Beef Cattle Flashcards
British breed traits
-smaller in mature size
-reach mature weight earlier
-less growth potential
-excel in fertility and calving ease
-higher quality grades
-carcasses with lower % of saleable product
British breeds
shorthorn, angus, hereford, belted galloway, highland
Continental breed traits
-larger in mature size
-later maturing
-carcasses with less fat and a higher % of saleable product
-lower quality grades
Continental breeds
charolais, simmental, limousin, maine-anjou
American breed traits
combine the desirable traits of two or more breeds in one package
-usually crossed with a Brahma
-“composite” or “synthetic” breeds
American breeds
santa gertrudis, brangus, beefmaster
Maternal breed traits
known for their milk production and mothering ability
Maternal breeds
angus, brahman, santa gertrudis, brangus, hereford
-mostly british breeds
Paternal or Terminal breed traits
known for their growth and meat producing ability
Paternal or Terminal breeds
simmental, limousin, maine-anjous, charolais
-mainly continental breeds
Dual-purpose breeds
known for both meat and milk production
-shorthorn, gelbvieh
-not common in US
Cow-calf operation
commercial cow-calf producers with a permanent herd of cows that produce calves for sale or replacement bulls and heifers
Cow-calf operation feeds
mainly rely on forages (grass and hay)
Types of sale
-public auction
-online auction
-direct sales
-retained ownership
Profitability factors of cow-calf operation
-calf crop percentage weaned
-average weight of calves at weaning
-annual cow cost
What do cow-calf producers monitor
-body conditions scores
-vaccinations
-deworming
-maintaining production records
Creep feeding
when cow-calf operations provide supplement feed to calves prior to weaning
What age are calves weaned
205 days
Preconditioning calves before selling includes
-weaning the calves ~6 weeks (45 days) before sale time
-starting them on feed
-castrating
-dehorning
-vaccinating
-deworming
-sometimes implanting growth hormones
(bunk training)
Stocker operation (backgrounders)
feed cattle for growth prior to their going into a feedlot for finishing
What do stocker operations feed
forages and high-roughage feeds (grass, crop residues, wheat pasture, silage)
What kind of cattle are desirable for feed lots?
early-maturing cattle
What kind of cattle go straight to feedlots after weaning?
larger framed, later maturing cattle are usually more efficient and profitable if they go directly after weaning
How long do calves stay at stocker operations?
~150-200 days
How much do calves weigh after stocker operations?
~600-850 lbs.
Where are most stocker operations located?
the east - WV, KY, TN
What diseases/problems do calves in stocker operations run into?
-fatigue
-hunger
-thirst
-exposure to multiple diseases
-shipping fever
Feedlot operations
cattle are fed in small pens or fenced areas where harvested feeds are brought to them (only a small % of beef cattle are finished on pasture in the US)
What kind of cattle do feedlots prefer to buy?
-cattle with compensatory gain
-thin and relatively old for their weight
-have been grown out on a low-quality feed
Are heifers or steers priced lower?
heifers
What do feedlots feed?
high concentrate diet
What is market weight?
1,200-1,400 lbs.
How are most beef cattle bred in the US?
natural service (only some are bred with A.I)
What kind of estrus are cows?
polyestrus (non-seasonal)
When do most cow-calf producers breed for?
fall or spring calves
At what age do bulls reach puberty?
8 months
At what age do heifers reach puberty?
10-14 months
When should heifers first be bred?
around 12-14 months to calve at around 2 years old
How long is the cow’s estrous cycle?
21 days
How long is a cow in heat?
12-20 hours
Signs of heat
-standing to be mounted
-mounting other cows
-being highly vocal
-nervousness
-mucous discharge from the vulva
KMar patches
heat patches glued to the female’s tailhead that is black and when a cow if ridden it turns red
Dystocia
difficulty calving
How long is gestation?
283 days
What is the primary cause of calving difficulty?
birth weight
How are calves born normally? (position wise)
front legs first, followed by the head
Spring calving season
March 1 - May 1
When are cows exposed to the bull for spring calving season?
May 20 - July 20
What are advantages and disadvantages of spring calving?
Advantages = ample forages
Disadvantages = weather and flooded market
Fall calving season
September 1 - November 1
When are cows exposed to the bull for fall calving?
December 20 - February 20
Advantages and disadvantages of fall calving?
Advantages = weather, less calves in market (price increase)
Disadvantages = access to forages
How long should a cow and her calf be left in the calving pasture or maternity pen?
one to three days after calving
Tattoo identification
-permanent
-done on inside of ears
-done when young
Ear tag identification
-an economical means of temporary identification
-can be read from a distance
-can break or get lost - should be used with another mode of permanent identification
-most popular method
Brand identification
-hot-iron or freeze branding
-on hip, rib, quarter, or shoulder
-de-values the hyde
-permanent
-can be read from a distance
Chemical dehorner
-calves younger than 2 weeks
-takes 1-2 weeks to work
-clip off end of horn button or nick skin if horn is not exposed
-apply ring of petroleum jelly
-apply chemical - targets and kills horn producing cells
Why dehorn calves?
-reduces carcass value
-reduces milk production
Electric/hot iron dehorner
-under 4 weeks of age
-apply at horn button until ring of copper colored hyde appears at horn base
-uses bell-shaped electric dehorner or hot-iron
-to remove horns less than 3/4 in. long
Spoon, tube, or knife
-less than 60 days old
-less than 1-1.5 in horn
-involves cutting out and removing the small horn button
1. clean horn and surrounding area
2. place cutting edge on the skin
3. push and twist each way until skin has been cut
Barnes-type dehorners
-4-12 months of age
-lifts the horns out by the roots and crushes the blood vessels (little bleeding occurs)
1. place dehorner over the horn and against the skull
2. spread handles apart quickly
3. treat with antiseptic spray
-may need vet involvement
Why are bulls castrated?
-bulls are usually discounted at market
-steer give more tender, color, and juicy beef
When should bulls be castrated?
less than 3 months of age
Emasculatome
-preferred method
-non-surgical
-no concerns of open wound or infection
-clamps and destroys the spermatacord
-testes shrink but usually do not fall off
Elastrator
-done prior to 1 month old
-rubber band tightens and cuts off blood circulation, kills and shrinks the area until it falls off
Growth-stimulating compounds
-implanted subcutaneously in the ear
-naturally occurring hormone or synthetic hormone that acts like a natural hormone
-released into the bloodstream in small but continuous amounts
-increase the deposition of protein, in the form of muscle
-increase AGD and FE
-hormones are estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone
Body condition scoring (BCS)
-a system that uses numeric score to estimate the body energy reserves in the cow
-range from 1-9
-ideal score is 5-7
Thin condition (BCS 1-4) problems
-failure to cycle
-failure to conceive
-increased calving interval
-increase days to estrus
-decreased calf vigor
Fat condition (BCS 8-9) problems
-costly to maintain
-increased dystocia
-impaired mobility
-failure to cycle
-failure to conceive
Body condition score 1
-severely emaciated
-no fat detectable
-visible and palpable space between the spinous process of the vertebrae
-tailhead is prominent
-all ribs and entire bone structure is visible
-severe muscle loss in shoulders, loins, and hindquarters
-animal appears lethargic and weak
Body condition score 2
-poor or very thin
-slightly more palpable tissue over the spinous processes
-spinous processes still appear to have space between them
-tailhead is slightly less prominent to the eye
-ribs are slightly less visible but lacking fat cover
-muscle loss in shoulders, loins, and hindquarters
-animal is still emaciated but not as weak
Body condition score 3
-thin
-slight fat cover beginning to appear on spinous processes
-each rib is visible but less hard when palpated
-slight fat cover over tailhead
-some slight muscle loss in shoulders, loins, and hindquarters
Body condition score 4
-borderline or slightly thin
-individual spinous processes are no longer visible
-only the rear 2-4 ribs can be seen
-hipbones are still obvious to the eye
-fat cover on edge of loins and shoulders
-muscle appears full but flat in hindquarters
Body condition score 5
-moderate
-looks good, healthy, finished, “just right”
-last two ribs are obvious to the eye
-fat cover over the shoulders, foreribs, and loins
-fat cover is “springy” over the ribs
-tailhead has fat cover on either side but its not mounded
-no fat in the brisket
-very little fat over the hooks and pins
Body condition score 6
-moderate or slightly fleshy
-all ribs fat covered, none are visible
-hindquarters becoming plump, full, and slightly rounded
-considerable fat cover on tailhead
-some fat in the brisket
-obvious fat covering the loins, shoulders, and foreribs
Body condition score 7
-good or fleshy
-cow appears smooth due to fat
-tailhead has “pones” of fat on each side
-fat is filling brisket and flanks
-considerable fat covering the shoulder, loins, and foreribs
-still possible to feel ends of spinous processes but only with firm pressure
Body condition score 8
-fat or obese
-cow is carrying too much condition
-square view from behind
-tailhead is lost in pones of fat
-fat deposits will be seen below the vulva
-flank appears deep due to fat fill
-brisket will be full of fat
-spinous processes impossible to palpate
Body condition score 9
-extremely fat or very obese
-bone structure is no longer visible from any aspect
-all definition is lost
-brisket entirely distended with fat = neck appears short
-loin, hip, and tailhead are “rippled” looking due to excess fat
Average birth weight
60-100 lbs.
When are cows rebred?
60-90 days post calving
Angus (aberdeen) color pattern
Solid black color, white occasionally on udder
Angus physical description
polled with a refined head
Angus category
british
Angus purpose
maternal
Angus country of origin
scotland
Angus are known for:
marbling, calving ease, and fertility
Beefmaster color
typically red but no set color pattern
Beefmaster physical description
polled, loose skin in dewlap and naval
Beefmaster category
american
Beefmaster purpose
dual
Beefmaster country of origin
United States
Beefmaster is known for:
heat tolerance
Belted galloway color
black, red, or dun color with a white belt/band that encircles the body
Belted galloway physical description
polled with thick hair
Belted galloway category
British
Belted galloway purpose
maternal
Belted galloway country of origin
Scotland
Belted Galloway is known for:
calving ease and double hair coat
Brahman color pattern
color ranges from light grey to red to black
Brahman physical description
large hump on shoulders, horned, loose skin
Brahman category
Zebu
Brahman purpose
maternal
Brahman country of origin
India
Brahman is known for:
heat tolerance and insect repellant
Brangus color pattern
black or red
Brangus physical description
polled, loose skin, slight hump
Brangus category
American
Brangus purpose
maternal
Brangus country of origin
United States
Brangus is known for:
heat resistance and maternal
Charolais color pattern
white in color, pale muzzle with pink pigmentation
Charolais physical description
naturally horned
Charolais category
continental
Charolais purpose
paternal/terminal
Charolais country of origin
France
Charolais is known for:
growth, muscle, and fast rate of gain
Chianina color pattern
Native: white, black nose, eye area and switch
United States: black
Chianina physical description
Native: tallest framed breed
United States: heavy muscled
Chianina category
continental
Chianina purpose
paternal/terminal
Chianina country of origin
Italy
Chianina is known for:
size and muscling
Hereford color pattern
dark red to reddish-yellow color with white face, crest, dewlap, and underline
Hereford physical description
horned or polled
Hereford category
British
Hereford purpose
maternal
Hereford country of origin
England - horned
United States - polled
Hereford is known for:
vigor and longevity
Highland color pattern
black, red, yellow, or dun
Highland physical description
long fringe and horns
Highland category
Bristish
Highland purpose
maternal
Highland country of origin
Scotland
Highland is known for:
climate tolerance and maternal instinct
Limousin color pattern
golden red to black color (black is the most common color in the US)
Limousin physical description
large framed, fine bone structure, and naturally horned
Limousin category
continental
Limousin purpose
paternal/terminal
Limousin country of origin
France
Limousin is known for:
leanness and high dressing percent
Maine Anjou color pattern
Native: red with white markings on head, belly, rear legs, and tail
United States: black, red, or black and white
Maine Anjou physical description
polled
Maine Anjou category
continental
Maine Anjou purpose
paternal/terminal
Maine Anjou country of origin
France
Maine Anjou is known for:
performance and feed efficiency
Red angus color pattern
red (recessive angus gene)
Red Angus physical description
polled
Red Angus category
British
Red Angus purpose
maternal
Red Angus country of origin
Scotland
Red Angus is known for:
maternal traits and marbling
Santa Gertrudis color pattern
red
Santa Gertrudis physical description
slick hair coat, loose skin, polled or horned
Santa Gertrudis category
American
Santa Gertrudis purpose
dual
Santa Gertrudis country of origin
United States
Santa Gertrudis is known for:
heat tolerance and maternal traits
Shorthorn color pattern
red, white, or roan
Shorthorn physical description
Horned or polled
Shorthorn category
British
Shorthorn purpose
maternal
Shorthorn country of origin
England
Shorthorn is known for:
calving ease and fertililty
Simmental color pattern
Native: golden to red with white
United States: black or red
Simmental physical description
horned or polled
Simmental category
continental
Simmental purpose
paternal/terminal
Simmental country of origin
Switzerland
Simmental is known for:
muscling and size
