Beef Production

Question 1

What products come from beef cattle farms?

Answer 1

beef and veal

Question 2

How much of the products from beef farms are exported?

Answer 2

~85% ($4.8 billion export value in 2022)

Question 3

What are the outputs on beef farms?

Answer 3

• calves: weaners, store, and replacements
• calves: finishing bulls, steers. and surplus heifers
• cull cows and breeding bulls

Question 4

What are the two types of beef farms?

Answer 4

• breeding (self replacing)
• finishing

Question 5

Where are the highest densities of beef farms in NZ?

Answer 5

• North of the North Island
• South of the North Island

Question 6

Where are the lowest densities of beef farms in NZ?

Answer 6

• east coast of the South Island
• central North Island

Question 7

What are the stock units for beef cattle?

Answer 7

1 beef cow = 5-8 stock units

Question 8

What is a stock unit?

Answer 8

equal to a 55 kg ewe rearing 1 lamb (assumed to consume 550 kgDM/year)

Question 9

What percentage of a beef cattle’s diet is supplementary?

Answer 9

5%

Question 10

When are beef cows fed supplementary feed?

Answer 10

• cows = late pregnancy in late-winter
• heifer + steer calves = mid-winter
• heifer + steer + bulls > 1yr = late autumn to mid-spring

Question 11

What are the main feeding crops for beef cattle?

Answer 11

• brassicas (turnips, kale, swede, rape)
• (fodder) beets
• barley, lucerne (made into silage)
• cereals (green oats, green maize)
• summer herbs (chicory, plantain)

Question 12

What is the energy requirement for maintenance in beef cattle?

Answer 12

0.62-0.70 MJME/kg LW⁰.⁷⁵ (~60-80 MJME/day)

Question 13

What is the energy requirement for pregnancy in beef cattle?

Answer 13

6-55 MJME/day (dependent on calf birth weight and weeks to calving)

Question 14

What is the energy requirement for lactation in beef cattle?

Answer 14

5.8 MJME/kg milk (range of 35-115 MJME/day)

Question 15

What is the energy requirement for liveweight change in beef cattle?

Answer 15

25 MJME/kg LW (16-68 MJME/kg LW)

Question 16

What are the beef BCS reccomendations?

Answer 16

• emaciated: < 3
• at mating: ≥ 6
• at calving: 5
• at weaning: 7
• obese (not efficient): > 8

Question 17

How much water do beef cows need in a day?

Answer 17

between 10 to 45 liters

Question 18

What influences the amount of water a beef cow needs?

Answer 18

• age
• size
• physiological state
• environment
• feed intake and composition
• moisture content of feed

Question 19

What are the characteristics of a good yard design for beef cattle?

Answer 19

• avoid shadows, changes in floor surfaces, and dead ends
• boarded corners help move cattle
• curved races to prevent seeing people operating the gates
• self-locking latches
• sliding gates
• catwalks keep farmers out of the way
• escape routes
• solid fences or slats