Beef Cattle Industry

Question 1

where are most beef cattle located?

Answer 1

Central plains, Texas has the greatest inventory

Question 2

What is the average herd size for cattle?

Answer 2

30 cattle

Question 3

Calf

Answer 3

young male or female under one year of age

Question 4

Heifer

Answer 4

female who has not yet given birth

Question 5

cow

Answer 5

female who has given birth

Question 6

bull

Answer 6

uncastrated male

Question 7

steer

Answer 7

castrated male

Question 8

calving

Answer 8

act of giving birth

Question 9

beef

Answer 9

meat from cattle

Question 10

herd

Answer 10

group of cattle

Question 11

maternal breeds

Answer 11

excel at mothering, raising offspring, and producing milk

Question 12

terminal breeds

Answer 12

excels at growth, feed efficiency, and carcass yield

Question 13

Dual Purpose Breeds

Answer 13

have good maternal and terminal characteristics

Question 14

Angus

Answer 14

Black, British, maternal, good carcass quality, most common breed in US

Question 15

Hereford

Answer 15

red body, white face, British, maternal, hardy-live in harsh weather, known for having pink eye

Question 16

Charolais

Answer 16

White, Europe, Terminal

Question 17

Simmental

Answer 17

black or red, Europe, dual-purpose

Question 18

Braham

Answer 18

gray, Indian, heat tolerant, aggressive

Question 19

Seedstock

Answer 19

purebred, provide genetics for commercial producers, registered with breed associations, specialized cow/calf system, high investment in facilities and management

Question 20

Cow/Calf Operation

Answer 20

most beef producers, 6 to 10 months, calve in spring 75% or fall 25%

Question 21

Assessing Profitability in cow/calf operation

Answer 21

calf crop percentage, average calf weight at weaning , annual cow cost

Question 22

Stocker

Answer 22

buy weaned calves, raised on pastures, grow slowly, gain weight cheap, sell cattle at 1+ years old, cattle move from this to feedlot

Question 23

Factors to consider

Answer 23

price, growth potential, amount and quality of forage, and health status

Question 24

Intensive Housing System

Answer 24

High labor and capital, small area of land, indoor, climate controlled, farmer regularly sees animals

Question 25

Extensive Housing System

Answer 25

limited labor and capital, animals scattered across large area of land, outdoor, animals harvests own food, animal seen daily or less frequently

Question 26

Where do cattle go to after the stocker?

Answer 26

feedlot for finishing

Question 27

What type of housing is a cow/calf place?

Answer 27

Pastures and may supplement hay/grain

Question 28

What type of housing is at a stocker?

Answer 28

Pastures and wheat fields

Question 29

What is a feedlot?

Answer 29

the final stage where they are fed grain to grow fast, put on fat and sent to slaughter. this place buys from feeders and stockers.

Question 30

What are the profit potential for a feedlot?

Answer 30

Average daily gain, feed efficiency, and health-death loss

Question 31

What is the housing at a feedlot?

Answer 31

open to outdoors, dirt lot with a mound in the center, and central alleyway for feed

Question 32

Where are the major feedlot feeding areas?

Answer 32

Texas Panhandle

Question 33

What are the factors influencing value for a feedlot?

Answer 33

facilities, cost of cattle, feed costs, yardage-costs of gain that are not feed, and marketing

Question 34

Grain-finished

Answer 34

animals spend majority of life on pastures, 4-6 months at feedlot, may have been given antibiotics or growth hormones

Question 35

Grass-finished or grass-fed

Answer 35

animals spend entire life eating grass or forage, may be given hormones or antibiotics, may also eat grass, forage, hay or silage at feedlot

Question 36

certified organic

Answer 36

never received antibiotics or hormones, ate all fed that was organic, may spend time on feedlot

Question 37

Naturally raised or never ever

Answer 37

never given hormones or antibiotics, may be grain or grass finished, may spend time in feedlot

Question 38

When are cattle slaughtered?

Answer 38

between 14-18 months and about 1,400-1,800lbs

Question 39

How long is a cattle gestation?

Answer 39

283 days or 9 and a half months

Question 40

When do cattle reach puberty?

Answer 40

Bulls: 6-10 months Heifers: 4-14 months average 10 months

Question 41

How long is a cattle's estrous cycle?

Answer 41

21 days

Question 42

What is the ratio to bull to cow?

Answer 42

1:25-1:30 on average

Question 43

What are signs of estrus?

Answer 43

mounting other cows, mucus discharge, vulva swelling, increased vocalization, lip curling, chin resting

Question 44

Freemartin

Answer 44

A female calf born twin to a bull calf, 90% will be infertile

Question 45

Ruminant

Answer 45

4 compartments to stomach which allows for fermentation of forage and bacteria create protein

Question 46

Bloat

Answer 46

Can't release gases from rumen, swelling on left side, fast progression, rumen expands, pressure on diaphragm and lungs

Question 47

Acidosis

Answer 47

Abrupt decline in rumen pH, weak, appear anorexic, may have diarrhea and dehydration, cause by shift to high grain diet to fast

Question 48

What is the pH of a rumen?

Answer 48

7-8

Question 49

Common disease and viruses in cattle?

Answer 49

Bovine viral diarrhea, bovine respiratory disease, brucellosis

Question 50

Ways to prevent external and internal parasites in cattle?

Answer 50

insecticides, dewormers, sprays, pour-ons, ear tags, drenches