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Beef Cattle Management and the Beef Industry

Beef Cattle Management and the Beef Industry. Chapter 9. Objectives. Describe the physical characteristics of major beef breeds Explain the relationship between the seasons and beef production Develop feeding programs for beef cattle

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Beef Cattle Management and the Beef Industry

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  1. Beef Cattle Management and the Beef Industry Chapter 9

  2. Objectives • Describe the physical characteristics of major beef breeds • Explain the relationship between the seasons and beef production • Develop feeding programs for beef cattle • Make a chart of common parasites and diseases that infest and infect beef cattle • Discuss the housing requirements for beef cattle • List three factors that affect the cost of feeder cattle • Give an overview of the beef industry in the US • List four production segments of the beef industry • Discuss issues facing the beef industry • List careers in the beef industry • List organizations that support the beef industry

  3. Vocabulary

  4. Beef Cattle in the US • Cattle production ranks 1st • Accounts for: • 21% of total farm income • 43% of all animal sales receipts • In South Carolina: • 400,000 head of cows and calves • Ranked 38th in the US • In Saluda County: • 22,000 head of cows and calves

  5. SC Ag Watch Manual • -cow/calf state –calves born and raised for months before fattening and slaughter • 2007 – 401,000 cattle and calves and 10,000 beef farms • Beef demand increasing, 64 pounds per person • 6 cattle markets/auctions and 23 other (selling cattle and other animals) • Many different breeds, mostly crossbreds, popular (Angus, Belted Galloway, Limousin, Simmental • Beef Check Off – producers pay $1 per head • Anderson, Laurens, Newberry, Saluda

  6. Breeds With partner, create a powerpoint on your assigned breed. Include physical characteristics, history of breed, registration numbers, pictures, etc. *Make sure information from book in included in presentations…pages 136-143.

  7. Angus • Originated in Scotland • Solid black in color • Naturally polled • Consumer preference led to Certified Angus Beef

  8. Hereford • Originated in Hereford, England • Red with white head, legs, and underline • Horned • Early maturing • “Mothering” breed

  9. Polled Hereford • Developed in Iowa by Warren Gammon • Naturally hornless • Red with white face, legs and underline

  10. Shorthorn • Originated in England • Red; red & white or roan in color • Originally used as a dual purpose breed for meat and milk • Sometimes called the Durham breed

  11. Simmental • Originated in Switzerland • Oldest breed of cattle in the world • Large, powerful breed • Brought to the United States in 1971 • Orange/Yellow and white to black in color

  12. Gelbvieh • Originated in Germany • Red in color • Noted for superior fertility and mothering ability • Tend to be extra fleshy under the throat

  13. Charolais • Originated in France • Traditionally white in color • Long bodied, large cattle • Heavily muscled • Coarse looking

  14. Brahman • Originated in India • Able to survive on very little, poor feed • Insect & heat resistant • Excess skin and large hump on back • White to gray, red to black • Sweat glands

  15. Santa Gertrudis • Developed on the King Ranch in Texas • All Santa Gertrudis are descendants of the bull, Monkey • They were created by crossing shorthorn cows and Brahman bulls

  16. Texas Longhorn • Developed entirely by nature in North America • Known for its long horns • High fertility • Were near extinction in 1927

  17. Beef Production by Seasons • Year-long affair • Cycle begins at calving time • Begins just before grass turns green in spring • Southern states: January • Northern states: March/April • Wean calves in fall • Breeding season: 60-75 days after calving • Some wait for fall calving = higher priced feeder calf market in spring b/c of shortage

  18. Calving • Management is crucial • Live calves are the only product beef producers have to sell • Should occur in clean pastures with enough room for the cow to get away from herd • Producers watch for dystocia • Top 3 reasons?

  19. Calving cont’d • Calves should be standing and nursing within 1-2 hours of birth • Lactating cows need large amounts of high-quality forage • Peak lactation occurs 2-3 months after calving • Spring growth is best grass

  20. Breeding Season • Begin 60-75 days after calving • Should last 60 days • Breed heifers 30 days before mature cows • Why? Heifers need more attention at calving time and gives them an extra month to settle

  21. Gestation • Gestation length = 280 days • Calves should be born at approximately same time each year. Gestation + prebreeding + avg. time before breeding= 370 days 280 days 30 days 60 days

  22. Management • Restrict calving season by introducing and removing bulls in a timely manner • Calving season of 60 days accomplished by leaving the bull for 60 days • Pregnancy check 50-60 days after removing bulls • Sell open cows • 60-day calving season helps keep groups of calves uniform in size, helps with farm labor

  23. Weaning • Takes place in fall when grass production ceases. • Calves should be 205 days • Bulls not castrated, should be at weaning • Horned calves dehorned • Implant those not kept for breeding stock

  24. Weaned calves • Options: • Heifers retained for replacements • Steers or heifers placed in feedlot to prepare for slaughter (fed high-energy diets) • Placed on low-energy, high-forage, economical diet for 1st winter, then placed in feedlot next spring…backgrounding

  25. Feeding Programs • Cattle depend on nutrients from forages • Need a nutritious diet when their demands are highest (late gestation, lactation) • 2 types of forages: • Pasture or range grasses • Stored forages (hay, silage)

  26. Pasture Management • Management varies throughout US • In East producers use: • Intensive rotational grazing system: moving from pasture to pasture over short periods of time • 1-1.5 acres can support cow/calf pr. for an entire year

  27. Stored Forage • Normally fed to dry, pregnant cows in Winter when grasses are dormant • Fed free-choice • Pregnant cows will consume 25-30 lbs of hay per day

  28. Maintaining Body Condition • Bulls: • Fed stored forages when not breeding • May supplement with grain before, during and after breeding season to maintain body condition • Heifers: • Fed a grain ration in addition to stored forage • 5-7 lbs of grain per day • See chart 9-20 page 148

  29. Finishing Cattle • Also called feedlot cattle • Fed a high-grain, high-energy diet containing very little forage • Rapid gain and increases carcass quality are desirable • When first arriving at feedlot, fed low amount of grain, gradually increased until diet is 80-90% grain

  30. Finishing Cattle continued • Feed additives to increase weight gain and improve feed efficiency: • Monensin • Lasalocid • Frame size affects how finishing cattle should be fed • See chart page 148

  31. Parasites, Diseases, and Prevention • Flies • Most common parasite • Face flies • irritate cattle by circling the eyes and feeding from discharge • Horn flies • Feed on blood and cause irritation by congregating on belly, back, and sides • Any irritation reduces the amount of time cattle spend on feeding which reduces gain

  32. Flies continued • Both face and horn flies lay their eggs in fresh manure • How to control: • Face oilers • Dust bags containing fly repellant • Ear tags impregnated with insecticide

  33. Anaplasmosis • Caused by parasite that infects the red blood cells of cattle • Causes lethargy and reduced body condition • To prevent: vaccinate • To treat: isolate infected animals; treat with antibiotics

  34. Coccidiosis • Caused by tiny parasites that infest the lining of the intestine • Causes diarrhea • To prevent: keep area clean

  35. Ringworm • Fungal infection of the skin • Causes round, raised, bald areas • Most common in Winter • Treatment: apply effective solution YES, Humans can catch it from animals!!!

  36. Mange mites • Infect hides of cattle • Treatment: pour-on products or complete immersion • Ivermectin is effective treatment

  37. Stomach Worms • Worm eggs reside on bottom of grass plants • Overgrazing increases chances of infestation • Pasture rotation will interrupt the life cycle • Treatment: oral wormers, ivermectin

  38. Diseases • 3 categories • Respiratory • Reproductive • Gastrointestinal

  39. Shipping Fever • Also called: bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) • Three separate diseases: • Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) • Reduced appetite, nasal discharge, difficulty in breathing • Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) • Similar to IBR, with high temp and severe diarrhea • Parainfluenza 3 (PI3) • Flu-like viral disease, similar to BVD and IBR

  40. Shipping Fever • Treatment: Antibiotics • Prevention: vaccination • Initial doses should be given 2-4 weeks apart with annual boosters

  41. Brucellosis • Characterized by late-term abortions • Some states are free through vaccination programs, testing and removal of infected animals • Infectious to humans (undulent fever) • To prevent: Vaccinate

  42. Leptospirosis “Lepto” • Causes abortions during any stage of pregnancy • To prevent: Vaccinate

  43. Trichomoniasis • Parasitic disease that causes early-term abortions and temporary sterility • Spread by infected bulls • Controlled through use of AI and uninfected bulls

  44. Scours • First gastrointestinal disease to infect newborn calves • Can be caused by bacteria or a virus • Calves may dehydrate, which may be fatal • Prevention: provide clean place to calve • Treatment: electrolyte solution to replace lost fluids • Colostrum is important

  45. Johne’s disease • Most difficult to control • Organism slowly thickens the intestine, preventing absorption of nutrients • Infected animals lose condition while exhibiting watery diarrhea. • NO treatment • Transmission occurs from the feces of infected animals • Infection occurs shortly after birth, but symptoms may not occur for several years • Prevention involves removing calves from dams and raising at different site

  46. Tuberculosis (TB) • Wasting disease, similar to Johne’s • May be present without no outward signs • Infected through contaminated water

  47. Blackleg • is highly infectious, noncontagious disease of cattle. • A major symptom is inflammation of the muscles. • Animals can come into contact with the bacteria through spores from contaminated pastures. • The bacteria may live in the soil and be present for years. • Prevention is very important. • Calves should be vaccinated at two and six months of age.

  48. Housing • Mature Cattle • No elaborate housing needed • Can be wintered in areas without buildings, but thick trees or brush can provide shelter • Keep mud to a minimum • Finishing Cattle • Usually kept in small groups indoor or outdoors

  49. Marketing • Most cattle are marketed as calves or finished cattle for slaughter • Calves can be sold at: • The farm • Feeder calf sales • Teleauctions • Internet auctions • Sold to the highest bidder • Uniformity of size, good condition, and health are important

  50. Why? • Uniformity: So that cattle “finish” at the same time • Condition: want calves slightly thin • Compensatory gain: profitable weight gain by thin cattle • Health: sick calves are not efficient

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