Transcript Beef Cattle Production

Beef Cattle Production
An Introduction
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Segments of the
industry
Cow-calf
Stocker/Backgrounding
Feedlot
Types of Beef Cattle Operations
Beef cattle producers may specialize in one type of
cattle operation or combine various types.
1. Cow-Calf Producers- a herd of cows are bred each
year to produce calves. These calves are often sold
sometime after weaning (6 months to 1 year old
animals).
2. Seedstock- also known as purebred breeders.
Keeps herds of purebred breeding animals and
provide replacement bulls for cow-calf operations.
These operations focus more specifically on genetic
improvements within a given breed.
Types of Beef Cattle Operations
Beef cattle producers may specialize in one type of cattle operation or
combine various types.
3. Cattle Feeders
i.
Stocker Operations- purchase calves from a cow-calf producer
and care for them for approximately 5 months (12 months to 17
months of age).
ii. Feedlot- raises large numbers of animals in a more confined
area.
a) Animals are fed to a “finished” market weight and then sent to
be processed between 18-22 months of age.
b) Feedlot animals are purchased from stockers or cow-calf
producers through one of the various types of livestock
markets.
Cow/Calf Operation
10 mos.
Breed cows ............... Calving
Stocker Cattle
=
“Backgrounding”
Feedlot
max intake = max gain
“Feeder Calf”
weaned calf
~500 lbs.
Heavy Feeders
700 -1000 lbs
Fed or “Fat” Cattle
(Slaughter Cattle)
optimal 1100 - 1300 lbs.
truth 900 -1400 lbs.
Some other beef terms
Dry = non-lactating
Wet = lactating
open = not pregnant
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Beef Lifecycle
Replacement Females
10-14 mos.
283 days
conception
birth
283 days
puberty
breed
calve
22-24 months of age
Beef Lifecycle
Terminal Male or Female
10-14 mos.
283 days
conception
birth
puberty
12 -14 mos. slaughter
900 - 1400 lbs.
Processing Beef Products
• Feedlots sell animals to packing plants (slaughter houses).
• Most packing facilities process animals into primal cuts
and subprimal cuts. These products are sold to retailers
and foodservice companies.
• Some packing facilities sell subprimals to meat processors
who create value added products such as pre-cooked
items, sandwich meat, etc.
• The amount of time involved in producing beef cattle is
significantly longer compared to swine and poultry.
• Most beef cattle are grown independently, not on contracts.
Breeds of Cattle
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English = come from
England
Usually moderate in
frame
Examples Angus and
Hereford
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Breeds of Cattle
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Continental = from
Europe
Often dual purpose
Large framed
heavier milkers
Examples: Gelbvieh,
Limousin, Simmental,
Charolais
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Breeds of Cattle
English and
Continental = Bos
taurus
Bos indicus = heat
tolerant and parasite
resistant
From India
Brahman
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EPDs
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Expected Progeny Differences
Comparison of measurable traits
within breeds
Expected progeny differences
(PARAPHRASE THIS)
• (EPDs) provide estimates of the genetic value of an animal
as a parent. Specifically, differences in EPDs between two
individuals of the same breed predict differences in
performance between their future offspring when each is
mated to animals of the same average genetic merit. EPDs
are calculated for birth, growth, maternal, and carcass traits
and are reported in the same units of measurement as the
trait (normally pounds). EPD values may be directly
compared only between animals of the same breed. In
other words, a birth weight EPD for a Charolais bull may
not be directly compared to a birth weight EPD of a
Hereford bull (unless an adjustment is made to account for
breed differences).