Beef Cattle

1. The Industry
1. Largest money-generating commodity
2. Purpose
1.  Make use of resources
2. Greatest economic gain
3. Structure
1. Animals change ownership when moving between phases
4. Stages
1. Cow-Calf
1. Grade or crossbred cows
2. Produces calves 6-10 mo.s of age to be sold
1. Age depends on maturation rate of cattle breed
3. Calves sold at weaning or retained on pasture
1. When winter feed has been saved up
2. Price of weaned calves is low
4. Most ranches have fewer than 100 cows
5. Goal=produce heaviest calves w/ least cost
2. Stocker
1. Produces feeder steers and heifers
2. 12-20 months
3. Limited amount of grain fed
4. Grazing
5. Growth program aimed at skeletal growth
3. Feedlot
1. Produces slaughter steers and heifers
2. 16-30 months
3. Ration is high in energy- additional fat
1. More grain
4. Endpoint is a quality carcass
4. Breeding/ Seedstock
1. Purebred seedstock production
1. Cows and bulls both purebred
2. Specialized
3. Bulls are grown and evaluated
4. Selling "breeding value"
2. Breeding Herd
1. 1 calf/cow/year
2. 100% calf crop
1.  (# calves weaned/# cows exposed to bull)
3. Calve in season
4. Heifers calve at age 2
3. Crossbred cows are better
1. Heterosis
2. Breed Groups
1. British
1. Mature and fatten early
2. Smaller at maturation
3. Ex: Angus
2. Continental
1. Later maturing
2. Larger at maturity
3. Less marbling
4. Higher yield
3. Zebu and Composites
1. Temperature and insect resistant
2. Composite Breeds- new breeds created by mixes
3. Nutrition
1. Ruminants
1. Maximize use of forages
4. Beef Cattle Health
1. Challenges
1. Adequate Nutrition
2. Good Sanitation
3. Vaccinations
4. Parasite control