Beef (Exam 2)

Question 1

Describe the segmented nature of the beef cattle industry

Answer 1

Animals are sold as they move from 1 phase to the next (can also be consolidated

Question 2

Define: Seedstock Producers

Answer 2

Purebred animals with particular characteristics may be more or less desirable for particular purposes
GENETICS

Question 3

Define: Commercial Cow/Calf Producers

Answer 3

Sell animals to the marketplace for consumption (different breeds/production practices to meet marketplace demands)
CONVERT GRASS TO CALVES

Question 4

Define: Yearly Stocker Operators

Answer 4

Convert grass to weight

Question 5

Define: Feed Lots

Answer 5

Convert grain to beef

Question 6

Define: Packers

Answer 6

Processing

Question 7

Describe beef production demographics - operations and inventory

Answer 7

Large number of producers = SMALL (1-49 herd size) = primary income source
Small number of producers = LARGE (500+ herd size) = represents smallest number of operations but largest number of animals to end users; need supplemental income source

Question 8

Describe beef production demographics - geographic location

Answer 8

Feedlots = high plains of Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa
Arid, dry; dust more a problem than mud

Question 9

Describe the effects of beef as a commodity

Answer 9

Beef price cycle:
Prices are good = producers retain animals to build herd to produce more calves = increase income = keeping animals from slaughter = decrease supply = increasing price
National herd grows = supply begins to exceed demand = price drops = producers lose profitability = retain fewer animals, cull more cows = increased supply and decreasing price = producers face large losses = downsizing herds and decreasing supply

Question 10

What role do individual producers play in the beef price cycle?

Answer 10

Individual producer cannot control this cycle = price takers!

Question 11

What other factors impact the beef price cycle?

Answer 11

Drought (feed unavailable, high price for forage)
Export market changes (altered beef demand)

Question 12

Describe the 10 year intervals of the beef price cycle

Answer 12

Cyclical changes in cattle prices as a response to supply/demand
Long generation time of cattle
Multi-year fluctuations in cattle numbers = influence calf production entering into cycle
Influenced by increasing productivity
Individual commodity producers can’t control overall market

Question 13

What is a downside to commodity marketing?

Answer 13

Looking for alternative marketing strategies

Question 14

What impact does number of cattle have on marketing beef?

Answer 14

Number decreased with high productivity/efficiency

Question 15

What does the profitability of beef operations depend on?

Answer 15

animals sold x weight of animal x price/unit wt

Question 16

Define: cow/calf income

Answer 16

Pounds of calf sold per breeding female

Question 17

What does cow/calf income depend on?

Answer 17

Fertility, breeding (rate of pregnancy), calving rate, calf survival, calf weight at weaning sale
Cull cows and bulls sold

Question 18

What percentage of income comes from calves vs cull animals?

Answer 18

80% calves
20% cull

Question 19

Describe responsiveness to consumer demand in the beef market?

Answer 19

Cyclical changes in cattle prices as a response to supply/demand

Question 20

What categories have effects on marketing beef as a commodity?

Answer 20

Beef price cycle
Number of cattle
Profitability of operations
Responsiveness to consumer demand

Question 21

Define: Extensively Managed Range Cattle

Answer 21

Raised outside
Problems: exposure to weather & environmental hazard, heat/cold stress, storms, blizzards, injuries, parasites, flies, toxic plants, nutritional deficiencies, herd gathered/handled ind only few times/year-bare min (preg exam, vacc, calves processed)

Question 22

Define: Intensively managed feedlot cattle

Answer 22

Control feed and genetics

Question 23

What are feedlots and why are they used?

Answer 23

Designed to feed cattle for weight gain, size, and carcass quality for the “finishing” phase prior to slaughter
Response to consumer demand for choice and prime beef
Energetically very efficient

Question 24

What feed is used in feed lots, why?

Answer 24

Cereal grains
High E density = cattle grow faster, more efficient use of E
Numerous grains used, depends on location, regional availability, cost = wheat, barley, milo, corn potatoes
Change to grains is gradual to adapt rumen microbes, use buffering agents, consider grain processing and particle size

Question 25

Impacts of Hormone Implants

Answer 25

Most “fed cattle” are steers/castrates = lack normal sex hormone production, negative impact on growth characteristics
Hormone replacement therapy
Implant steroid hormones in ear, discarded at slaughter, alters growth and tissue compositions

Question 26

Impacts of Antibiotics

Answer 26

For therapeutic or expected infections treatment
Not for growth

Question 27

Impacts of Ionophores

Answer 27

“Antibiotics”
Reside in rumen to impact rumen efficiency, not for growth or disease treatment

Question 28

Impacts of Repartitioning Agents

Answer 28

Beta agonists
Change partitioning of feed to increase muscle growth (end of feeding)

Question 29

Impacts of Parasiticides

Answer 29

Given to most animals due to risk of pasture grazing

Question 30

Impacts of Vaccines

Answer 30

Most animals given to prevent diseases

Question 31

Why do cow calf producers focus on cost of production and strive to be low cost producers?

Answer 31

Cow/calf profit: value of calves sold/breeding female vs cost of producing calves (carrying cost)
Focus on reproductive parameters
Strategies to increase calf survival and weaning weight
Keep costs low
Producer cant control price given for calves/cow, so focus on keeping costs low (targets to evaluate potential to be profitable)

Question 32

What are the components and timing of a breed cattle production calendar?

Answer 32

Cycle takes a full year
Calving (seasonal, dependent on forage) = spring
Breeding/weaning = fall
Process/culling = individual assessment
Gestation period = 283 days, only 80 days before next pregnancy to have another calf same time next year
NOT seasonal breeders, seasonality is scheduled for access to feed and marketing of calves (highest profitability)

Question 33

What is the typical flow of animals through the cow/calf production cycle?

Answer 33

Calving period = march/april/may (spring good = grass growing = cheaper/easier to feed mom/babies, lactation)
Breeding period = bulls in = summer time (60 days = june/july/august, lactation
Weaning period = fall-october (no longer lactating, but pregnant)
Processing/culling

Question 34

What is the role of ruminant digestive function in determining production systems?

Answer 34

Nursing calves grow on grass with herd
Weaned at 7 mo (550lbs)
Gradual change to feeding hay and forage, then cereal grains to allow adaptation of rumen microbes
Add buffering agents to maintain pH
Grain processing and particle size
Purpose is for cattle to grow faster!

Question 35

What are the major concerns in beef cattle health management?

Answer 35

Unweaned beef cattle mortality
Beef cattle mortality

Question 36

What are the major causes of unweaned beef calf death?

Answer 36

Calving 33%
Digestive 17%
Respiratory
Weather

Question 37

What are the percentages of death in beef calves over time?

Answer 37

24 hrs 31%
1 day-3wks 35%
3wks 34%

Question 38

How is beef calf mortality avoided?

Answer 38

Nutrition management (BCS, feed analysis)
Dystocia management (calving ease, heifer selection, nutrition)
Calf management (neonatal care and management)
Infectious disease management (vx)

Question 39

What is the leading cause of adult beef cattle disease?

Answer 39

Respiratory disease
15% affected, 7x more likely than 2nd leading cause of death
75% of feedlot disease (morbidity)
50% feedlot mortality

Question 40

Describe the difference between “beef” imports and “cattle” imports in the US and where these imports come from

Answer 40

Cattle trade = import/export of cattle inside/outside country (import = Canada, Mexico; export = few)
Beef trade = final product of meat (primarily domestic consumption of US beef, export larger = south korea, japan; import sl smaller = brazil, AU, arg)