Belted Galloway Management Practical

Cattle Dry Matter Intake

On average, cattle consume 2-3% of their body weight in dry matter per day.

Pasture Rest Periods

Rest periods allow time for the grass to regrow. If over 50% of leaves are removed, it can be detrimental to the pasture.

Minimum Grass Height

The minimum grass height that should be left in a pasture after cattle have moved to a fresh pasture is 4 inches.

Continuous Grazing

Cattle are maintained on one pasture for an unlimited time.

Rotational Grazing

Cattle are moved at intervals through different pastures to allow for periods of grazing and periods of forage rest.

Managed Intensive Grazing

A high-density of cattle is moved frequently through multiple pastures to maximize forage use.

Daily Forage Requirement Formula

The formula used to calculate a herd's Daily Forage Requirement while on pasture is 1.4%.

Pasture Yield Calculation

For every inch of forage height above 2-inches, the following Dry Matter is available per acre.

Pasture Size Calculation

(weight x %DMI x #cattle & Grazing period)/ ((DM/acre) x (% Utilization))

Plant Density (punds of DM/acre/inch)

low --> 150-200

medium --> 200-250

high --> 250-300

Parasite Management

To avoid parasites & larvae from being consumed, a low, medium, and high grazing management approach is recommended.

Where did the Belted Galloway breed originate?

Galloway Providence, Southwest

Scotland

The Belted Galloway breed is a cross of what two breeds?

Galloway Cattle and Dutch Belted

What does polled mean?

Cattle that are naturally horn-less

What are the three color options of Beltie coat?

Dun, red, or black

To be registered in the Belted Galloway Society Herd Book, cattle must be genertically acceptable and properly marked. What are the proper markings?

Heifers + Cows: Solid color w/ continuous uninterrupted white belt around the midsection, no extraneous white except under dew claws

Bulls: Must be solid colored w/ a continuous uninterrupted white belt around midsection, no white anywhere else

What are the purposes of the appendix for the Belted Galloway Society

to increase the # of registered Belties and to allow for genetic improvement

Markings: Incomplete Belt

M1

Markings: No Belt

M2

Markings: White above dew claw

M3

Markings: White elsewhere on the body

M4

Top causes of injuries to farm workers

#1: Machinery

#2: Animals

T/F: Cattle have wide panoramic vision, but poor depth perception

True

To move cattle from one location to another...

1. Make sure the pathway between the locations is free of distractions

2. get the boss cow moving in the desired direction

3. walk in a zig-zag pattern behind the herds point of balance at the edge of the dlight zone

How can you use the flight zone and point of balance to moce a cow on pasture forward?

Curved gates, be steady, calm, quiet, move at an angle behind them and enter the flight zone

How to stop cattle from walking?

Leave flight zone

How can you use the flight zone and point of blance to move a cow on pasture backward?

Enter the flight zone at the front of the point of balance

Signs of stress or aggression

1. Excessive tail whipping

2. defecates + urinates frequently

3. rigid tense psture

4. Head tossing

5. Vocalizing

Types of restraint

1. headlock

2. squeeze shute

3. halter

4. show shute

What side do you stand on when leading a steer

left side

when turning a cow, what way should u turn

clockwise

Pull and release method pf halter training

apply pressure on a halter ina. forward motion to get a calf to walk. As soon as the calf takes a step, release pressure o provide positive reinforcement for cooperation.

Why should a halter be tied to a fence post when a calf is misbehaving?

Stronger than us, objective is for them to pull and realize they cannot win

How can you settle a distressed cow?

1. Brush/ scratch --> reward

2. Tie up --> punish/train

Breed class vs. showmanship class

breed class: jusged on the animals conformation comapred to other cattle of te same breed and age (based on breed standard)

showmanship: judged on handlers ability to fir and show an animal as well as the handlers knowledge of the animal

Traits judged for market steers

Muscling, finish, structural correctness, growth capacity, balance, frame size

Muscling

Desirable appearance: wide base, heavy muscling, trim middle

Finish

good, even fat distribution, rounded topline

Structural correctness

straight topline, level hooks and pins

Post legged

hock hyper extension

sickle hocked

hock too flexed

Bow legged

hocks tuned out, toes turned in

Cow hocked

Hocks close together, feet wide apart

Knock kneed

carpus turned in, toes out

Growth capacity

wide chest, long bodied, uniform in depth

Balance

Uniform body depth

Frame size

Medium (1200-1400lbs)

When walking in a show ring, lead and show stick in which hands?

lead --> right

show stick --> left

Side to side show position

even weight bearing in all limbs, square under body, head high, cattle line up side by side

Head to tail show position

Stagger hind legs w/ right leg further back, front feet square under shoulders, head up, nose to butt

How many lbs of beef were consumed per capita in the U.S. in 2024

58 lbs

Which country is the worlds largest beed producer and consumer

USA

Goal output for Cow-Calf producers

1 healthy weanling per mom, per year @ 400-750lbs by 6-10 months

Typical diet of Cow-calf farms

Pasture --> less expensive, supplement hay, haulage or silage in winter

Creep feed on Cow-calf farm

allows only babies to eat, creep feed increases weaning weight by 20-80 lbs but 3-20lbs of grain are required for every lb of added weight

Percent Calf Crop formula

(# calves born/#of cows in breeding herd) x 100

goal: 95%

Weaning percent formula

(# of calves weaned/#of cows in breeding herd) x 100

goal: 85%

What can impact weaning weight?

1. breed

2. genetics

3. moms BCS

4. age

5. feed

6. health

Break-even point

annual cow cost/lb calf weaned

Goal output for stockers

600-900 lbs @12-18m, gain 1-2.25 lbs/day

Typical diet on Stocker Operations

forage, roughage, grass, hay, crop residue, silage, haylage

goal output for Feedlots

1000-1450 @18-24 months

Typical diet on Feedlots

high energy --> concentrates, corn, oats, some forage, gain 3 lbs/day fed over 3-6 months

BCS using 6 parts of the body

1. Brisket, ribs, back, tailhead, pins, hooks

Distinguish between BCS 5 and 6

If there are the last 2 ribs visible than its a 5, if no ribs are visible its a 6 or above

Distinguish between BCS 7 an 8

Still able to see some of the hooks/pins --> 7

pins and hooks complelty covered --> 8

fat deposits on the both sides of tailhead --> 8

Freezer beef

Purchasing beef in bulk from a farmer typically frozen

Whole share of beef

400 lbs

freezer space --> 40 cuft

Half a share of beef

200 lbs

freezer space --> 20 cuft

1/4 share of beef

100 lbs

freezer space --> 10 cuft

1/8 share of beef

50 lbs

freezer space --> 5 cuft

Fed cattle weight sent for processing

Steer/heifer --> 1000-1450 lbs

cull cow/bull --> 1200-2000 lbs

Cut sheet

tells a butcher what the consumers specifications for breakdown and packaging of a carcass

Legal precautions for cattle slaughtered under 30 months of age

must have all specified risk materials (SRM) removed at slaughter and bone in cuts are not permitted

Why are bone in cuts of beef permitted from cattle under 30 months of age?

Younger animals are at lower risk of BSE due to its long incubation period

Dressing percentage

(hot carcass weight/live weight) x 100

ideal = grain-fed 60-63% grass-fed = 56-58%

Carcass-cutting yield

(lbs of meat/hot carcass weight) x 100

ideal = 55-70%

2 main factors that dtermine the USDA Quality Grade for beef

1. physciological age/maturity of a carcass

2. marbling in the ribeye between the 12th and 13th rib

Maturity Age Ranges and USDA Quality Grades

% of fed cattle quality grades 2024

Prime --> 10.3%

Choice --> 73.7%

Select --> 12.3%

Other --> 3.2%

Cuts of beef

What percent of a cows body weight do they eat in dry matter a day

2-3%

Hay wastage

soiled w manure or urine or just not eaten

Rate of hay wastage on beef farms

6-20%

Vaccinating Pre-breeding

prevent infertility, early embryonic loss, and abortions

vaccnating pre-caving

boost cows immunity and production of antibodies in colostrum to pass to calves and maximize passive transfer of immunity

vaccinating pre-weaning + booster

boost calves active immunity after maternal antibodies drop and before weaning stress

vx pre-transfer to new production phase or post transfer

if vx history is unknown

Why might a farmer give an IN vx

- young calves when maternal antibodies might inerfere w/ a vx administered SQ or IM

- cattle just arriving at a new segment of the beef production cycle to boost local or mucosal immunity

IM and SQ dos and donts

Admsinister in neck msucling, avoiding trachea, give in hind (rump)

Needle Gauge

diameter of needle, smaller the # --> larger diameter

Needle gauge for IM/SQ for cattle

16-18 (we use 20)

Typical range of weights and age for beef calves at weaning in the U.S.

400-750 lbs by 6-10 months of age (180-300 days)

Method of weaning: Total separation

abrupt phycial seperation of cows and claves, leads to high illness risk

Method of weaning: Fenceline weaning

cow calf pairs separated by phyical barrier but maintian visual and auditory, and nose to nose contact

Method of weaning: quiet weaning

nose flip is inserted to prevent nursing while maintining contact w mom, least risk of illness

Purpose of a 205-day Adjusted Weaning Weights

to be able to compare calves weaning weights at 205 days to make a scale of averages to compare mom productivity

205-day Adjusted WW

= ((adjusted WW-adjusted BW)/age of calf at weaning) x 205 days + ajusted BW

Calf sex Ajustment WW

= 205-day Adjusted WW + 60 lb (of heifer) or + 0 lb (if bull/steer)

Goal market weight and age

1000-1450 lbs @18-24 months