Beef production from the suckler herd Flashcards

1
Q

Traditional breeds in Ireland =

A

Angus
Hereford
Early maturing breeds

Lower mature weight, greater fat deposition potential, lower calving difficulty, used on dairy cows/heifers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Continental breeds in Ireland=

A

Charolais
Limousine - France
Simmental - Austria
- dual purpose
Belgium Blue
- mutation in a gene for double muscle

Late maturing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What breed brought the Dual purpose?

A

simmental
Dairy and beef

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

In ireland do we go for purebreads or cross breads?

A

mostly cross breads

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is our beef system in Ireland ?
What does it revolve around?

A

Pastoral system (following the growth of grass):

*System revolve around matching grass supply to animal requirements during the grazing season

*While also ensuring sufficient silage is produced for the indoor winter period,

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

List the two beef herd types:

A

-Contentinal cross with high terminal traits

-Traditional beef breeds cross with dairy cows with high maternal traits

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Whats the objective of the suckler beef production system?

A

The objective in suckler beef production is to produce animals or carcasses of good conformation suitable for the high priced EU Markets

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the aim for progeny to have?

A

–High growth rates
–Good conformation
–Good food conversion efficiency
–High lean meat content

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Whats the aim for the dam to have ?

A

–Easily maintained
–Good reproductive performance
–Good survivability
–Satisfactory milk production potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Why is bull selection so important ?

A

–growth rate
–carcass quality (fatness and conformation)
–Calving difficulty

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are continental breeds best for?

A

Continental breeds best for growth rate and carcass quality, but calving difficulty could be a problem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How many suckler farms use Stock bull vs AI?

A

Stock bull (82%) versus A.I. (18%)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

The proportion of suckler cows bred to late-maturing sire breeds has increased from ?% in 1992 to ?% in 2007.

A

78%

87%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the number one breed of sire in irish suckler herds followed by which breed

A
  1. limousine
    - siring 38% of all beef calves

followed by:
- Charolais - 35%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is a desirable feature of cattle breeding in Ireland over the last 25 years

A

the substantial increase in the proportion of the calf crop, which are the progeny of late maturing breeds and their crosse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what was the proportion of continental crossbred suckler cows in:
1992
1998
2017

A

1992 = 29%
1998 = 52%
2017 = >75%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what has the proportion of suckler cows bred to late - maturing sire breeds increased by
1992
1998
2017

A

1992 = 78%
1998 = 83%
2017 = 85%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is the number 1 breed of beef cow in ireland with what % of all beef calving

A

Limousin
- 34% of all beef calves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is hybrid vigour

A

Ability of crossbred animals to surpass average performance of their purebred parents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what are the advantages of hybrid vigour

A
  1. reproductive
  2. productive
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

advantage of hybrid vigour in terms of reproductive

A

Reproductive
–earlier age at puberty
–better conception rate
–better calving rate
–shorter calving interval
–longer reproductive life
–lower calf mortality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

advantage of hybrid vigour in terms of Productive

A
  • higher calf birth weight
  • better growth rate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what are the % advantages of hybrid vigour

A

60% advantage from a higher calf crop
40% better pre-weaning calf growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what do the continental crossbred cows give progeny (5)

A
  1. higher growth rate especially post weaning
  2. heavier carcase weights
  3. better confirmation
  4. higher lean meat content
  5. continental cross cows are likely to have a higher cull value
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

what are the ideal characteristics of a cow (3)

A
  1. good beef confirmation (min50% continental)
  2. goof milk production to give good weight at weaning (300kg at 7 months)
  3. crossbred cow ideal (to avail of hybrid vigour)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

list the suitable crossbreds

A
  • friesan x Hereford
  • Friesan x Limousin
  • friesan x simmental
  • Friesan X charolais
  • Limousin X (Friesan X charolais)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Improvements from heterosis in suckler cow

A

compared to purebred there has been an improvement overall in the calf weaned per cow to bull
purebred = 100
crossbred = 113

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Performance of bull and heifer progeny of Hereford x Fr (Hf) and Limousin x Fr (Lf) cow

A
  • 14kg carcass weight difference with bulls
  • killout has a high influence in relation to carcass sales
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Comparing the differences between HF vs LF cows

A
  • BCS was higher for HF than for LF cows
  • Bull progeny of LF cows had a higher kill-out %, a heavier carcass weight and a lower carcass fat score .
  • When averaged for bulls and heifers, LF progeny had 10.4 kg heavier carcasses and a 1.2 unit lower fat score on a scale of 1 to 15 than HF progeny

Results indicate advantages in terms of carcass weight for age and carcass leanness from using LF compared to HF

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

as continental cows are heavier than traditional cows, what does that give rise to?

A

increased maintenance requirement and therefore higher feed costs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

what is the silage requirements for each cow
Hereford X 550kg
Limousin X Fr 565kg
Simmental X FR 600kg

A

Hereford X 550kg —> 5.5
Limousin X Fr 565kg —> 5.6
Simmental X FR 600kg —>5.9

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

where are suckler cow replacement from

A

Traditionally from dairy herd
*Mostly early-maturing British beef breed crosses
*Increasingly => Continental breed crosse

33
Q

what has happened to replacement cows in recent years?

A

Increased retention of replacements from within suckler herd
- more purebred!!

34
Q

list 5 cow genotypes

A

*Limousin x Friesian (LF)
*Limousin x (Limousin x Friesian) (LLF)
*Limousin (L)
*Charolais (C)
*Simmental x (Limousin x Friesian) (SLF)

35
Q

when do cows first calve

A

2 years of age

36
Q

what type of sires are used on beef cows

A

*1st parity = Limousin (easy-calving)
*2nd & 3rd parity = Charolais

37
Q

what is a cows winter diet

A

winter Diet: grass silage ad libitum

38
Q

what is the diet of bulls
and when are they slaughtered

A
  • Diet: grass silage ad libitum & 5.0 kg conc. daily
  • Slaughtered @ 15 months of age
39
Q

what is the diet of Heifers and when are they slaughtered

A

–Second grazing season & then housed
–Diet: grass silage ad libitum & 3.5 kg conc. daily
–Slaughtered @ 20 months of ag

40
Q

SUCKLER COW GENOTYPE COMPARISON
slide31

A
41
Q

what had progeny from LF & SLF dams higher ?

A

–humoral immunity
–pre-weaning daily gain & weaning weight
–carcass weight per day of ag

42
Q

what progeny have the highest carcass confirmation score

A

L, C & SLF

43
Q

what progeny had lowest carcass fat score

A

L&C

44
Q

what is the basis of the Derrypatrick herd in Lyons (4)
Genotype

A

LM X FR
LM X SI
LM X CH
CH XSI

45
Q

why is there a decline in carcass quality of the dairy her

A

due to the influence of the HF breed,
–Thus both the availability and quality of beef × dairy replacement heifers are reduced

46
Q

what does replacements from within the suckler herd ensure (4)

A
  • Suitable breeding animals (with satisfactory milk production potential)
    -Reduced danger of disease introduction (Biosecurity)
  • Avoids the cost of assembling replacements.
  • There are a wide range of options
    –Milk production potential
    –cross-breeding must be seriously considered in order to avail of hybrid vigour
47
Q

what are the 4 main types of suckler cow replacement based on continental breeds

A
  1. Half and three-quarter bred beef cows
  2. Two-or three-breed rotational crossing
  3. Composite breeding
  4. Pure breeding
48
Q

what does crossing two-breed rotation is a simple breeding programme result in

A

improved fertility and some increase in milk production

49
Q

how can a two breed rotation be improved

A

including a third breed resulting in a three-breed-rotational cross

50
Q

what level of heterosis in the F1 generation is maintained during Two- and three-breed rotational crossing

A

about 2/3, and 6/7 of the level of heterosis in the F1 (first cross) generation

51
Q

what does composite breeding involve

A

s the development of a new breed

52
Q

how is a composite breed developed

A

from four pure breeds (A B C and D) which are complimentary to each other

53
Q

example of a composite breed

A
  • Breeds A and B are crossed as are breeds C and D
  • The males from one cross are then bred to the females of the other to produce a composite consisting of ¼ A, ¼ B, ¼ C and ¼ D
54
Q

what % of the herd need to be bred to composite sires to produce herd replacements with the remainder bred to a terminal sire

A

40%

55
Q

what does pure breeding involve emphasises on

A

on both maternal and terminal traits

56
Q

what does pure breeding system produces

A

high quality animals it is not as simple as first apparent and there is obviously no hybrid vigour as in all of the other systems.

57
Q

what traits has there being a past heavy focus on within the suckler beef industry

A

terminal traits.
- No gain in key maternal traits.

58
Q

terminal index %

A

feed intake = 16%
carcass traits = 56%
calving traits = 26%
docility = 2%

59
Q

replacement index %

A

fertility = 23%
calving traits = 16%
beef traits = 21%
milk = 18%
feed intake of cow and calf = 18%
docility = 4%

60
Q

euro star replacement index

A

slide 44/46

61
Q

within the euro star replacement index, cow traits make up __%

A

71%

62
Q

whats The Irish Beef Genomics Scheme

A

Focused on breeding more profitable, sustainable and carbon efficient cows.

63
Q

what is The Irish Beef Genomics Scheme funded from
and how much

A

EU Rural Development Program
- €300m total funding 6 years

64
Q

how much do farmers pay each year per cow/year to complete key action

A

€90/cow/year

65
Q

what is Ireland being built towards

A

DNA based calf registrations and increased genetic gain

66
Q

Beef Data & genomics programs launched in 2015
how many farmers

A

total of 24k farmers with 550k cows signed up to scheme

67
Q

key actions for 4&5 star females

A

farmers must have a minimum of 20% of breeding females as 4 or 5 stars by 2018 and 50% by 2020
at least one breeding male must be 4 or 5 star by 2019

68
Q

advantages of 5 star cows(3)

A
  1. produce more calves, go back in calf quicker and survive longer
  2. have more milk and rear calves with better growth rates
  3. produce cattle which finish earlier with heavier carcasses
69
Q

how are high reliability bulls selected

A

Bulls high reliability bulls (>70%; AA and LM) selected based on their maternal inde

70
Q

WHAT IS THE replacement index

A

identification of animals suitable for breeding or selecting replacements

71
Q

what is replacement index based on

A

the performance of a cow per calving (which includes the performance of any progeny born from that calving)

72
Q

if a cow has a replacement index of €100 what is it expected to leave

A

€100 more profit/calving
(including her progeny performance from that calving), compared to a cow with a value of zero

73
Q

what are the 3 main drivers of profitability?

A
  1. animal performance
  2. pasture utilisation
  3. increased profitability
74
Q

Replacement Index and Replacement Strategy

A

slide 58,59,60

75
Q

management of single suckling systems (7)

A

-Calving date
-Getting cows in calf
-Feed requirements
- Condition scores
- Stocking rate/grazing systems
- Weaning
- Diseases

76
Q

what produced heavier calves at weaning

A

BDX cows
- higher milk production

77
Q

what sort of calves to beef cows produce

A

progeny suitable for calf-to-beef system

78
Q

what sort of calves to BDX cows produce

A

progeny suitable for calf-to-weaning system