Beef cattle 2 Flashcards
(99 cards)
1
Q
what is the most important thing on a commercial cattle operation
A
creation of new wealth (calves to sell)
-at least 5x more important then growth and milk production
-at least 10x more important than carcass quality
2
Q
what are the total costs to keep a cow for 1 year
A
$1500
3
Q
what happens if not all cows get pregnant
A
if 95% (5% open) froduce a calf a year each calf must bear a cost of $1575
if 90% are pregnant each calf must bear cost of 1650
therefore objective is to get all cows pregnant
4
Q
how many calves does it take to cover the development costs of a heifer
A
4-5
5
Q
beef cattle should have low level of management meaning…
A
should emphasize genetic potential
6
Q
potential animal performance=
A
genetics+environment
7
Q
what are the cow calf economic like
A
-known for modest rates of returns
-focus on cost per pound (kg) weaned
-unit cost production (UCOP)=cost per 100 lbs calf waned (more important then weaning weight)
8
Q
how do you calculate the UCOP (unit cost production)
A
total cowherd cost/total lbs of calf weaned
9
Q
how heritable are fertility traits
A
lowly heritable
10
Q
what is the heritability of conception rate
A
h^2 =0 to 0.10
11
Q
what is the heritability of calving interval
A
h^2=0-0.10
12
Q
what is the heritability of fetal survival (embryonic loss)
A
low
13
Q
whats more important calving ease or body birth weight
A
calving ease
14
Q
what enhances survivability to calf weaning (5-6months)
A
-colostrum at birth (passive immunity)
-mothering ability
-milk quality
15
Q
how soon into pregnancy can you ultrasound
A
30 days
purebred operations may do so and rebreed if not pregnant
16
Q
how soon can you do a rectal palpation
A
60 + days
17
Q
what happens in a commercial herd if a cow isnt pregnant
A
females are sold in the fall if breeding is in summer
18
Q
what are clean up bulls
A
bulls released with cows after about 7-10 days after AI
meant to breed open cows in next cycle
19
Q
what is the goal for cows bread in the first heat cycle
A
70% or greater
20
Q
BSC test
A
breeding soundness evaluation for bulls
21
Q
what is the heritability for scrotal circumference
A
h^2=0.40 to 0.60
22
Q
what is the ideal scrotal circumference for bulls at 12 months
A
grater than or equal to 32 cm
23
Q
what is evaluated for sperm count
A
volume, motility, sperm morphology
24
Q
what is one thing that can be evaluated in bulls
A
libito
25
when is bull puberty
12-15 months of age, larger breeds later
therefore many purebred producers calve in January
26
when are bulls sold
usually January, sometimes February
27
what does heat form fat in bulls do
reduces sperm count
28
what does freezing temps do to stored sperm
it damages it
29
what is a good bull to cow ratio
1bull per 25-30 cows
1 yearling bull per 15-20 cows
30
what is a good bull to cow ratio in rough terrain or large pasutre/rangeland
1 bull per 10-15 cows
1 yearling bull per 10 cows
31
what does a sorter breeding season mena for culls
more culls
32
do producers like to mix yearling bulls with mature bulls
not
33
what is natural service conception rates
90-98%
should expect ~85%+ live calves
34
what is AI conception rates
should expect 55-56% pregnant
(good heat detection)
35
what are ways to detect a cow in hear
-gomer bull=vasectomized bull marks cow in heat
-observation of mounting twice/day
visual aids (mounting patched KMAR)
36
what is a good way to breed heifers
buy and use a separate heifer bull, lighter birth weights expected
37
what are bull sales like
-mainly yearling (12-13 months of age)
-bull sales in febuary and march (pre-breeding season)
-also 2 year old bull sales (rare)
38
how could you calculate adjusted calf wean weight
adj 205 d ww=wean wt-birth weight/wean age=birth weight + dam age
39
how does dams age effect birth weight
2=+15%
3=+10%
4=+5%
5-10=0
greater then or eq to 11=+5%
40
what genders grow best
male 1.1>castrated male 1.05>female 1
41
what are correction factors for comparing records of weight
sex
dams age
age of calf
twin vs singleton
42
twin vs singleton
75% of expected weight
43
how heritable are performance traits
highly heritable:
birth weight: 0.30-0.40
wean weight: 0.30-0.35
post weaning gain: 0.50-0.55
44
what are genetic correlations of post wean gain and carcass grade
weaning wt: post wean gain 0.46
weaning wt: carcass grade 0.52
45
what is the heritability of carcass quality
slaughter grade: 0.40-0.45
loin eye area: 0.55-0.60
tenderness: 0.50-0.60
marbling: 0.40-0.45
46
how do heifers and old cows do calving
-heifers have more problems
-old cows abort more
47
what is the average herd age
5-7 years
48
what is the problem with all the cattle breeds
-breed groups dont talk to eachother
-but they should to help commercial operations
49
bos taurus
all european breeds
50
bos inducus breeds
zebu brahma breeds
51
where does brahma breedings happen
increase as you go south
52
what is the order of operation for beef cattle management for commercial operation
-jan/feb cows fed well for fetal (conceptus) growth
-march/april calving + feed cows very well for milk production (lactation)
-may/june move cows to pasture
-june/july breeding season cows (63 days) heifers (45 days)
-aug/sept creep feed calves
-october weaning, select and cull
-november/december feed cost effective, gradually improve feed quality
53
what is the order of operation for beef cattle management for purebred operation
-calve in jan or feb
-yearling bull sales in jan/feb
-puberty 12-15 months
-breed mid april
54
when do commercial operations calve and breed
they calve in march/april and breed july/aug/sept
today some operations calve in may-pasture calving
55
how much are calves growing nursing on dam at pasture per day
0.9 to 1.1 kg/day
56
how much are calves growing during backgrounding(100-120 days old) per day
0.7 to 1.1kg/d (70% hay, silage)
57
how much are calves growing during finishing per day
1.4 to 1.8 kg/day
(80-90% grain diet)
58
how old are calves when backgrounded
100-120 days
59
how is the slaughter of cattle done to maintain market
1) different breeds reach finish, target backfat at different ages
2) cattle left on grass longer in some locations than others
-backgrounding programs
-fall calving
60
what are finishing programs
-fast growth before slaughter (about the last 90-150-230 days)
-grass-finish or forage-finish
-in australia, brazil, canada
-fat colour is yellow instead of white
61
feed lot programs
-grouped by size and/or body type and to some extent age
-silage is typically fed in large lots
-grain and hay
62
what things are needed to maintain welfare in feedlots
-adjustment (adaption) to diet, different water, etc is needed
-clean, dry bedding
-well drained corral
-snow fence may be only "shelter"
-grain content of feed in gradually increased
-bloat must be prevented
63
why are feed lot economics risky
-price marge=differene in $/lb (kg) between buying and selling
-feed margin (cost of grain[COG])
-difference between cost/lb gain and selling price
64
what are different kinds of animal identification
-branding
-tattoo
-permanent ID
65
what are the different branding ways
hot and freeze
66
what must purebreds have on their tags
letters that identifies the year they were born
F=2018
G=2019
H=2020
J=2021
K=2022
L=2023
67
RFID
radio frequency
reg with canadian cattle identifacation agency-age verified
68
polled
no horns
69
smooth polled
clean head often peaked
70
smooth polled
both parents polled (since trait is dominant not homozygous)
71
dehorning practices
-caustic paste (bud) at one month of age or less
-cutting (wire saw)
-heat cauterization- buddex electric dehorner
72
what things are used to improve welfare to cattle when dehorning
-after horn bud attachment must use pain control (anesthetic (lidocine); analegestic (meloxicam)
-at birth ie smaller the horn the better
73
castration timing
-crossbred males typically castrated early (at birth)
-purebred typically in fall at time of cull
74
castration methods
-surgical (removal of both testes)
-elastrator ring (at birth)
-burdizzo emasculator crushes cords
75
what is the rule for pain management and calf castration
older the 6 months of age will require pain control (ie analgesic (meloxicam))
76
what are antibiotics used for in beef cattle
-treat diseases
-prevent disease in high risk groups (upon arrival at feedlot injectable and in feed for 28 days
-promote growth (subteraputic)
-enhance feed efficiency (subteraputic)
77
what happens if a cattle has been given antibiotics
-regulated withdrawal period
-CFIA no treated animal enters the food chain
78
what are concerns with antibiotics
-mass treatment of animals
-(metaphylaxis) could lead to resistance (AMR)
-over prescription of antibiotics
79
where are antimicrobials more common vet med or humans
its 16x more than vet med
patients not complying with duration of medication (resistants)
80
ionophores
-soluble molecules produces by some bacteria (change in microbial populations, reduces methane)
-aids in transport of ions across cell membranes
-acts as coccidiostats (rumencin)
-not used in humans
81
what do ionophores increase in cattle
-ADG and feed efficiency
-more efficient feed conversion 10-15%
-decreases methane in ruminants
82
what do ionophores reduce in cattle
-ruminal acidosis and bloat
83
rumensin
ionophore (monensin sodium)
84
how does the use of antibiotics in canada compare to Europe
-EU has banned
-canada hasnt but they must be prescribed by a vet= i.e only used to treat sick animals
-however entry into feedlots to prevent disease in question (metaphylaxis use)
85
if no antibiotics what can you do
-improve management of animals
-pre and probiotics
-some plants have antimicrobial compounds
(garlic, red osier dogwood[antioxidant])
86
what are hormones
anabolic growth promoter
87
why use hormones
-promote growth
-90% feed lot cattle
-20% increase in growth
-consume 15% less feed
88
what are the concerns with hormones
in meat residue- CFIA audited at packing plant
89
what are consumers concerns with hormones
-in feces and urine, goes to drinking water, then to other food
90
why isnt beef just the problem when it comes to hormones
birth control, postmenopausal therapy
91
hormone implant use in EU vs north america
-banned in EU, cant sell beef that have had implants, new trade agreement opens up this market
-90% of slaughter carcasses have had implants in N america
92
ralgro (zeranol)
derived from corn mold-anabolic agent-simulates growth
93
how much estrogen does a cow with vs with out implant have
1.1 ng with out, 1.9 ng without
94
beef industry sectors-purebred
-supply breeding stock to commercial cattlemen
-concentrate on specific traits
95
beef industry sectors-commercial cow-calf producer
-maintain cow herd and raise calves
-calves sold at weaning 225-270kg
-go to feedlot
-or backgrounding to feedlot
96
beef industry sectors-backgrounding lots
-feed calves forage based rations
-225-270kg grown to 360-430kg
->finishing
97
beef industry sectors-finishing feed lots
-feed yearling, and backgrounded calves
-fed high energy
-14-22 months=450-630kg
98
beef industry sectors- packers
slaughter and produce carcass (270-360kg)
99
beef industry sectors- wholesalers
-purchase beef
-distribute (wholesalers, retailers or food industry)
-many add value before selling (cutting, aging, packing)
