Beef Cattle Science and Management Animal Science Mr. Bushman

Introduction to Beef The cow-calf industry invests $180 billion dollars into the national economy each year. The total number of beef cows in the United States is 33.7 million 38% of the total income from all livestock marketing in the US comes from the beef industry.

Introduction to Beef Most of the beef eaten in the US comes from domestic production Region/State % of U.S. Beef Cow Herd Region/State % of U.S. Beef Cow Herd Pacific Coast Washington.86 Oregon1.82 California2.40 Total5.08 Intermountain West Montana4.58 Idaho1.45 Wyoming2.39 Utah1.01 Colorado2.42 Arizona.64 Nevada.71 New Mexico1.52 Total14.71

Introduction to Beef Region/State % of U.S. Beef Cow Herd Region/State % of U.S. Beef Cow Herd Western Midwest North Dakota2.59 South Dakota4.63 Nebraska5.73 Kansas4.33 Oklahoma5.83 Texas16.38 Total39.5 Eastern Midwest Minnesota1.19 Iowa2.85 Wisconsin.59 Michigan.35 Illinois1.41 Missouri5.91 Indiana.89 Ohio.98 Total14.2

Introduction to Beef Region/State % of U.S. Beef Cow Herd Region/State % of U.S. Beef Cow Herd Southeast Arkansas2.72 Louisiana1.63 Mississippi1.98 Kentucky3.38 Tennessee3.22 Alabama2.44 Georgia2.05 Florida3.00 South Carolina.74 North Carolina1.41 Virginia2.14 West Virginia.57 Total25.3 New England Maine.05 Vermont.04 New Hampshire.006 Massachusetts.02 Rhode Island.004 Connecticut.015 New Jersey.04 New York.21 Pennsylvania.51 Delaware.009 Maryland.16 Total1.1

Introduction to Beef Region/State % of U.S. Beef Cow Herd Region/State % of U.S. Beef Cow Herd Alaska.012Hawaii.24 The largest percent of beef cows produced is in the Western Midwest states, with 39.5% of the 33.7 million beef cows being produced This is due to the prime location near feeds –Don’t have to ship feed as far

Beef Introduction Question, lets do some math! –If there are 33.7 million beef cows produced in the US each year, how many come from the mid-western region?

Beef Introduction Question, lets do some more math! –So, how many beef cows are produced in the Utah region?

Introduction to Beef The beef industry is divided into three segments: –Purebred Producers –Cow-calf Producers –Feeder Calf Producers These segments are all equally important! One cant survive with out the other.

Purebred Segment Provide replacement bulls and females for cow- calf operations. Their main goal in life is to better the genetics of the breed. A great deal of knowledge is needed to be a successful Purebred producer –Genetics –Gestation periods –Record keeping skills

Purebred Segment Advantages: –Involved with perfecting the genetics and traits of a particular breed –Stock usually will sell for a higher dollar Disadvantages: –Time consuming –Costly –Takes experience

Cow-Calf Segment Primary goal: –To produce a the heaviest calves possible at the time of weaning (205 days)

Cow-Calf Segment Feeds used in the cow-calf segment Roughages –Pasture –Hay –Silage –Straw –Corncobs –And Alfalfa, being the most common

Cow-Calf Segment Forages –Feed that grown for livestock consumption –Grazing should be used as much as possible –Grazing is not possible year round, so mechanical harvesting takes place SwatherBalerCombine Bale wagon, etc…

Cow-Calf Segment Pasture and Hay Land –Proper management of pastures increases the yield of forages harvested –Too many cows being fed on a small amount of land will be detrimental to the forage crop Rotational Grazing Rotational Grazing –Rotating the livestock from field to field when the feed has been depleted

Cow-Calf Segment Crop Residues: –Example – Corn, Barley, etc… –Reduce feed costs tremendously tremendously The Carrying Capacity of a pasture refers to the number of animals that can be grazed on a pasture during a certain time period

Cow-Calf Segment Hay Bales: –Harvested and tightly compacted forages Round – Forage that is rolled into bales Ton – Baled in to 2000 lb rectangles ½ ton – Baled into 1000 lb rectangles Hand bales – Baled into 50 – 100 lb rectangles

Cow-Calf Segment Hay Bales –Must be harvested with the right moisture content Spontaneous combustion –Stored under shed if possible to protect from; Sun damage – Sun will bleach the hay and decrease the quality Water damage – Water will seep into the hay, form mold and decrease the quality

Cow-Calf Segment Dry Cow: –With-out young –Not lactating Heifers –Young and never had a calf Pregnant Cow –In gestation –Lactating

Cow-Calf Segment During the summer months cattle are grazing During the winter months cattle have to be fed, alfalfa, grass or silage Where do you think most of the expenses come from, winter feeding or summer grazing?

Cow-Calf Segment Lactation: –The ability to produce milk –Very important in the Cow-Calf segment –Milk is what produces the calf Summer grazing can usually meet the requirements needed Winter can be more challenging Feed rations need to be developed

Cow-Calf Segment Creep Feeding –Providing the calves with additional feed –Usually grain –Must introduce the grain slowly Advantages –Produces a lb heavier calf at weaning –Better finish at weaning –Already used to grain when they go to the feedlot segment

Cow-Calf Segment Creep Feeding Disadvantages –$$$$ Cost –Hard to evaluate inherited feed abilities –Replacement heifers could be too fat –Studies show that calves on creep don’t gain as well at the feedlot.

Cow-Calf Segment Replacement Heifers –To replace the females that die or become too old to produce young –Usually 10-12% of the herd will need to be replaced each year If you have 300 head you will need to keep 30 replacement heifers If you have 25 head you will need to keep 2-3 head of replacement heifers.

Cow-Calf Segment Breeding Bulls –They are mean, they are big and they are a royal pain in the butt But, we need them! Unlike cows that we maintain in the winter, bulls need to be fattened and have good flesh when breeding season begins, Why?

Cow-Calf Segment Breeding Management –Most important part in the cow-calf segment –Goal is to have 100% calf crop –We achieve this by Placing 1 bull to every 25 cows So, if we have 300 head we would need 12 bulls –Beef managers need to understand the gestation period of their herd.

Cow-Calf Segment Gestation period of cattle –There are two times of the year that beef are being produced due their gestation period Fall Calves Spring Calves –Fall calves are born beginning in February, so the cows would be bread May 1 st (Most Common) –Spring Calves are born in November, so they would be bred in March (Not Common)

Cow-Calf Segment Castration –Removing the testeis from the male Done two different ways Done two different ways –Surgically Can make sure that both testicles are removed Can be bloody if done incorrectly, and get infection –Elastication Involves no blood, still can get infection Could miss a testicle that has not dropped yet.

Cow-Calf Segment Steer –Bull that’s been castrated –Very common in cow-calf operations –Needs to be done at a younger age –Bulls have to be castrated before they can move on to the feedlot segment Keeps them from fighting and losing weight They will grow, finish and taste better

Cow-Calf Segment Dehorning –Removing the horns from the animal –Why we dehorn Bring less money if they still have horns Less space needed in feedlot and truck Less chance of harming another animal Less damage to facilities Polled –Bred not to have horns

Cow-Calf Segment Dehorning –Should be dehorned at a young age –Should dehorn in the late fall, winter or early spring Less problems with heat and flies –Horn is removed using dehorner

Cow-Calf Segment Dehorning –The wound is soldered with a hot iron to help clot the blood –Powder is placed on the poll to help clot any blood remaining –This is not a desirable characteristic in beef production, breeds that are polled are more desirable Angus Polled Hereford

Cow-Calf Segment Branding –Used to identify livestock –It is required by law in some states, to run livestock on federal lands –Calves are usually branded in the spring before they are turned out to graze –Can be done two ways Calf is placed on the ground Calf is ran into a turn table chute

Cow-Calf Segment Branding the old fashion way Westlem’ Down

Cow-Calf Segment Calf Branding Turn Table

Cow-Calf Segment Ear Tagging –Tags are placed in the ear with herd number for identification Ear Tattooing –Placed in the ear permanent identification –Use a number to be specific

Cow-Calf Segment Weaning –Taking the calf away from the mother and wean it from its mothers milk –Calves and mother are completely separated –When calves are weaned there are several options Sell to the feeder segment Sell as yearlings Growing and finishing

Cow-Calf Segment Weaning –This has to be done carefully, due to the stress on the calves they are susceptible to sickness Backgrounding –Feeding the calves for a short period of time before they move to the feedlot. Get more weight and increase your income

Cow-Calf Segment Advantages: –Requires less labor then Purebred –Lower investment in seed stock, equipment, facilities, paper work and registration –Good way of life –Large amounts of land are required –Be involves with baby calves

Cow-Calf Segment Disadvantages: –A large investment of land is usually required –It is difficult to expand and reduce the herd operation quickly –Price that is received in based more upon the supply and demand in the nation, rather than the cost of production

Feeder Segment To produce cattle for slaughter in the shortest time possible. Young calves are purchased from the cow-calf operation and fed out to a fat finished weight Some feed the feeders on pasture for some of the time then move them to the feedlot.

Feedlot Segment Today's trend is moving toward a confinement operation What do we feed feedlot cattle? –Feedlot cattle are fed a high protein diet of corn, barley and soybeans along with a small amount of roughage.

Feedlot Segment Advantages: –They can adjust well to changes in: Feed supplies Operating Costs Labor Supply Economical Outlook Can expect a return on the investment in 4-6 months

Feedlot Segment Disadvantages: –Large enclosed facilities are required, increased expenses –Increased problem with disease –Increase in transportation costs –High risk business due to the large fluctuations in the market

Introduction to Beef Small-sized herds are typical for all Cow- Calf operations. 80% of all beef herd in the US are have fewer then fifty head of cows

Beef Breeds Breed: –A race or variety, the members of which all are related by decent or distinguishable characteristics. There are more than 250 breed recognized in the world. There is a wide variety of beef breeds to better suit their environments.

Beef Cattle Composite breeds: –New breeds developed to combine desirable characteristics Purebred: –Being of pure ancestry