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Beef Cattle Production

Beef Cattle Production. March 2, 2006. Objectives. What Determines a Beef Breed Production Phases Beef Issues and Diseases. Beef 101. Scientific Name: Bos Taurus (British or European Breeds) Bos Indicus (Tropical countries “Humpbacked”) Classification Bull- intact male

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Beef Cattle Production

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  1. Beef Cattle Production March 2, 2006

  2. Objectives • What Determines a Beef Breed • Production Phases • Beef Issues and Diseases

  3. Beef 101 • Scientific Name: • Bos Taurus (British or European Breeds) • Bos Indicus (Tropical countries “Humpbacked”) • Classification • Bull- intact male • Cow- mature female • Steer- castrated male • Heifer- female before giving birth

  4. Beef 101 (cont.) • 104.5 million cattle in U.S. (July 2005) • Top 5 Cattle Producing States • Texas- 13.8 million • Kansas- 6.6 million • Nebraska- 6.3 million • California- 5.4 million • Oklahoma- 5.4 million (Iowa ranks 8th with 3.6 million)

  5. Angus Red Angus Beefmaster Belgian Blue Brahman Brangus Charolais Chianina Gelbvieh Hereford Limousin Maine Anjou Shorthorn Simmental Beef Breeds Many breeds were originally developed to serve more than one purpose. They were used for meat, milk, and work.

  6. Beef Breeds • Breeds are characterized by their phenotypic id’s • Color and color pattern • Frame and size • Degree of muscling • And many others

  7. Beef Production Phases • Breeding • Gestation • Calving • Weaning • Replacement Breeding Stock • Market Animals

  8. Breeding • Spring vs. Fall calving • Management decision depending on which scenario works best for the operation • If calving in Spring, breeding is done in late spring to early summer • If calving in Fall, breeding is done in late fall • Cow rebred 45-90 days after calving • Estrous cycle 21 days

  9. Breeding • Natural vs. Artificial Insemination vs. Embryo Transfer • Depends mainly on the purpose of the operation • Cost also plays a large part in this decision

  10. Natural Breeding • Bull is turned out with cows and allowed to naturally service them • Bull is usually turned out for approximately 3 months to ensure cows are bred • Less labor involved • Must own or lease the bull

  11. Artificial Insemination • More labor intensive • Able to use the best bulls available at a cheaper rate • Disease control • Details of A.I. • Synchronization may be used • Cow is inseminated by technician 12 hours after first signs of heat. • Semen is placed in the uterine body

  12. Embryo Transfer • Costly • Able to have more than 1 calf per year out of the best cows. • Used mainly in purebred and specialized operations.

  13. Gestation • Gestation lasts 283-285 days (9 months), depending on the breed of cattle. • During gestation the cow is fed to maintain her weight until the last trimester when nutrition is increased.

  14. Calving • Cows should be closely monitored as calving time approaches. • Udders will fill and tighten • Cow’s will start to “spring” • Cow will start to become restless and nervous • Vulva will become dilated

  15. Calving • Dystocia (calving difficulty) • Caused by numerous factors including calf birth weight, pelvic area, condition of dam • At times, assistance may be needed and the calf may need to be pulled • Some calves come breech or backwards • The “Konefal Method” is used when feeding • Cows fed at night so they spend the night eating and calve during the day.

  16. Calving • The calf should receive colostrum within 6 hours of birth. • Navels should be monitored for infection. • Many producers id their calves at birth. • Most calves weigh from 70 to 100 lbs. at birth.

  17. Weaning • Standard weaning age is 7 months. • Weaning weight is 500 pounds. • Creep feed may be done between calving and weaning to increase weight. • Many calves are processed at this time. • Castration of males intended for feedlot* • Vaccination • Dehorning* • Implanting of castrated males *Castration and Dehorning is typically done as early as possible

  18. Replacement Breeding Stock • After weaning the decision must be made of which animals will be retained for breeding stock. • Yearling heifers and bulls will be selected to put back into the herd • This animals should not be fed as much because it is important for them to grow and develop. • Bulls should be 15-18 months of age before breeding. • Heifers should be bred at about 15 months and will then calve at about 24 months of age. (60-65% mature body weight)

  19. Expected Progeny Differences • EPD’s are very important in the cattle industry and are an important part of retaining breeding stock. • EPD’s give the producer an idea of how the animal’s offspring will genetically perform.

  20. Market Animals • If not intended for breeding purposes, animals are sent to feedlot following weaning, and are called feeder cattle. • Some animals are in a stocker program • Spend a year on grass growing • Cattle put into feedlot consume a high-concentrate diet.

  21. Market Cattle • Cattle are sent to market as they reach the desired finish and grade. • This is normally around 1250 lbs. and 13 to 15 months of age and typically gain 3 lbs/day. • When sending cattle to market remember the criteria for high quality cattle: • Yield Grade (1-5) • Quality Grade (Prime, Choice, Select, Standard)

  22. Beef Industry Issues • Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) • US Beef Exports • Tibial Hemimelia (TH)

  23. BSE • BSE or Mad Cow • Degenerative Neurological Disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle • Cause by a prion (deformed protein) • Cattle typically 30+ months of age • Transmitted through feed containing ruminant derived meat and bone meal

  24. US Beef Exports • BSE has caused many exports to be banned. • The US just recently started allowing Canadian cattle back into the US. • Japan, the largest importer of US Beef, banned the import of US Beef in 2003 • Trade was resumed in December of 2005, but was banned again in January.

  25. Tibial Hemimelia (TH) • A genetic deformity found in Shorthorn’s • TH deformities include: • lesions included bilaterally malformed or absent tibia and abdominal hernia in all animals • a long shaggy hair coat • retained testicles in males • meningocele, which are protrusions of the coverings of the spinal cord or brain • *The following pictures may be graphic*

  26. TH calves

  27. Pulmonary hypoplasia with anasarka (PHA) • A genetic disorder currently being found in Maine bloodlines • Near absence of lung development causing fluid retention • All calves with PHA are born dead, but carriers live a normal life and heterozygous animals may be unknown • *Following picture may be graphic*

  28. PHA calf

  29. Questions?

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