Beef Sectors Exam 1 Flashcards
Breeders provide genetic inputs and services that impact the beef industry
Seedstock
The seedstock sector must focus on ______ term goals
Long
The seedstock sector should focus on providing _____ that contribute to low breakeven prices, high profits, and increase consumer markets.
Genetics
What is the purpose of performance records in the seedstock sector?
Provide accurate and objective measurements, adjusted for environmental effects, useful when utilizing EPDs
What are the two primary focuses in selecting the herd bull?
- Producing live calves
- Improve herd genetics for the economic traits
Which has a greater impact on genetic contribution: Cow or Bull and why?
Bull because there is a larger number of offspring he sires each calf crop
How do you select sires?
- Marketing Objectives
- Labor Resources
- Feed resources and Environmental Limits
- Gaps Between Current and Desired Performance
What is an EPD?
Expected Progeny Differences; Combines into one number a measurement of genetic potential based on the individual’s performance and that of related animals
Give some examples of EPDs.
Birth weight, Milk production, Weaning weight, Yearling weight
What EPDis the most difficult to measure?
Reproductive efficiency
What EPD is the best measure of calving ease or difficulty?
Birth Weight
_________ ___________ has an effect on growth and carcass characteristics
Sexual Maturity
Feedlot and carcass goals are identified with ______ as they are processed at the slaughter plants
Steers
Any value of the bull above salvage price is based on the bull’s ability to sire _______ calves and the ______ superiority of these calves
Live; Genetic
What characteristics are replacement heifers based on?
Conceive early in the breeding season, calving ease, consistent milk production, weaning weight, contribute to calves post weaning growth and carcass merit
Cull heifers at WW and YW ages that are extremely ____ AND _____ in categories for various traits
Low; High
Cows do not enhance genetic progress in the herd. True or False?
True
Economic decision to cull cows is based on what?
Pregnancy Status, death loss, age, etc
What are some examples of other trends that impact the seedstock industry trends?
Selling cattle on individual carcass basis, demand for hybrid bull, technologies, partnerships will be at the fore front of business plans, value
What are the marketing opportunities in the cow-calf sector?
Sell calves at weaning weight, sell calves at yearling weight, retain ownership and finish steers, sell replacement heifers and purebred bulls
Why do we alter diets of cows?
To maintain body condition
What changes between the diets pre and post calving?
After calving, a cow needs more protein and energy for lactating and thus we should increase quality and supplement
What is the most lacking mineral in forages?
Sodium (but also Copper and Zinc are needed)
When should you increase mineral intake?
When WW or BW/ pregnancy percentage is decreasing
What should you add in while grazing pastures?
Protein supplement
What is the result of adding in protein supplement?
Gains about 0.5 lbs extra a day
What is the streak canal?
The bottom of the teat cistern
What is the gland cistern?
The storage vessel of the mammary gland
What is the point of milk synthesis?
Alveoli
When does most development occur in a fetus?
Prior to 6 months
When does mammary growth occur the most?
Pregnancy
What should you increase in a lactating cow?
Carbs and fat in the diet
What does Estrogen do in Mammary Development?
Nipple formation
What does Progesterone do in Mammary Development?
Side branching of ducts
What does Oxytocin do in Mammary Development?
Milk let down
What is Colostrum?
The first milk produced after parturition; rich in antibodies and growth factors
Describe the ejection of milk.
- Starts by suckling of calf
- Send impulses to the hypothalamus
- Tells the PL of the pituitary to produce oxytocin
- Oxytocin travels by blood to target receptors
- The oxytocin binds to the receptor at the myoepithelial cells in the alveoli
- Milk is stored in the gland cistern and goes out through the streak canal to the calf
Operations that handle cattle that are fed and managed for growth prior to going to a feedlot for finishing
Stocker Phase
Profitability of the stocker sector is based on what?
Cost and availability of resources and forages
What are the top three stocker states?
Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma
Why has stocker sector decreased?
More cow-calf producers are retaining ownership through this phase, and feedlot operations are maintaining calves through the backgrounding and feeding phases
How do you improve cattle health?
Maintain cattle stress (weaning, sorting, commingling, transport, vaccines, climate, diet)
What are the highest risk calves?
Light, just weaned, and have been subjected to several previous stressors
Why is a sick animal costly to a producer?
Shrinks 10-20%, requires more labor and management, cheaper to prevent than to treat
What are the ways to prevent disease and promote health in the stocker sector?
Be weaned for 30-45 days prior to shipment, castrate males, polled/dehorn, free of parasites, vaccinated
What are the core 6 vaccines we use in cattle?
Clostridial, IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV, and Haemophilus Somnus
In the stocker phase, grow ___ then grow ____
Up, Out
What is the biggest nutrition challenge in the stocker phase?
Low feed intake, and water consumption
What is the diet of a stocker?
2lbs/day of quality hay; chopped feedstuffs; does not include extra starch feedstuffs to prevent bloat
The major growth of cattle occurred between 1945-1972 due to the _______ of cheap grains
Oversupply
Development of cattle feeding industry follows the ______ production trends
Corn
What is an AFO?
Animal Feeding Operation; Animals are raised and maintained in confined conditions for a total of 45 days in a 12 month period
What is a CAFO?
Confined Animal Feeding Operation; First defined as an AFO, but the determined by the number of head of cattle if they are small, medium, or large
What is different between beef and dairy breeds in finishing?
Dairy take longer to finish because they grow quickly in the first 1000 lbs; then they are inefficient to finish in a feedlot due to extra maintenance (higher energy need)
What are the 5 major factors to managing a feedlot (give examples of each)?
- Facilities (Land)
- Cattle procurement and performance (Weight)
- Costs per lb of gain or per day (Ration Cost)
- Costs not related directly to cattle or feed (Labor)
- Income (Sale weight)
What should a feedlot manage in the environement?
Dust, Odor, Flies, and water quality
What do you look at for a feedlot risk assessment?
Breakeven prices is the central focus; calculated on the price that can be paid for by feeder cattle, cost of grain, and/or sale price on fed cattle
What is a pre-conditioned calf?
Weaned and vaccinated, custom to feed bunks and water troughs, generally experienced low stress conditions, remain healthy and productive in first 30 days of arrival
What are the disadvantages of not pre-conditioned calves?
Spend about 20-30 more days on feed; higher health expenses; overall higher maintenance
What is the largest disease concern in feeder cattle?
BRD (Bovine Respiratory Disease)
What are the two parts of cost of gain?
- Feed cost per pound gain
- Non-feed cost per pound gain
How do you improve feed efficiency in feedlot sector?
Increase energy density (less roughage); processing grain (hominy); Feed additive or growth stimulates; Reduce stressors
What is a pro of using an implant?
Cheap and effective; increase growth and rate of gain
What is a con of using an implant?
Withdrawal period and public perception
What is carcass weight?
Size of retail cuts
What is yield grade?
Fat to lean ratio
What is quality grade?
Palatability, flavor, tenderness, juiciness
