Beef Cattle Industry Flashcards
where are most beef cattle located?
Central plains, Texas has the greatest inventory
What is the average herd size for cattle?
30 cattle
Calf
young male or female under one year of age
Heifer
female who has not yet given birth
cow
female who has given birth
bull
uncastrated male
steer
castrated male
calving
act of giving birth
beef
meat from cattle
herd
group of cattle
maternal breeds
excel at mothering, raising offspring, and producing milk
terminal breeds
excels at growth, feed efficiency, and carcass yield
Dual Purpose Breeds
have good maternal and terminal characteristics
Angus
Black, British, maternal, good carcass quality, most common breed in US
Hereford
red body, white face, British, maternal, hardy-live in harsh weather, known for having pink eye
Charolais
White, Europe, Terminal
Simmental
black or red, Europe, dual-purpose
Braham
gray, Indian, heat tolerant, aggressive
Seedstock
purebred, provide genetics for commercial producers, registered with breed associations, specialized cow/calf system, high investment in facilities and management
Cow/Calf Operation
most beef producers, 6 to 10 months, calve in spring 75% or fall 25%
Assessing Profitability in cow/calf operation
calf crop percentage, average calf weight at weaning , annual cow cost
Stocker
buy weaned calves, raised on pastures, grow slowly, gain weight cheap, sell cattle at 1+ years old, cattle move from this to feedlot
Factors to consider
price, growth potential, amount and quality of forage, and health status
Intensive Housing System
High labor and capital, small area of land, indoor, climate controlled, farmer regularly sees animals
Extensive Housing System
limited labor and capital, animals scattered across large area of land, outdoor, animals harvests own food, animal seen daily or less frequently
Where do cattle go to after the stocker?
feedlot for finishing
What type of housing is a cow/calf place?
Pastures and may supplement hay/grain
What type of housing is at a stocker?
Pastures and wheat fields
What is a feedlot?
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.
What are the profit potential for a feedlot?
Average daily gain, feed efficiency, and health-death loss
What is the housing at a feedlot?
open to outdoors, dirt lot with a mound in the center, and central alleyway for feed
Where are the major feedlot feeding areas?
Texas Panhandle
What are the factors influencing value for a feedlot?
facilities, cost of cattle, feed costs, yardage-costs of gain that are not feed, and marketing
Grain-finished
animals spend majority of life on pastures, 4-6 months at feedlot, may have been given antibiotics or growth hormones
Grass-finished or grass-fed
animals spend entire life eating grass or forage, may be given hormones or antibiotics, may also eat grass, forage, hay or silage at feedlot
certified organic
never received antibiotics or hormones, ate all fed that was organic, may spend time on feedlot
Naturally raised or never ever
never given hormones or antibiotics, may be grain or grass finished, may spend time in feedlot
When are cattle slaughtered?
between 14-18 months and about 1,400-1,800lbs
How long is a cattle gestation?
283 days or 9 and a half months
When do cattle reach puberty?
Bulls: 6-10 months
Heifers: 4-14 months
average 10 months
How long is a cattle’s estrous cycle?
21 days
What is the ratio to bull to cow?
1:25-1:30 on average
What are signs of estrus?
mounting other cows, mucus discharge, vulva swelling, increased vocalization, lip curling, chin resting
Freemartin
A female calf born twin to a bull calf, 90% will be infertile
Ruminant
4 compartments to stomach which allows for fermentation of forage and bacteria create protein
Bloat
Can’t release gases from rumen, swelling on left side, fast progression, rumen expands, pressure on diaphragm and lungs
Acidosis
Abrupt decline in rumen pH, weak, appear anorexic, may have diarrhea and dehydration, cause by shift to high grain diet to fast
What is the pH of a rumen?
7-8
Common disease and viruses in cattle?
Bovine viral diarrhea, bovine respiratory disease, brucellosis
Ways to prevent external and internal parasites in cattle?
insecticides, dewormers, sprays, pour-ons, ear tags, drenches
