Transcript Segments of the Beef Industry

•The Beef Industry
The Beef Industry
The average size beef herd is
around 100 head.
The Beef Industry
Sire BreedsTraits are characteristics of bulls rather than cows.
Breeds of agricultural animals that are used as sire in a
crossbreeding program.
Dam BreedsTraits are characteristics of cows rather than bulls.
Breeds of agricultural animals that are used as dams in a
crossbreeding program.
The beef industry
 In
the US there are over forty
different breeds as well as
many crosses of these breeds.
The beef industry
 Breeds
of beef cattle are
broken into three categories or
groups
British Angus,
Hereford, Shorthorn,
these were the first breeds
brought into this country, they
represent the largest segment
of the beef industry.
Continental
 Limousin,
Simmental,
Charolais, Chianina, desired
for their size and ability to
grow
American Breeds
 Scientifically
classified as
Bos indicus, the most
common type of American
Breed is the Braham.
American Breeds

Other breeds developed
form this line include;
Brangus,Santa Gertrudis
and Beefmaster.
4 Major Segments:
 purebred
operations
 cow-calf operations
 stocker operations
 feedlot operations
Purebred operations
 Purpose
is to produce seed
stock cattle. These cattle are
used as the dams and sires of
the calves that will be grown to
market weight.
Purebred operations
 Growing
purebred stock allows
breeders to concentrate on
improving an accentuating the
advantages of a particular
breed.
Cow-Calf operations:
 Most
calves produced are
crossbreeds from purebred
parents of different breeds.
Cow-Calf operations:
 Much
of this industry is
centered in the southern and
western states, however, cowcalf operations are found all
across the country.
Cow-Calf operations:
 In
the west it is common to
leave cows on free range-not
fenced in until calving, at
weaning time all stock is
rounded up for the calves to be
sold.
Cow-Calf operations
 Calves
are usually sold at
weaning weight, around 500
pounds. Buyers prefer calves
that have been castrated and
vaccinated and are in good
condition.
Stocker operations:
 Provide
a step between the
weaning of calves and the
finishing or fattening of the
animals prior to slaughter.
Stocker operations
 Weaned
calves are placed on
pasture and fed a ration to allow
for skeletal and muscular growth.
Before calves are sold to a feedlot
for finishing they must be
physically mature.
Feedlot operations:
 Many
feedlot operators are
also stockers. Final phase
before the animals are sent to
slaughter.
Feedlot operations
 Animals
are fed a highly
concentrated ration which is
designed to put the proper
amount of fat cover on the
animals.
Feedlot operations
 Producers
usually want
sufficient fat cover to allow the
animals to grade low choice.
Feedlot operation:
 Feedlots
range in size from
feeding fewer than 100 head to
those feeding thousands of
head each year.
Feedlot operation
 When
animals reach the proper
degree of finish, they are sold to
slaughter. Usually around 18 to
24 months, weighing 800 to 1500
pounds depending on breed and
body type.