Beef Cattle Flashcards
Parturition
Calving
Intact male
Bull
Castrated male
Steer
Female
Cow
Young male
Bull calf
Bullock
Young female
Heifer
All young
Calves
Cattle ancestor
Great auroch
Man responsible for breed development and selective breeding
Robert Bakewell (father of animal breeding)
Breed development 3 steps
1) determine desired traits
2) selection of parents for next generation
3) evaluate offspring for selection
Purebred
define set of characteristics passed from parents to offspring
Humans determine desired characteristics
Genes for desired traits are more homozygous with less heterosis
How many recognized and unnamed breeds of cattle?
250 recognized breeds
>300 unnamed varieties 
Difference between dairy and beef cattle interaction with environment
Dairy: Environment altered to fit animals
Beef: match animal’s characteristics environment
3 types of beef cattle
1) European (Bos Taurus)
2) Continental (Bos Taurus)
3) Zebu (Bos indicus)
European
Bos Taurus
Europe
Moderate size
meat characteristics
Reproduction
Maternal ability
Ex Hereford, angus, shorthorn
Continental
Bos Taurus
European
Larger size
Draft
Meat characteristics
Reproduction
Maternal ability
Ex. Charlois, Chianina, simmental
Zebu
Bos Indicus
Milk
Meat
Draft
Tropical/subtropical adaptations
Ex. Brahman
Zebu tropical adaptations
Short, shiny, dense, flat hair
More skin/surface area for cooling
Parasite, insect, and disease resistance
Synthetic breeds
Breed created from crossing two other breeds
Breed for favorable characteristics from two different breeds to fit environment
Ex. Brangus, simbrah, beefalo
Where are most cattle in the U.S. located?
Central U.S.
European examples
Hereford
Angus
Shorthorn
Continental examples
Charlois
Chianina
Simmental
Zebu example
Brahman
Synthetics examples
Brangus
Simbrah
Beefalo