Beef Industry

Question 1

what are the different sectors in the beef industry

Answer 1

pedegree breedng
beef suckler herd
young stock rearing units
fattening units

Question 2

what is Estimated Breeding Values?

Answer 2

shows how much better or worst an animal is compared to the average

Question 3

what is the max EBV?
what is the average?

Answer 3

max: 130
mean: 100

Question 4

how do you calculate the EBV?

Answer 4

EBV of Sire + EBV of Dam

Question 5

what is the diet of spring calves and autumn calves?

Answer 5

spring: grass
autumn: conserved forages

Question 6

how much weight do spring and autumn calves loose in winter?

Answer 6

spring: 0.5Kg/ day
autum: 0.25Kg/day

Question 7

what should growing beef animals eat most of?

Answer 7

grass silage - should have lots of proteins for growing bones/ muscles

Question 8

what should finishing beef eat most of?

Answer 8

maize silage - for fattening

Question 9

what is the target % baron cows?

Answer 9

5%

Question 10

when do you aim to slaughter?

Answer 10

under 30 months

Question 11

what are the main feeding phases in beef cattle?

Answer 11

35 days background - transport stress recovery
35 day transition
60 day growth
60 day finishing

Question 12

what causes yellow pigment in meat?

Answer 12

carotenoid in green forage

Question 13

what causes whiter fat

Answer 13

cereal diet?

Question 14

which type of meat has a longer shelf life?

Answer 14

grass fed has more antioxidants so has a longer shelf life.

Question 15

how is carcase graded?

Answer 15

SEUROP

superior
excellent
very good
good
fair
poor

Question 16

how is fat graded?

Answer 16

1-5
3/4 is good

Question 17

how is carcase cleanliness assessed?

Answer 17

clean + dry
slighlty dirty
dirty
very dirty
filthy + wet

Question 18

what are visible injection sites called?

Answer 18

injection Knots

Question 19

what is an infected injection site?

Answer 19

Abscess

Question 20

where are subcutaneous injections given?

Answer 20

under neck and ribs (not prime beef)

Question 21

where are intramuscular injections given?

Answer 21

over hip
osus
quadriceps
middle third (avoiding cervical vertebrae)

Question 22

what do you vaccinate against?

Answer 22

Colostridial diseases (bacteria that pass through soil)
BVD
Leptospirosis
IBR

Question 23

what are the benefits of castration

Answer 23

easier to handle
better growth rate
better feed conversion
better carcass quality

Question 24

how old for rubber ring castration?

Answer 24

under 1 week

Question 25

what is the device used for rubber ring castrator?

Answer 25

elastrator/ burdizzo

Question 26

how would you castrate an older calf?

Answer 26

using an emasculator to crush the spermatic cord

Question 27

how would you disbud a calf under 1 week old

Answer 27

chemical cauterisation (inject paste to stop horn from growing)

Question 28

what is the oldest the calf can be for disbudding, and how?

Answer 28

2 months (use anaesthetic)
use a hot iron

Question 29

what occurs in a young stock rearing unit

Answer 29

calves come from the dairy sector
and raise until ready to get sent to fattening

Question 30

what occurs in a fattening unit?

Answer 30

take herds from suckler and rearing units and fatten them up for slaughter
background 35 day
transition 35 day
growing 60 day
finishing 60 day

Question 31

what is the purpose of beef suckler herd

Answer 31

breed calves for slaughter or breeding
weaned at 5 to 9 months