MCQ Flashcards
What is the fat content of beef?
● 3-5%
What is the value of the beef industry annually in Ireland?
● €2.43 billion
What is the average carcass weight in Ireland?
● 330kG
Desired Calving Interval = 365. Ireland’s Calving Interval =
● 403
Fat Lay Down Order
● Kidney Channel● Intermuscular● Subcut fat● IntramusculaR
% Asia – Beef World Trade
● 35%
% Cost of feeding cow in calf to beef and calf to weaning
● Beef 50%
● Weaning 85%
Dairy Calf to Beef Ration. % Fibre, % Crude Oil
10%
˂4%
Friesian Calf – Average Daily Gain + Weight at 12 weeks
● 0.7 kg/day + 100 k
What is the major influence in molecular/follicular growth?
● LH pulse FrequencY
When does feeding/nutrition have the largest effect on PPI (Post-Partum Interval)?
● Pre-Partum Feeding (Before Calving)
How has Brazil Increased their production?
● Due to increased use of genetics through crossbreeding programmeS
What growth is expected for a calf ad libitum from birth to slaughter?
● 1.2 kg
Crossbred vs purebred % gain from hybrid vigour?
● 13% higher weaning weight
What is the target weight for a suckler steer at?
● Weaning – 316 kg
● Slaughter – 700 k
What is the economic value of milk as a % in the Eurostar System?
● 18%
Cost/Price Difference between a U+ and an R+?
● 18c/kg
Stocking Rate x _________ = Total Output/ha
Output/LU
What % of cows are continental crossbred?
● ˃70%
% AI in Beef?
● 18%
% Total world beef exports from Brazil
● 32%
Brazil in the beef industry :
● World’s Largest Exporter, 2ndLargest Producer, 3rdBiggest Consume
Difficult to export from Brazil to EU due to:
● Farm Safety, Traceability
What gives Brazil such a unique competitive position?
● Vast land areas, plenty of wateR
1 Livestock Unit in Brazil (AU) =
● 1 450kg Animal
Average Stocking Rate in Brazil, Potential Stocking Rate
● 1 AU/ Ha, 22 AU/Ha
Turnout to weaning growth rate for spring born male
● 1.2 kg/day
Weight at weaning
● Male 300-320 kg
● Female 300 kg
Target growth rate over winter
● 0.5-0.7 kg/day
Weight at March Turnout
● Male 390 kg
● Female 375 kg
2ndseason at grass male steer growth target
● 1kg/day, highest early in season
Target slaughter for steer
● 24 months
● 700 kg
● 395-400 kg carcass
Target sl0aughter for heifer
● 20-22 months
● 560 kg
● 300-310 kg carcass
2ndseason at grass growth rate for bulls
● 1.3-1.4 kg/day
Bulls housed for finish at
● 540 kg
Bulls growth rate during finishing
● 1.5-1.6 kg/day
Time of finish and carcass weight
● 18 month
● 410-420 kg carcass
Output =**
● Stocking Rate x Performance Targets x Quality
How much beef does Ireland export?
● 530,000 tonnes
Amount of beef farms, suckler beef farms in Ireland?
● 100,000 beef farms, 70,000 suckler farms
Irish Beef Exports 2017
● UK = 54%
● Rest of EU = 42%
For every €1 of support for cattle
● €4.3 of aggregate output in the Irish economy
How many cattle must a plant slaughter per annum to require an EU export license?
● 1,000
How many export approved slaughtering facilities in Ireland?
● 32
What % of the market do Dawn Group, AIBP and Kepak control?
● 60%
Grass accounts for what % of feed consumed in beef production?
● 80%
Ireland slaughters how many cattle per year?
● 1.6 -1.7 million head
How many live cattle are exported from Ireland Annually?
● 160,000
National Capacity Utilisation of processing facilities in Ireland?
● 60%
Impact of extra capacity increases costs by
● 12-15%
Weekly average slaughtered in Ireland?
● 31,000
Weekly cattle availability ranges?
● 25,000 - 38,000
Value of Irish Beef exports?
● €2.2 billion
Where does Ireland rank globally in Beef Exports?
● 5th
Main market for live export weanlings?
● Italy
Total beef consumption in Ireland?
● 87,000 tonnes
% of Irish exports in fresh beef i.e. not frozen
● 90 %
EU suckler herd
● 12.4 million head
3 largest suckler herds in EU
● France, Spain, UK
US Beef Production
● 12.1 million tonnes
10% increase in income equates to:
● 5% increase in beef consumption
World Average Beef Consumption
● 6.4 kg per capita
How many UFL’s does a suckler cow require per litre of milk produced?
● 0.45 UFL
Which are critical trace elements in pre-calver minerals?
● Copper, Iodine, Selenium
How many kg DM does a lactating suckler cow eat per day?
● 12-13
Reproductive Performance of Irish Suckler Herds:
● Calving Interval – 403 days
● Calves/Cow/Year – 0.8
● Age at 1stCalving – 31.5 months
Primary Factor reducing reproductive efficiency in suckler production
● Post-Partum Anoestrus Interval
What weight should a calf be at 12 weeks
● 100 kg
What should the ADG gain be for the 1st12 weeks?
● 0.7 kg/day
Pre-weaning mortality should not exceed:
● 3%
What % fibre and protein should be included in a calf ration?
● Fibre 8- 10%
● Protein 17-18 %
What part of the rumen wall is responsible for absorbing VFA’s?
● Absorptive epithelium (mucosa)
What % of national steer kill do dairy born steers account for?
● 55%
What would be a standard carcass weight and kill-out % of a 24 month Friesian steer?
● 320 kg, 52%
How much extra carcass size is achieved with a crossbred relative to a purebred?
● 14 kg
What hormone is an indicator of higher fertility?
● IGF – 1
What percentage of a steers liveweight gain will come from grazed grass over its lifetime?
● 65%
What is the target weaning weight of a suckler heifer?
● 288 kg
What are the target carcass weights for suckler steers and heifers?
● Steer 396 kg
● Heifer 310 kg
What is a useful strategy to weaken the bond between cow and calf pre-weaning?
● Creep Grazing
Stress in a calf caused by abrupt weaning can cause alterations in immune function which remain evident for:
● 7 days
Hypomagnesaemia (grass tetany) occurs when blood concentrations of Mg:
● Fall from around 25mg/L to ˂5 mg/L
High K fertiliser application rates can :
● Reduce availability of Mg in plant
Lime application can:
● Reduce Mg availability in plant
How far after standing heat does ovulation occur?
● 28-30 hours
Mean Post-Partum Interval in beef cows:
● 55 days
One large follicle develops in all cows by 6-8 days postpartum. In what % of cases will regression occur?
● 93%
What are the 2 main factors that affect the expression of heat?
● Size of the sexually active group
● Under foot surface conditions
What % of mature weight should a beef heifer be at first breeding (15 months)?
● 65-70%
Why is growth of beef animals non-linear?
● Due to variations in supply and quality of feed
What type of fat has beneficial effects on meat quality?
● Intramuscular or marbling fat
An E grade animal will be:
● Superconvex
A P grade animal will have all profiles:
● Concave
What size striploin cuts command the highest value?
● 4.5-7.5 kg
In steers, what % of carcasses classify R or O?
● 85%
What is the range of meat yield from carcass weight?
● 60-75%
