Beef Cattle

Question 1

What are the 3 types of beef production?

Answer 1

1) cow-calf
2) cattle feeders/feedlots
3) purebred breeders

Question 2

Cattle dependent on roughages (pasture, hay, and silage) on land unsuitable for crops that involve less labor and lower investment fall under which production type?

Answer 2

Cow-calf

Question 3

Calves that are bought by the operator as yearlings, confined and fed on grain, grown and finished to market fall under which production type?

Answer 3

Cattle feeders/feedlots

Question 4

High cost beef production with purebred stock, requiring knowledge and skill to maintain falls under what category?

Answer 4

Purebred breeders

Question 5

What system is more suitable for farms that produce roughages with cattle that are NOT heavier?

Answer 5

Deferred finishing system

Question 6

What type of conformation is important for beef cattle to have?

Answer 6

Rectangular-shaped

Question 7

Beef cows are first bred at what age?

Answer 7

2 years

Question 8

How often do beef cattle breed and when do they calve?

Answer 8

Once a year and calve in the spring

Question 9

What is the goal calf weaning weight in beef herd production?

Answer 9

45-50% of cow weight

Question 10

What is the goal average age at weaning for beef herd production?

Answer 10

150-180 days

Question 11

When must a cow be bred to get 1 calf per year?

Answer 11

Within 80 days after calving

Question 12

6 points of reference for BCS in beef cattle…

Answer 12

1) back
2) tail head
3) pins
4) hooks
5) ribs
6) brisket

Question 13

BCS range for beef cattle

Answer 13

1-9

Question 14

What BCS range is “ideal” in beef cattle?

Answer 14

5-7

Question 15

Fall calving aims for breeding to occur around _______; where as Spring calving aims for breeding to occur around ________.

Answer 15

December; May

Question 16

What percentage of total costs are attributed to feed costs in beef cows?

Answer 16

50-70%

Question 17

In a spring calving system, what is the max BW loss aim for over enduring the winter?

Answer 17

<10% BW

Question 18

T or F:

Calf creep-feeding is not advantageous for the adaptation of steers to feedlot finishing.

Answer 18

TRUE

When they get to the feedlot, they go from roughages (protozoa are adapted to the hay, etc.) to concentrate. The rumen environment has to change with the composition of feed; the rumen develops by EATING GRAIN.

Question 19

What is calf creep feeding?

Answer 19

Providing extra feed like grain/ commercial feed mix to calves in addition to milk

Question 20

In creep feeding, when will calves start eating grain? What about large amounts of grain?

Answer 20

3 wo;

8 wo

Question 21

Future bulls used for service should be weaned around what age?

Answer 21

6 mo

Question 22

Feedlot cattle have different nutritional needs according to:

Answer 22

Sex

Age

Question 23

Bloat is also known as _______ _______.

What leads to the overproduction of gas, which causes the rumen to swell?

Answer 23

“Ruminal tympany”

Rapid fermentation* green legumes in large amounts, very fast

Question 24

How can we use dry hay to prevent bloat?

Answer 24

Feed it before pasturing animals!

Question 25

Panting, coughing, and breathing difficulties commonly seen in feedlot cattle can be symptoms of:

Answer 25

Bovine Pulmonary Emphysema

Question 26

Associated to high altitudes, this condition manifests as swelling in the lower neck and enlargement of the heart…

Answer 26

Brisket Dz

Question 27

Also known as “overeating dz”, this is seen more in sheep but do affect cattle on high concentrate diets (feedlots) and is related to what bacterial toxins?

Answer 27

Enterotoxemia: Clostridium perfringens toxins

*can die in 24 hours

Question 28

What toxicity is associated with the production of ergot type alkaloids, gangrene in the winter, and summer syndrome (inc body temp, rapid breathing, decreased production)?

Answer 28

Fescue

Question 29

How can you “dilute” fescue ?

Answer 29

By planting clover or Bermuda grass

Question 30

Diarrhea, stiff joints, appetite loss, abnormal bones and teeth may be a sign of this…

Answer 30

Fluorosis

Question 31

Common in feedlot cattle, this condition is notorious for inflammation and swelling of the foot and connective tissue, caused by overeating concentrates (or standing too long in a stall), and can make the animal lame…

Answer 31

Founder

Question 32

What symptoms are associated with Grass Tetany?

Answer 32

Stiffness, loss of appetite, frequent urination, convulsions

*most common in lactating animals

Question 33

T or F:

Tx for Grass Tetany includes Mg-sulphate injection under the skin

Answer 33

True.

Question 34

Brief pathogenesis of NP (nitrate poisoning)

Answer 34

High Nitrates in feed–>converted in rumen to nitrITES–>nitrites absorbed and interact w/Hb (methemoglobin) –>reduction in O2 carrying capacity to tissues

Question 35

In PNW and Midwest regions, what is a way we can prevent NP?

Answer 35

Analyze feed and water