Comprehensive Guide to Beef Cattle Industry and Management

Heifer

Female bovine who has never had a calf

Cow

Female bovine who has had a calf/calves

Steer

Casted male bovine

Bull

Intact male bovine

Springer

Female animal (heifer or cow) who is close to calving, usually associated with the increased size of her udder

Fresh Cow

Cow who recently gave birth; cows 'freshen' after they give birth

Beef Cattle Industry

72.9 Billion Dollars in Cash Receipts (2021); United States ranked 1 for beef production

Beef Importer

The United States is the number 2 beef importer (China)

Beef Exporter

The United States is the third largest exporter of beef products by volume (Brazil and Australia)

Feed

Most expensive aspect of raising agricultural animals; beef cattle production needs feed (forages)

Cattle Conversion

Cattle convert unusable land to protein; poor quality forages consumed by cattle and converted to energy

Beef Cattle Breeds

Includes Angus (Red or Black), Hereford, Charolais, Brahman, and Highlands

Mixed Breed

Dependent on different factors such as climate and management style

Prey Species

Cattle exhibit a fight or flight response; can kick, gore, and stomp on threats

Herd Animal

Cattle have strong herd instincts and prefer being in large groups

Cattle Safety Guidelines

Move slowly and deliberately; be cognizant of and confident in your movements

Cattle Dislikes

Cattle do not like their heads handled, being spooked, being away from their herd, loud noises, or fast, sudden movements

Working with Cattle

Always know your escape route; do not work with bulls without experience and training

Remain calm and deliberate in your actions and movements

Guideline for working with livestock.

Be aware of your surroundings

Important safety measure when handling animals.

Listen to all instructions and follow them immediately

Essential for safety and effective handling.

Generalized Production Timeline For Beef Cattle

Overview of the timeline from breeding to consumer level.

Breeding

Producing the bulls and heifers.

Feeding

Provide appropriate nutrition to achieve healthy and productive animals.

Marketing cattle

Cattle are bought and sold, sometimes many times, throughout their lives.

End result of beef production

Processing and retail sale of beef products.

Time to consumer level

It takes about 2-3 years from breeding until beef products are at the consumer level.

Knowledge required in cattle industry

Individuals must have exceptional knowledge of the industry economically and management skills.

Making decisions for the future

Making decisions today for 2-3 years down the road.

Segments of Beef Cattle Industry

Includes Seedstock, Feedlot, Yearling/Stocker, Packer, Cow-Calf, Retailer, Consumer.

Seedstock Producers

Also called purebred breeders or registered breeders; provide superior genetics.

Commercial Cow-Calf Producers

Raises calves from birth until weaning.

Weaning period

Cow raises calf for about 205 days.

Calf weight at weaning

At weaning, the calf should be about half the weight of its mature cow mother.

Calf birth weight

Calf is born at about 75 pounds, gains about 2 pounds per day.

Ideal calf production

Cows should produce one calf per year.

Gestation period

Gestation = about 283 days.

Yearling/Stocker Producer

Also called backgrounding; adds weight to weaned calves.

Calf purchase timing

Purchase calves in the Fall or Spring.

Weight gain in Yearling/Stocker

Cattle gain about 1 to 1.5 pounds a day.

Feedlot Producer

Feeding operations feeding cattle high energy diets to prepare them for harvest.

Weight gain in feedlot

Gain 3 or more pounds per day.

Packer

Harvest, process, and distribute beef across the world.

Amount of beef processed

24 billion pounds of beef.

Retailer

Includes grocery stores, restaurants, 'big box stores', etc.

Direct Farm Marketing

Carcasses or Retail Cuts

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

A system that connects consumers directly with local farmers.

Farmers Markets

A physical retail marketplace for local farmers to sell their products directly to consumers.

On Farm Store

A retail outlet located on a farm where consumers can purchase products directly.

Freezer Trade

A system where consumers purchase bulk meat and store it in their freezers.

Consumer Preferences

The evolving desires of consumers regarding food products, including convenience and reduced cooking time.

Meal-kits

Pre-packaged ingredients and recipes that allow consumers to prepare meals easily.

Beef Nutritional Value

Beef is a natural source of 10 essential nutrients including protein, iron, zinc, Riboflavin, B12, and Niacin.

Reproductive Management

The process of managing breeding, pregnancy, calving, and calf health in beef operations.

Reproductive Efficiency (RE)

RE = number of calves born / number of calves weaned per 100 females in the breeding herd.

Calf Production Goal

One calf produced from each female bovine every 365 days.

Management Decisions for Reproductive Rates

Strategies such as early puberty, high conception rates, and minimizing calving difficulty.

Cattle Health Focus

Ensuring the health of breeding females, bulls, calves, and overall herd health.

Nutrition Focus

Providing appropriate nutrition for all life stages of cattle, including growing, pregnant, and lactating females.

Genetic Selection

Choosing genetically superior animals for production systems.

Parturition Management

Management practices surrounding the birthing process of cows and calves.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

A viral disease in cloven hooved animals that is highly contagious and does not transmit to humans.

FMD Economic Risk

FMD poses a significant economic risk and has been eradicated in the United States since 1929.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE)

A disease caused by a prion that leads to neurologic disease and death in infected animals.

BSE Prevention

Ruminants cannot be fed ruminant tissue in feed to prevent BSE.

Atypical BSE

A spontaneous, age-related form of BSE diagnosed in a beef cow in Florida in 2018.

Rinderpest

A virus that causes severe disease in cattle and was completely eradicated through vaccination.

Rinderpest Death Rates

Death rates can reach 100% in cattle populations that have never been exposed to Rinderpest.

Biological Weapon Concern

Rinderpest poses a major concern for potential use as a biological weapon.