Beef cattle

VTS257: Lg Animal Diseases & Nursing

1. Beef Cattle

2. Beef Cattle Breeds Long Horn: Original beef cattle USA/Spanish extraction Lean meat

3. Angus Aberdeen 1930’s or earlier Solid black, occasionally red More fat in meat for a better taste Polled: born without horns Black, red becoming more popular

4. Hereford More fatty meat, increases flavor Red with a white face Polled or horned White on underline

5. Black Baldy Not a breed, a hybrid of breeds Hereford/angus cross All black cow with a white face

6. Charolais 1940 Leaner meat Good conversion of fiber to meat White/cream color High carcass quality and good taste

7. Simmental Brought from Canada Red and white spotted White face with yellow skin Good conversion of fiber to grain, High carcass value

8. Limousin From France Wheat or rust colored Chianina Italy White with black switch on tail Largest of modern breeds, 4000 lb male, 2400 lb female

9. Brahma India Grey or red Hump on shoulder, heat tolerant Santa Gertrudis texas , cherry red First north american cross breed

10. Beef Cattle Operations Cow/Calf Conditioning, weaned, introduce grain, vaccinated Calves in spring, feb , mar, april At 6 months, sold as 500 lb feeders

11. Cow Calf system Replacement heifers Calves to feed out or sell Average birth weight 75-80lbs Average weaning weight 400-500 lbs Weaning weight: influenced by environment factors, sire and dam growth genetics, and dams milk production

12. Preconditioning A vaccination, nutrition, and management program designed to prepare young cattle to withstand the stress of weaning and shipment

13. Backgrounding Also called stocker Buy 6 mo old calves and switch gradually to hay

14. Backgrounding Weaned cattle turned out on pasture/corn stalks Average daily gain is 2 lbs Move to feedlot at 800-900 lbs

15. Finisher Stock yard feeder 1 year old on high concentrates for 6 months 18 months at 1000 lbs for slaughter

16. Feeder Cattle Purchased at 800-900 lbs Exercise restricted an fed concentrates for 90-120 days Average daily gain is 3 lbs Finished cattle average market weight is 1200 lbs

17. Beef Cattle Processing Handling Movement of cattle at plant, stress diminishes quality of meat Captive bolt renders animal unconscious Kosher Processing is a religious ritual slaughter

18. Beef Grading Quality- based on marbling, firmness and color Prime Choice Select Standard Maturity- age of animal at slaughter

19. Cost Benefit Ration If cost of medical care exceeds the potential return on investment then it is not a viable option Production animal medicine requires an understanding of the fluidity of the animal production industry Variable expenses: feed, livestock, labor, equipment, land, interest, meds, vaccines, veterinary care

20. Efficiency Minimize infectious disease, parastism Maximize rate of gain Feed conversion ratios ( lb of feed/ lb gain) Beef cattle 8-10 lb feed / lb gain Hogs 3-6 lb feed / lb gain Poultry 2 lb feed/ lb gain

21. Variable product value Supply and demand Public perception may determine value Genetically engineered products banned in some areas Mad cow disease rendered all british beef worthless