Beef Cattle
Uintah High School Agricultural SciencesMr. Wilson
In your notebooks…
Make a list of ten benefits of beef cattle!Make a list of as many breeds of beef cattle that you can.List all the people you can think of that raise beef cattle.
Beef Cattle
Science term for cattle is what? Bovine Just like Canine is a dog and feline is a cat.
Beef production is big business in Beef production is big business in the U.S. ...the U.S. ...Largest single portion of U.S.
agricultural economy$40+ billion in direct sales18% of total agricultural sales
Evolution of Beef Industry
Early civilization- cattle used for milk and some meat production, Meat was much leaner than today's beef
Grass fed Smaller framed Less muscle
As farming practices evolved and corn belt was formed the beef industry changed.
Evolution of Beef Industry
Railroad also contributed to the centralization of large cattle feedlots in the center of the country
Started “segmentation”
Beef Industry SegmentationBeef Industry Segmentation
“Segmented" -- several producers own a single animal between birth and slaughter.Cow/calf producers - calves born in springStocker cattle - buy weaned calves in fallFeedlots - buy calves at about 1 yearPackers - buy finished calves for slaughterPurebred producers
With segmented ownershipWith segmented ownershipThe cow/calf producer usually doesn't
knowUltimate productivityCarcass quality
NRCS photo by Lynn Betts.
Shift to retained ownershipShift to retained ownershipSince the 1990s, a gradual shift has
taken place.Packers began buying based on
carcass.Cow-calf producers investing in
breeding stock more likely to maintain ownership through slaughter.
Geography plays a partGeography plays a partCow/calf producers
Most in Deep South, Great Plains and Mountain West
Usually full-time operationsRoutinely over 200 cowsRequires land for forage
How much land is needed for How much land is needed for each cow/calf pair?each cow/calf pair?Arid Western regions may need 60 acresWetter Eastern regions may need 2 acres
Land is more productiveUse of intensive rotational grazing
Southern climatesPastures grow for more monthsLess stored feed needed
Stocker feedersStocker feedersConcentrated in the Great PlainsMay graze winter wheat through the
winterOnce stockers are sold, wheat produced
for harvest
Most near packing plantsTexas, Nebraska, Kansas and ColoradoTypically hold
tens ofthousandsof cattle
Large-scale feedlotsLarge-scale feedlots
Herds less than 30Feedlots less than 1,000Majority are culled dairy animals and
dairy steersSecondary income
Eastern productionEastern production
Carcass qualityCarcass qualityMany packers buy based on
carcass quality and/orlean:fat ratio
Bonuses for high qualityand lean carcass
Discounts for low qualityand fat carcass
Typical dressing percentage of a beef animal is 55-60%. That means a 1000 steer would yield a carcass weight of around 600lbs.
Photo courtesy Dr. Robert E. Mikesell.
Environmental issues ...Environmental issues ...Overgrazing can lead to erosionIncreased grazing fees for Bureau of
Land Management public grazing landManure management and water
pollution
Environmentally Friendly
Animal Welfare Issues
Advantages to Beef Compared to other animals
Forage is cheaper than feed. Less labor requirements. Low death loss. Adapt well. Good demand for producers,
especially small producers, because
inexpensive.
Disadvantages
Through droughts, cost increases, due to no grass and feeding feed
Don’t convert grass as good as feed. Fewer offspring per year, compared
to other species. High cost to start operation;
Land is expensive Animals expensive $800cow vs. $90 ewe
What is a Breed?
a group of animals that have certain traits in common color size body structure place of origin horned or polled
What is a Purebred?
animals of known ancestry where all parents etc. are of the same breed
Breed associations register purebred animals, develop markets for those animals, and organize breed shows
What is Crossbreeding?
mating animals of the same species, but different breeds
Angus mated to Hereford crossbreed to achieve desired animal
traits
Breeds to take note on in your notebooks!
Angus Simmental Gelbvieh Limousine Hereford Polled Hereford Charolias Brahman Texas Longhorn Beefalo Short Horn Santa Gertrudis Salers Maine Anjou
What are the English Beef Breeds?
• Hereford - Red & white, horned or polled– most popular in the U.S.
• Angus - bred to compete with Hereford– smaller cows and calves– excellent conformation (body type)– mature lighter– resistant to pinkeye & cancer eye (due to black)
• Shorthorn - dual purpose breed (meat/milk)
Hereford
Origin- County of Hereford in England Breeders selected for high yield and
economical production Henry Clay of Kentucky imported the first
Herefords Herefords are registered by American
Hereford Association More Herefords have been registered
than cattle of any other breed.
Polled Hereford
Origin- Iowa in 1901 Warren Gammon, an Iowa breeder
contacted all Hereford association members.
Located 4 Bulls and 10 Cows
Angus
Origin- Scotland in the shires of Aberdeen and Angus.
Earliest records of Angus date to the early 1700’s.
George Grant of Victoria, KS imported four bulls in 1873.
American Angus Association organized in 1883.
Brahman
Origin- from France Hot & humid climates Disease resistant
Charolais
Origin- Charolles in Central France. King Ranch in Texas imported first
bulls into the United States. - large & long body, fast growth
used to increase size of English breeds increasing in popularity due to low
marbling
Santa Gertrudis Origin- King Ranch. - 3/8 Brahman & 5/8 shorthorn. 1920 a bull named “Monkey” was
born. Monkey sired over a 150 useful sons. All present day Santa Gertrudis cattle
are descendents of Monkey the bull. popular in southern U.S. A sire is a father. Sired means to father.
Texas Longhorn
Origin- Spanish Andalusian Cattle Brought by Columbus on his 2nd voyage
1860 estimated 4 million running wild in Texas
Almost became extinct by 1900 Horns spread to 4 feet or more Slow maturing and have high fertility Resistant to disease and parasites
Shorthorn Origin- Around 1600, Tees River
Valley of Northern England. Originally called Durhams. Coates Herdbook was est. in 1822 to
record Shorthorns. Was first cattle Herdbook and served
as a model for other herdbooks that followed.
Originally Dual Purpose
Brangus
Origin- USDA experiment station, Louisiana
3/8 Brahman & 5/8 Angus Adaptable to different climates Good mothering ability Produce desirable carcasses
What are Exotics?
animals not common to U.S. used for increasing calf weights importation laws restrict bringing
exotics into the U.S.
Beefalo
Origin- Canadian ministry of agriculture
Good mothering characteristics Excellent foraging ability
Beefmaster
Origin- Texas Crossing was from three breeds
under range conditions. Shorthorn Hereford Brahman
Belgian Blue
Belted Galloway
Blonde d’Aquintaine
Chianina
Origin- Italy One of the oldest breeds of cattle Tallest breed of beef cattle Short hair that is white to steel gray Terminal breed Low milk production
Devon
Dexter
Galloway
Gelbvieh
Gelbvieh
Originated in Germany Red sometimes black in color Noted for superior fertility and
mothering ability Tend to be extra fleshy under the
throat
Highland
Limousin
Maine Anjou
Originated in France Dark red with white markings or
black Developed by crossing the Mancelle
breed with the Shorthorn breed
Murray Grey
Piedmontese
Pinzgaur
Salers
Salers
Origin- France Fastest growing breed in the United
States Mahogany red to black in color One of the last breeds to be imported
into the United States
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
South Devon
Tarentaise
Beef Production
Cow-Calf Production: own cows, sell weaner calves
Stocker: buy weaner calves, sell yearlings
Feedlot Finishing: buy calves, fatten, sell to slaughter house
Beef ProductionCow-Calf: most common - need range land – fed lots of
roughages! - calve in spring, sell calves in fall - feed 2# roughages per 100# of cow
weight in winter (extra for cold weather)
Supplement with needed proteins, minerals, vitamins.
Feed best hay to those that need it the most (pregnant, lactating, heifers)
Lots of clean water & free choice salt
Cow-Calf Operations
How does it work?
What type of cattle are used?
When is the calving season?
What’s the Bull’s Job?
How many cows can one bull breed each season?
How many bulls would you need if owned 200 cows?
What is another way to breed your cows?
Heifers: What are these creatures?
When are heifers able to start breeding?
Gestation period of ~283 days (9 months)
Can a cow ever have twins?
Moo-cows get hungry too! What do we feed beef cattle?
Mainly forages- grasses and legumes.
Grasses Bermuda, Fescue
Legumes Clovers, Alfalfa
Pasture free of weeds. Why? It takes on average 6-9 lbs of
feed to produce one pound of beef!
Supplements
Minerals Fed free choice
Creep feeding What is it?
Where are we at in the process?
Calf is born.
Calf is weaned.
Where does it go next?
Backgrounding system
Cattle is fed high quality forages and maybe some grain for about a 4-6 month period.
This is done to increase size of your cattle, as cheaply as possible. Because again grass is cheaper than feed.
Feedlot Finishing
Place calves in feedlot 500-700#
Feed high concentrates (grain) 2-4 months
Slaughter at 1000-1200#
Finishing system
Cattle is fed to slaughter weight here.-start at about 800lbs-finished at 1100-1400lbs-fed for about 150-175 days
Commercial feedlots MidWestern and Southwestern U.S. Fed feed concentrates
-high energy- corn, milo, oats
Nowhere to go but,…
Slaughter House
Finally, beef is sent to grociers to be consumed by us.
Review of Process
Cow calf operator- conception to weaning, 15 months.
Backgrounder- raises weaned calves until they are ready to go to feedlot. 4-6 months
Feedlot- fattens cattle to slaughter weight, usually 5-6 months.
Slaughter House to Grocery store to Table.
Process Review Cont.
Total time require to get beef to the consumer.
From the first thought of the next calf crop to the table, right at or just over 2 years.
From the birth of a calf to the table, right at 16-17 months.
Review
What is a cow-calf operation?
What do we feed?
Where are the beef cattle finished off?
Beef Terminology
A mature male is called a: Bull A mature female is called a: Cow The act of giving birth is called:
Calving Gestation: 283 Days Castrated male is called a: Steer An Immature Female is called a:
Heifer
There are eight wholesale cuts that are then used to make retail cuts.
Beef, it’s what’s for dinner.