Beef Production Industry Flashcards

1
Q

What are the roles of the veterinarian in quality food production?

A

Animal health and well-being, support of producer in managing the health and productivity of his animals, and to monitor the safety and wholesomeness of animals entering the food chain

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2
Q

What is the percentage of fed-beef cows that are under 20 mo.?

A

85%

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3
Q

What are the 4 phases of beef production?

A

Cow-calf, stocker-grower, finishing/fed cattle, consumption

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4
Q

Describe the cow-calf phase

A

Propagation of new animals, cows maintained on less-tillable land, minimal resource inputs, grass farming - ‘grass harvesting’, calves raised to weaning

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5
Q

What is the weaning age and weight of a calves at the end of the cow-calf phase?

A

7-9 mo; 500 lbs

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6
Q

Describe the stocker-grower phase

A

Calves usually purchased, fed high forage ration - grass harvesting, or small grain gleaning, minimal resource inputs, and growing phase = 8-15 mo.

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7
Q

Describe the finishing phase

A

Production of ‘finished’ animals - market weight/grade = 90-150 d, intensive confinement operation, fed mixed concentrate ration; commodities feeding, abundant, high energy feeds

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8
Q

What are the average lengths of each phase of the beef production system?

A

Calving/cow-calf phase: 6-8 mo Weaning and stocker phase: 4-8 mo. Feedlot: 4-6 mo. Harvest and fabrication: 2-4d Total time = 14-22 mo.

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9
Q

What is the mean weaning percentage and weight in Florida and how do these values compare to other places around the U.S.?

A

75% and 480 lb; both values are lower than the average in the U.S.

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10
Q

Hereford’s look very similar to what other breed? Why is differentiating them especially important?

A

They resemble Simmental’s; Because of the light pigmentation around the face and the eyes, which predisposes Hereford’s to cancer

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11
Q

What are 5 Bos taurus breeds?

A

.

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12
Q

What are 5 Bos indicus breeds?

A

.

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13
Q

What are 5 cross breeds of cows?

A

.

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14
Q

When is the ideal time for the majority of calves to be born?

A

Jan - March

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15
Q

When is the breeding season?

A

April and May

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16
Q

What is the life span of the cow producing the calf?

A

About 8 years if she can stay in the herd, but some can be up to 15 years

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17
Q

Around what time of year is weaning done?

A

September

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18
Q

What are some things important to cow survival during calving season?

A

Parasitism, F. Hepatica, Clostridium hemolyticum, Johne’s, LSA

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19
Q

What are some nutritional factors that can affect cow health during calving season?

A

Forage management, protein/energy, minerals, Se, Co, Cu, P, BCS

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20
Q

What are some GI disease factors that can affect cow health during calving season?

A

Bloat and grass tetany

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21
Q

What are some toxicosis factors that can affect cow health during calving season?

A

Plant (nitrates, alkaloids), heavy metals

22
Q

What are some external parasites that can affect cow health during calving season?

A

Lice, mites, flies/grubs, ticks

23
Q

What are some internal parasites that can affect cow health during calving season?

A

Hemonchus, ostertagia, trichostrongyles, flukes

24
Q

What are some sources of trauma that can affect cow health during calving season?

A

Handling, facilities, lightning, bites/stings

25
Q

What are some diseases that can affect cow health during calving season?

A

SCC, lameness, wooden tongue, lumpy jaw

26
Q

What are some factors that can affect conception and pregnancy in cows?

A
  • Bull repro soundness - breeding soundness, venereal dz
  • Nutritional state - BCS, mineral nutrition
  • Dz risk - T. Fetus, C. Fetus venerealis, IBR, BVD
27
Q

What are some things that might affect a cow during the time of conception?

A

Cow cyclicity - lactational anestrus

Uterine health - dystocia, retained fetal membranes, endometritis/metritis

Nutritional - BCS

28
Q

What are some breeding management factors that can affect the cow and/or calf?

A

Defined season, natural service, estrus synchronization, AI, ET

29
Q

What types of things can adversely affect a cow during her pregnancy?

A

Bacterial species, viruses, toxins, iatrogenic and spontaneous causes

30
Q

What are we concerned about when the cow is delivering the calf?

A

Birth weight- dystocia risk or genetic risk, pelvic area, uterine mal-position, maternal traits

31
Q

What are possible risk factors for neonatal survival?

A

GI dz - E. Coli, resp dz - diphtheria/pneumonia, septicemia, abomasal ulcers, patent urachus, starvation, predation

32
Q

What are some factors that can adversely affect neonatal health?

A

Trauma - handling/processing, climate - frostbite, congenital defects - dwarfism, cleft palate, atresia of rectum/anus, arthrogryposis

33
Q

What are some diseases and toxins that can affect the survival of the growing calf?

A
  • GI/muscle dz - Clostridium, blackleg
  • Parasitism - hemonchus, ostertagia
  • Resp dz - dictocaulus
  • Anaplasma
  • Toxins - plant, heavy metals, chemical agents, trauma
34
Q

What things might occur during processing of the calf that can affect it adversely?

A

Castration - trauma, Cl. Tetany, dehorning - sinusitis, fly strike, immunization - inj site reactions, abscesses

35
Q

What things do you want to maintain in uniformity in weaned calves?

A

Gender, frame and weight, breed-type, processing, immunization

36
Q

Describe beef industry segmentation

A

Ownership is frequently transferred, and there’s interaction b/t production phases

37
Q

What are some health concerns you might have for stocker calves?

A

External parasites (e.g. lice, mites), internal parasites (e.g. hemonchus, ostertagia), lepto, proper nutrition, resp dz. (e.g. IBR, PI3), GI dz (e.g. Clostridium, coccidiosis)

38
Q

What are some diseases you should be concerned for in caring for feeder/finisher calves?

A

GI dz (e.g. clostridium, enterotoxemia), metabolic dz (acidosis/reminitis, liver abscesses), resp dz, urethral obstruction, foot rot, TEME

39
Q

What are 5 health management tools you should use for beef cattle medicine?

A

Identification, husbandry, nutrition, immunization, parasite control

40
Q

What are examples of immunizing vehicles and what are some features of each?

A

Killed virus, modified live vaccine (reduced virulence, attenuated), nasal virus (temp specific agent), non-replicating MLV (temp specific), killed bacteria/bacterin (inactivated, killed bacteria), live bacteria (live bacteria with altered virulence), and toxoids (chemically inactivated toxic products)

41
Q

What are 4 factors that influence maternal antibody interference?

A

Virus type (non-CMI stimulating viruses), level of existing maternal antibody, vaccine antigen and preparation (passage), route of admin

42
Q

What is the degree of parasitism in a cow dependent on?

A

Age, weather, environment, stocking rate, pasture management, parasite type

43
Q

Parasite losses vary based on what, and what are examples of some of these losses?

A

Vary by age and type of management; primarily subclinical CS - weight loss, poor feed utilization, low conception rates, increased time to breeding, suboptimal performance

44
Q

What are some strategies for parasite control?

A
  • Minimize pasture contamination: de-worm at start of grazing season/before egg shedding occurs
  • time therapy to seasonal grazing patterns
  • Balance stocking rates
  • Rotate pastures
  • Consider refugia-based
45
Q

What is involved in pre-calving processing?

A

Immunization, parasite control, pre-partum evals, BCS, weigh, confirm pregnancy

46
Q

What is involved in pre-breeding processing?

A

Immunization (C. Fetus, L. Interogans), parasite control (class 3 parasiticide), general observation/udder exam, BCS, weigh, postpartum repro exam

47
Q

What things are you looking for when breeding the cow (60-90d)?

A

NO immunization or parasite control, observe for estrus, and synchronize estrus/AI

48
Q

What things should be performed during a post-breeding exam?

A

Immunization (L. Interogans, optional), internal/external parasite control, repro exam for pregnancy, BCS, weigh, health

49
Q

What two tests are run at the mid-year animal evaluation?

A

Johne’s test and Brucellosis test

50
Q

What is included in standard newborn calf care?

A

Constant surveillance and well equipped calving area, cleanliness and lube during calving, clear mucus from airways and proper umbilical care, standing and nursing within 2-6hrs, provide post-partum cow and calf care

51
Q

What things can you do to challenge disease?

A

Reduce exposure to dz agents, colostrum, good animal husbandry, immunization of dam and/or newborn, antibiotic therapy

52
Q

When should dehorning, castration, and supernumerary teat removal be done?

A

Calf processing - 4-6 months age