Cattle Flashcards
Herd
Group of Cattle
Polled
Naturally hornless; a dominant gene.
Horned
Has horns.
Bull
Sexually mature; non castrated male bovine.
Steer
Castrated male bovine.
Calf
Sexually immature young bovine.
Cow
Mature female bovine, at least one calf.
Heifer
Young female bovine who has not yet had a calf.
Bull Calf
Young male, sexually immature.
Heifer Calf
Young female, sexually immature.
When was cattle first introduced to North America?
1519–Cortez introduced cattle to Mexico.
What occurrence happens within the beef cattle industry consistently since the late 1800s?
Fluctuations in the number of beef cattle; increase in the number of cattle–peak hitting at 5 years–and then reductions; historic fluctuation of number of beef cattle in the industry.
Which state has the most beef cattle in the United States?
Texas, with 12.5 million beef cattle & 4.5 million beef calves.
Which state has the least number of beef cattle?
Rhode Island.
What do seedstock producers do?
They produce breeding stock.
What do cow-calf producers do?
They produce crossbred calves for slaughter–to create offspring.
What does culling refer to?
To remove rejected members from a herd.
What do stocker operations do?
They grow calves to heavier weights on low priced forage.
What are feedlots?
They finish cattle to market weight & condition–there is grass finish & grain finish.
What structure slaughters & processes the carcasses of the beef cattle?
The packers.
Describe the physical traits of Bos Taurus that differentiates it from the Bos indicus:
No hump, rounded ears, short & wide head, tight & thick skin, large amounts of subcutaneous fat, wide & outstanding hip bones, short legs & slow moving, hair prone to cattle ticks, fast maturing.
Describe the physical traits of the Bos indicus that differentiates it from the Bos taurus:
Hump, long drooping ears, comparatively long head, very loose & thin skin, little subcutaneous fat, narrow & angular hip bones, long legs & faster moving, hair less prone to cattle ticks, slow maturing.
Where do British breeds of cattle originate from, and what are some traits?
They originated in the UK.
Smaller in mature size, reach mature size earlier, has less growth potential, fertility & calve easily, high grades of meat.
Where are continental European breeds from? What are they referred to as? What are some traits?
They are from the European continent (i.e. Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, etc…)
They are also referred to as exotic breeds, and they are larger in mature size, reach mature size later, have more growth potential, have calving difficulties when crossed with British breeds, and have lower grades of meat.
What is the Hereford cow, and describe some of its characteristics:
It is red & white in coloration.
- Can be polled or horned
- British breed
- white hair that travels through the abdomen=main indicator
Describe the phenome of an Angus, and some of its characteristics:
Black or red. Black is dominant and red is recessive. It is the most popular beef breed within the United States.
- British Breed
- Polled
- Bos Taurus
Describe the characteristics of a Highland cow:
Red, black, yellow, dun, white, brindle & silver coloration.
- British breed
- Horned
- Double hair coat
Describe the Simmental breed:
Red & white or black coloration.
- Continental European Breed
- horned or polled
Describe the Chianina breed:
White or grey coloration–gray pigment because of black skin.
- Continental European breed
- horned–short horns, more forward
- terminal breed–stops at meat production
Describe the Charolais cow:
White, cream, or straw coloration.
- continental European breed
- horned
Describe the Gelbvieh Cow:
Red coloration, known also as the yellow cow, however.
- continental European breed
- mostly polled
Describe the Salers breed:
Red coloration (completely red)
- Continental European Breed
Describe the Maine Anjou Breed:
Red or black coloration–some white as well.
- Continental European breed
Describe the Belgian Blue breed:
White, blue roan, or black coloration.
- continental European breed
- “double muscled”–mutation in myostatin inhibiting muscle development to stop
Describe the Texas Longhorn breed:
It is a specialty breed, not continental European or British breed
- distinct horns that are long, & kept as Texas identity.
Describe the Brahman:
It is Bos indicus breed, light gray to black or red in coloration.
- it is insect, disease, & heat tolerant, making it popular for crossbreeding (interspecific hybridization)
What is a common form of cattle identification where a tag is placed in the flexible portion of the ear? What are its pros and cons?
The Ear tag–
Pros: it is cheap & easy to read
Cons: risk of infection; could be loosened or be torn off the ear
Describe a ruminants oral cavity:
Dental pad–missing upper incisors; utilize tongues to carry grass into their mouth.