Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science

1. Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science Beef Production

2. Learning Outcomes... • In this unit you learn about: • Breeds and their Characteristics. • Gestation Periods & Oestrous Cycle • Dental Formula • Grazing Systems • Target weights and ages. • Compensatory Growth • Condition Scoring • Beef Breeding Management Programme. • A.I. V’s Bull • Buildings Used in Beef Production Veronica Walsh

3. Introduction • The beef industry in Ireland is the largest sector of the Irish Agricultural Economy • There are 4.5 million beef animals in the country, producing 0.5 million tonnes of beef per year, of which 80% is exported. • The main export countries = UK, Germany, Egypt & Iran. • In Irish farms, most beef animals originate from the dairy herd. • These animals originate mainly from Munster and are relocated around the country. • Beef farming, however, has the lowest income per hectare in Irish farms in comparison to other types of farming. • It relies on the use of good spring grass and good silage.

4. Beef Facts • Recommended age of mating - 15 months • Recommended body weight at mating - 300 –320kg • Gestation Period - 283 days • Oestrous Cycle - 21 days • Duration - 18 hours • Put in calf no later than 2.5 months after calving. • Spring calving system • At least 1 calf per year= Reproductive Efficiency • Phylum Chordata • Even toe ungulates.

6. Target Weights • At Birth = 40Kg • At Turnout 1st Summer = 90-100Kg • At Housing 1st Winter = 200Kg= Weanling • At Turnout 2 nd Summer = 275-300Kg Yearling • At Housing 2 nd Winter = 470-500 Kg • At finishing= 550 – 750Kg • Depends on Breed & Sex Veronica Walsh

7. DENTAL FORMULA- Cow • Incisors, Canines, Premolars, Molars. 0 0 3 3 4 0 3 3 X 2

8. Veronica Walsh

9. Learning Check.... • What is the recommended mating age of a cow? • State the following • gestation period of a cow? • Recommended body weight & age at mating • Length & duration of Oestrous cycle. • What is meant by a spring calving system and why is it used? • List the target weights at birth, at turnout for first & second summer, at housing for first & second winter. • What is the dental formula of a cow

10. Bulls, Steers, Cows • Bulls – dangerous, violent, more fencing, cover unintentionally, etc- testosterone- fastest growth rate • Steers- castrated bulls- no testosterone. Lower growth rates • Cows- lowest growth rates • Reproductive Efficiency= is the number of calves weaned per 100cows served

11. Bull Beef V Heifer Beef Bull Beef • Male animals only • Reared without castration • Reared to about 16 months. • Better Growth Rates due to testosterone. • Need high quality feed. • Small market here due (meat is strong) • 1-1.25kg gain per day after weaning. Heifer Beef Female Animal Smaller Don't kill out as well. Take longer to mature Heifer calves are cheaper. 0.6/0.7 kgs gain per day

12. Breeds • British • Hereford • Aberdeen Angus • Continental • Limousin • Simmental • Charolais • Dual Purpose • Friesian • Dairy Shorthorn

13. Hereford

14. - Hereford • The Hereford are a typical British breed, bred in Ireland for over 200 years. • They are distinguished by their white heads, white stripe on the back of their necks and white underbelly, throat and legs (with a predominant brown / red body) • As well as providing beef, the Hereford is useful as a sire. • The Hereford, when crossed with the Friesian produces the Black White-head, a popular breed for the British market. • There are two strains, a large frame and a small frame. • The small frame is used for breeding with heifers, as this will make calving easier.

15. Aberdeen Angus

16. – Angus • The Angus is smaller than Herefords and are considered the best example of a British breed. • They have the typical barrelled shaped body, small head, short leg and highly developed hind quarters. • They are black in colour and are hornless. These are dominant characteristics when crossed with other breeds. • The meat quality is extremely good, but tend to be quite fat when young. • This affects their selling quality in the continental market. • Friesian heifers are often services with an Angus.

17. Limousin

18. Limousin • This breed is increasing in popularity as a sire for dairy herds, as there is infrequent calving problems. • The Limousin also is known as having an excellent carcase quality, and the ability to put on masses of lean meat quickly. • The Limousin / Friesian offspring are ideal suckler dams. • The red colour of the Limousin is recessive to black colours of Friesians so little red appears in the offspring of such a cross.

19. Simmental

20. Charolais

21. Belgian Blue

23. Beef Dairy

24. Learning Check.... • Name 2 continental beef breeds & their characteristics. • Name 2 British beef breeds & their characteristics. • Why are most beef animals farmed in Ireland steers and not bulls? • Highlight the main differences between bull beef production and heifer beef production. • Give 4 differences between beef and dairy breeds.