Beef Cattle- Grand Challenges: Production Systems

Question 1

Single largest money-generating commodity in all of agriculture in recent times?

Answer 1

Beef industry

Question 2

Beef industry share in agriculture?

Answer 2

18%

Question 3

How much money is the beef industry averaging?

Answer 3

68 billion dollars annually

Question 4

Share what percent of all animal agriculture total farm receipts?

Answer 4

39%

Question 5

Beef cow inventory?

Answer 5

30 million cows in 2022

Question 6

Approx. how many beef cattle operations in U.S?

Answer 6

730k

Question 7

With ____ of the world population

Answer 7

4.4%

Question 8

How many cattle does U.S. have of world population?

Answer 8

6%

Question 9

The U.S. produces approx. what of the world’s meat from cattle?

Answer 9

18%

Question 10

Structure of Beef Industry

Answer 10

1. Seedstock Production
2. Cow-Calf Production
3. Feedlot/Finishing Operation
4. Stocker (Yearling) Operation
5. Replacement Heifers

Question 11

Only segment that does NOT produce animals whose primary use is for meat consumption?

Answer 11

Seedstock Production

Question 12

Primary goal of Seedstock Production?

Answer 12

To produce breeding stock (purebred or controlled crossbred) that produce the parent generation of cattle for commercial calf producers

Question 13

Product of greatest demand in Seedstock Production?

Answer 13

Bulls

Question 14

What will happen to animals produced in this segment? When?

Answer 14

Slaughtered for food, but only for salvage value at the end of a productive life

Question 15

Cow-Calf Production goal

Answer 15

Raising a cow that at two years of age has a calf that is raised about 6 months and then sold to another individual who puts more weight on the animal

Question 16

Needs for a Cow-Calf Production

Answer 16

Land (both for grazing and hay production), fences, corral & headgate, equipment

Question 17

How much will a beef cow consume each year?

Answer 17

5 tons of forages per year, one half a square bale per day a year

Question 18

If a beef cow eats its normal amount it will produce a weaned calf weighing..?

Answer 18

500 pounds

Question 19

When are calves weaned (removed from cow)?

Answer 19

6 months of age

Question 20

What does weaning cause?

Answer 20

Noisy, possible calf break-out, need sturdy fences

Question 21

Weaning methods

Answer 21

Total separation, fence line weaning, nose plates

Question 22

Weaning stress

Answer 22

Wean healthy/vaccinated cattle

Question 23

Feeding to reduce weaning stress

Answer 23

Feed them a low grain (high roughage (fiber) diet), have them started on grain through creep feed

Question 24

What should have occurred long before weaning?

Answer 24

Castration and dehorning

Question 25

How much do weaned/stocker calves weigh taken in by Feedlot/Finishing?

Answer 25

600-850 pounds BW

Question 26

What is harvesting weight?

Answer 26

Around 1200 pounds BW

Question 27

How long does Feedlot/Finishing Operation last?

Answer 27

120-150 days

Question 28

Needs for Feedlot/Finishing Operation?

Answer 28

Source of fiber (Hay/Silage/Grass/Grains), strong fences, facilities, market

Question 29

Stocker (Yearling) Calf Operators goals

Answer 29

To produce the heaviest calves possible with the least cost

Question 30

What type of feed is given in Stocker (Yearling) Calf Operators? Why?

Answer 30

Forage base because it is lowest cost feed source

Question 31

What operator could also be a Stocker Calf Operator?

Answer 31

Cow-Calf Operator

Question 32

Is the number of beef cattle operations increasing or decreasing?

Answer 32

Decreasing

Question 33

Are the remaining operations getting larger or smaller?

Answer 33

Larger

Question 34

Which operations are especially getting larger?

Answer 34

Seedstock operations, feedlot operations, and beef packers

Question 35

What is happening among beef industry segments?

Answer 35

Seeing increase amount of communication, cooperation, and coordination

Question 36

What terms are being used regarding beef industry segments?

Answer 36

Alliance, vertical cooperation, vertical coordination

Question 37

Value added products at retail (Beef, pork, poultry)

Answer 37

Beef: Low, but increasing Pork: Moderate and increasing Poultry: High

Question 38

New product development (Beef, pork, poultry)

Answer 38

Beef: Moderately increasing Pork: Moderately increasing Poultry: Slowly increasing

Question 39

Brand marketing (Beef, pork, poultry)

Answer 39

Beef: Low, but increasing Pork: Moderate Poultry: High

Question 40

Capital $ (Beef, pork, poultry)

Answer 40

Beef: Varies by production stage Pork: Moderate, but shared Poultry: Moderate, but shared

Question 41

Risk (Beef, pork, poultry)

Answer 41

Beef: High Pork: Moderate Poultry: Moderate

Question 42

Control of quantity, quality, consistency (Beef, pork, poultry)

Answer 42

Beef: Loose, but increasing Pork: Moderate and increasing Poultry: Tight

Question 43

Managment skills needed (Beef, pork, poultry)

Answer 43

Beef: High Pork: Moderate Poultry: Low

Question 44

Trend/concerns with workforce

Answer 44

Farm/ranch hand population is aging with little interest by younger generation to enter industry

Question 45

Trends/concerns with land

Answer 45

Transferred out of agriculture. Development and recreational use of former cattle grazing lands and farms

Question 46

Trends/concerns with energy costs

Answer 46

Freight and transportaion costs increases

Question 47

Trends/concerns with participation costs

Answer 47

Increasing capital requirements to participate in industry

Question 48

Trends/concerns with consumers

Answer 48

Reliance on emotion vs. science-based facts

Question 49

Trends/concerns with cow herd/supply

Answer 49

Decreasing in U.S. and globally