is by stock bull vs AI?
Stock bull 82%
AI 18%
Hybrid Vigour
Ability of crossbred animals to surpass average performance of their purebred parents
Typical slaughtering age of bulls
15 months
Typical slaughtering age of heifers
20 months
What % cows culled annually as barren
<5%
Compact calving
80% of cows calved in 6 weeks
Replacement rates
16-18%
National Mean Calving Interval
400 days
Mean calving date of Irish suckler herd
2nd week in March
Gestation length
283 days
How much of a window to breed and conceive to maintain reproductive efficiency?
50 days (2-3 cycles)
Allow how long for involution?
First 30 days
Two main factors that affect the post partum anoestrus interval are…?
Maternal offspring bonding
Nutrition (BCS and plane of nutrition)
Target conception rate of beef cows
60%
Post partum interval in dairy vs beef cows
Dairy = 30 days avg (20-50 days)
Beef = 60 days avg (20-120 days)
Positive feedback from what hormone?
FSH growth
Negative feedback from what hormone?
Oestradiol
What hormone drives ovulation?
LH
How many LH pulse waves in a cycle?
3
Atresia meaning
Follicle dies off
A spike in what hormone can lead to a successful heat?
Oestradiol
What substance can lead to a bigger, more mature dominant follicle?
Higher IGF-1 or insulin
One large follicle develops in all cows by how many days postpartum
6-8 days
Which cycles tend to be silent heats?
First cycle post partum and short cycles
How many LH pulses are needed to ovulate the dominant follicle
1 LH pulses per hour
Maintenance of a cow
60-65%
What % of cows ovulate by Day 36
85-90% (Silent ovulation)
What % of cows fail to ovulate in response to calf separation?
10-15%
Deep nutritional anoestrus
Thin cows -> delayed post-partum and oestrus interval
What % of cows exhibited fertile heat by Day 45?
80%
After standing heat, ovulation happens after how many hours
28-31 hours
At what stage of heat are cows inseminated?
Before ovulation happens as semen has to go through capacitation first before getting to the egg
How much of a reduction is oestrus on slats compared to pasture?
50% reduction
% of infertile and sub-fertile bull
3-5% infertile
10-25% sub-fertile
What hormone administered in non-cycling cows increases expression of heat activity and also increases the conception rate by about 7%?
eCG
Conception rate for cows <35 days post-partum
40%
Delaying age at first calving from 24 to 36 months caused what regarding net margin?
Decreased net margin per ha by 20-30% (was 50%)
Recommended weight % for beef heifers at: 13.5-14 months, first breeding(15mths), at calving (24mths)
60 to 65% of mature weight at 13.5-14 months
65 to 70% at time of first breeding (15 months)
85-90% of mature weight at calving (24 months)
Target BCS at calving
BCS 3
What % of grass growth has take place between May and early July?
60%
Pre-grazing cover target
1400-1500kg DM/ha (8cm)
DMD of hay
40-50%
Grazing residual target
No more than 100kg DM/ha
Every extra day at grass, you’re saving…?
€1.54/day
How much silage should be available and adequate for the cow and calf in winter?
10tonne of silage
Weaning weight at end of 1st grazing season
320kg (290kg heifers)
Target weight at 1st turnout in spring
404kg (373kg heifers)
Target weight at 2nd winter housing
580kg (508kg heifers)
Finishing target weight
700kg (565kg heifers)
Benefit of creep grazing for the calf
Reduces the stress on the calf by gradually breaking the bond with the cow
Sham weaning
Calves with cows but prevented from suckling i.e. nutritional stress
Grass Tetany
Hypomagnesaemia
Low blood Mg concentration
Drop from ~25mg/L to <5mg/L
Mg daily requirements of a lactating cow
~20g Mg per day
Value of Irish food and drink exports?
€12.6 billion – 30% is meat & livestock (€3.9 billion)
Beef exports
€2.3 billion
5th largest in the world
580,000t
GAO beef
28%
Live imports
11,490 cattle
Irish consumption per person?
18.6kg per person
Main Irish export market?
UK 270,000 tonnes (47%)
Average FFI from beef enterprise for part time and full time?
Part time €7,000
Full time €21,000
Average single farm payment?
€350/ha
Average direct payment?
€11-12,000 per year
Number of major slaughter houses?
32
Weekly kill cattle number?
30,000
International carbon leakage?
If less carbon efficient countries increase beef production to satisfy growing demands
Origin Green Aim?
Reduce energy inputs, minimise overall carbon output, reduced impact on environment, increase efficiency and competitiveness
Antimicrobial use on Irish farms?
~7mg/PCU
Expected global demand for meat in next 5 years?
Grow by 1.6% per year
Key drivers of global beef consumption?
Population growth, consumer health and disposable
Average beef consumption?
9kg/capita
Compensatory growth
Rapid growth following a period of restricted feeding
Occurs in 2nd winter
What is the level of restricted feeding to achieve compensatory growth?
500-700g/day
Nutrition priority
Vital organs, bones, muscles, fat deposition
Order of growth
Bones, muscle, fat
When does fat deposition occur?
Once mature weight is reached
Muscle deposition order?
Limbs, tongue, intercostal, upper limbs, spinal, abdominal
What tissue is heaviest at birth?
Muscle
Early maturing – early fattening phase?
Hereford/Angus
What hormone inhibits growth hormone function?
IGF-1
Benefits of HGP?
200-300g/day increased growth by 10-30%
Location of ultrasound scan?
Between 12th and 13th rib
What majorly affects carcass price?
Conformation score
Ideal conformation grade?
R4L
2 main aspects of beef quality?
Functional quality (tenderness etc.)
Conformational quality (consumer specification)
Cost price difference between grades?
6c/kg
Space for an 85kg calf
1.8-2m^2 floor space (10m3 air space)
Suckler cow space
Slatted shed – 3m^2 per head
Straw shed – 4m^2 per head
What size of striploin cuts have highest value?
4.5-7.5kg
% of suckler progeny from late maturing breeds?
85%
Target weaning weight?
300kg at 7 months
Crossbred advantage % gain from hybrid vigour?
13%
Total volume of milk produced during suckling?
7-8L (linear response in ADG past 7L)
% weaning weight from milk
60%
What drives output of profitability?
Terminal sire
% of continental crossbred suckler cows?
> 75%
What € star indexes are more desired?
Carcass weight, fertility, milk, docility
Standing heat average?
9hrs
Peak times of oestrus?
6-9am and 6-9pm
Interval from heat detection to AI?
12-18 hours
Standing heat to ovulation?
28-30 hours
Cost of calving interval?
€2.20 per cow per day
P4 blood concentration at puberty?
> 1ng/ml
How many pubertal heats should heifers have?
3 for higher conception rates
Regression % of large follicle post partum?
93%
Critical factors at weaning?
Age and cow condition
How long does full immunity take after vaccinating?
6 weeks
Determining factor to wean?
Concentrates intake – 1kg/calf/day for 3 days
What helps to avoid stemmy swards in spring?
Tight grazing in Spring/Summer
When most meal feeding occurs for weaning?
4 weeks preweaning and 2 weeks post-weaning
Expected response to first kg of meal fed to weanlings?
4:1 (0.25kg LWG per kg concentrates)
Benefit of fence line access for weaning?
Less stress, less weight loss, higher post-weaning LWG
Cytokine definition?
Adaptive immunity against viral and bacterial infections
Effect of high protein feeds on Mg?
Reduce Mg absorption in the rumen
Benefit of replacements from within the herd?
Reduced disease risk, reduced cost, milk production potential
Rate of N application?
220kg N/ha
Ideal number of handlings in an oestrous synch programme?
3 (PRID in/out/AI)
Heifers age at puberty?
13-14 months (60-65% of mature body weight)
The effect of a follicular cyst?
High levels of E2 (affects LH secretion)
Why is synchronisation used on beef cows?
Resume cyclicity
Interval between PRID removal and AI?
72hrs
Cost of FTAI?
€25-30 per cow
Maximise output per cow to dilute costs?
Optimal herd fertility
Calf growth rates
High calf quality
What is the fat content of beef?
3-5%
What is the value of the beef industry annually in Ireland?
€2.5 billion
Which of the following helps papillae development in Rumen?
Butyrate
What is the body condition score for a spring calving suckler cow at mid-pregnancy, mating and calving?
Mid Pregnancy – 3.0
Mating - ˃2
Calving – 2.5
Desired Calving Interval = 365. Ireland’s Calving Interval =
403 days (367 at Grange)
Desired age at Calving = 24 months. Ireland=
32-32.5months
Dairy Calf to Beef Ration. % Fibre, % Crude Oil
10% fibre
<4% crude oil
% Cost of feeding cow in calf to beef and calf to weaning
Beef 50%
Weaning 85%
Which of the following protozoa is a major cause of diarrhoea in calves?
Cryptosporidium
% Asia – Beef World Trade
35%
Friesian Calf Average Daily Gain and weight at 12 weeks
0.7 kg/day and 100 kg
What has the biggest effect on tenderness of beef?
Post Slaughter Management
What chemical in grass causes yellowness in beef fat?
Keratin
What is the major influence in molecular/follicular growth?
LH pulse Frequency
When does feeding/nutrition have the largest effect on PPI (Post-Partum Interval)?
Pre-Partum Feeding (Before Calving)
How has Brazil Increased their production?
Due to increased use of genetics through crossbreeding programmes
What is the economic value of milk as a % in the Eurostar System?
35%
Total Output per hectare calculation
Total Output/ha = Stocking Rate x Output/LU
Brazil in the beef industry :
World’s Largest Exporter, 2nd Largest Producer, 3rd Biggest Consumer
Difficult to export from Brazil to EU due to:
Farm Safety, Traceability
What gives Brazil such a unique competitive position?
Vast land areas, plenty of water
1 Livestock Unit in Brazil (AU) =
1 450kg Animal
Average Stocking Rate in Brazil, Potential Stocking Rate
1 AU/ Ha, 22 AU/Ha
Target growth rate over winter
0.5-0.7 kg/day
2nd season at grass male steer ADG target
1kg/day, highest early in season
2nd season at grass growth rate for bulls
1.3-1.4 kg/day
Bulls housed for finish at
580 kg
Bulls growth rate during finishing
1.5-1.6 kg/day
Output =
Output = Stocking Rate x Performance Targets x Quality
Main market for live export weanlings?
Turkey (322,000 heads), Israel (176,000 heads) and Lebanon (155,000 heads),
Total beef consumption in Ireland?
87,000 tonnes
% of Irish exports in fresh beef i.e. not frozen
90%
EU suckler herd 2017
12.4 million
3 largest suckler herds in EU
France, Spain, UK
10% increase in income equates to:
5% increase in beef consumption
Cost to maintain a suckler cow and a calf, to the weanling stage
€635
Cost to maintain the suckler cow
€552
What percentage of Irish farms include beef enterprises?
30%
How many farms specialize in beef production in Ireland?
78,000
What percentage of Ireland’s agricultural land is grassland?
80%
What factor is key to Ireland’s competitive advantage in beef production?
Long grass-growing season
What is the economic viability threshold for Family Farm Income in Ireland?
€19,600
What market is the largest for Irish beef exports outside of the EU?
China
What year did the US reopen its market to Irish beef after a 15-year ban?
2015
Which country opened its market to Irish beef in both 2018 and 2024?
China
What is a major environmental advantage of Irish beef production?
Low carbon footprint
Which EU policy has impacted direct payments for Irish farmers?
Common Agricultural Policy
Which region is the largest export destination for global beef?
Asia
Which of these is a primary driver of increased beef demand in Asia?
Urbanisation
Which international agreement impacts Irish climate policy in agriculture?
Paris Agreement
What percentage of Irish beef exports goes to international markets?
5-8%
Which country consumes the most beef per capita globally?
Brazil
How much has beef production in China increased due to imports?
10%
How does a 10% cut in direct payments affect farm income on Irish cattle farms?
Declines by 14%
Which country has the highest import growth potential for beef, driven by rising disposable income?
China
How much of Irish beef production is exported?
90%
What advantage does the Gulf Stream provide to Irish agriculture?
Frequent rainfall and mild temperatures
What is a key target for Ireland’s beef industry under the “Food Harvest 2020” plan?
Grow the sector by 40% or €500 million
In terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, how does Irish agriculture rank in Europe?
Among the most carbon-efficient in the EU
What is a projected trend in the EU beef sector through 2024?
Decreasing beef output by 1.3%
What factor significantly influences growth rates in cattle?
Level of feeding
Energy intake in cattle is directed first towards what?
Bone growth
Intramuscular fat is important because it…
Enhances meat quality
Which sex in cattle typically has the highest lean tissue percentage?
Bulls
Kill-out percentage (KO%) in cattle refers to..
Carcass weight after removing hide, head, feet, etc
Dressing percentage for cattle typically ranges between:
50-60%
Hormonal growth promotants (HGP) are primarily:
Oestrogenic and androgenic
A hormone growth implant is placed where in the animal?
Under the skin in the ear
In live animal scoring, muscularity is assessed by evaluating…
Width at withers, loin, and thigh development
Which scoring process uses a linear scale from 1 to 15?
Musularity
Which fat classes are typically most desirable in beef carcasses?
3 and 4L
The main muscle used for sensory analysis in beef is the…
Longissimus thoracis
Sensory analysis often evaluates which of the following traits?
Tenderness, juiciness, flavor
Juiciness in beef is closely related to…
Intramuscular fat (marbling)
The introduction of mechanical grading for carcasses in the EU aimed to:
Improve consistency and reduce subjectivity
What is one advantage of using ultrasound technology in cattle grading?
Provides non-invasive muscle and fat measurements
What is a primary goal of suckler beef production?
Producing high-quality animals for EU markets
What is an essential aspect of suckler beef production?
Grassland management
What is an advantage of using a continental crossbred cow?
Higher growth rate post-weaning
What does hybrid vigor in crossbred animals typically improve?
Reproductive and productive performance
Which type of feeding is emphasized in Irish suckler herds during winter?
Ad libitum silage
Characteristics that are improved through heterosis in suckler cows
Birth weight, Growth rate, Longevity
What is a feature of two- or three-breed rotational crossing?
Stabilizes breed proportions over generations
The main benefit of composite breeding in suckler herds is:
Retention of hybrid vigor
In the Irish Beef Genomics Scheme, how much is paid per cow per year?
€90
What is the Replacement Index used for?
Selecting suitable breeding animals
What percentage of suckler cows were bred to late-maturing breeds by 2007?
87%
In the Irish Beef Genomics Scheme, what technology is central to calf registration?
DNA-based registration
Which is a critical factor in reducing the post-partum interval in beef cows?
Nutrition
A primary reproductive target for beef herds is to achieve what percentage of cows calving to wean a calf?
95%
What is the main hormone involved in inducing ovulation in beef cows?
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Post-partum anoestrus in beef cows is often due to…
Failure of recurrent dominant follicles to ovulate
What is the primary benefit of early calf separation for post-partum cows?
Advances the return to oestrus
What is the role of body condition scoring (BCS) in managing reproductive efficiency?
Indicates energy reserves
The average interval between first and second ovulation in beef cows is:
20-30 days
What factor can increase conception rate in synchronized beef herds?
Timed artificial insemination
Which hormone is responsible for the pre-ovulatory LH surge in heifers?
GnRH
What percentage of heifers should be cyclic before the start of the breeding season?
80%
What is the average age at puberty in well-nourished beef heifers?
12 months
Which hormone is crucial for detecting puberty in beef heifers?
Oestrogen
What is a primary method to manage reproductive efficiency in beef cows?
Compact calving season
Which is a goal of oestrous synchronization protocols?
Minimize animal handling
The presence of which structure indicates a higher pregnancy rate when synchronizing oestrus?
Corpora lutea (CL)
What hormone is often used in synchronization protocols to trigger ovulation?
GnRH
Heifers on a high plane of nutrition reach puberty sooner due to increased levels of…
Insulin and leptin
Which factor significantly affects the timing of puberty in beef heifers?
Plane of nutrition
For optimal grass quality, grazing should be managed to keep residuals at:
4cm
A common practice to avoid poaching is to:
House animals when soil conditions are wet
Stocking rates for cows and calves in an intensive spring-calving system during April-June are approximately:
0.2 ha per cow and calf
A target digestibility for silage for spring-calving suckler cows is:
65-67%
Stressors at weaning
Change of diet
Separation from dam
Transportation
The first nitrogen fertilizer application in early spring is recommended at:
50 kg/ha
The protein requirement in grass silage for growing weanlings should be around:
18%
The best time to give a booster vaccine to calves before weaning is:
2-3 weeks before weaning
A common sign of grass tetany in cattle is:
Severe muscle contractions and bellowing
