Beef Cattle Production Practice Flashcards

A set of practice questions and answers covering Filipino beef cattle industry status, breeds, production cycles, reproductive physiology, and herd management practices based on the lecture by Ralph Jovi B. Saldajeno.

Who is the lecturer for the Beef Cattle Production review program?

Ralph Jovi B. Saldajeno, Assistant Professor at the Animal Production Division, Institute of Animal Science, CAFS, University of the Philippines Los Baños.

In cattle terminology, what is the difference between a Bull and a Steer?

A Bull is an in-tact male bovine, while a Steer is a castrated male bovine or a future ox that is less than $4$ years old.

How is a Calf defined in the context of beef production?

A young bovine from the time of birth until about $6$ to $10$ months of age, which is when the animal is weaned.

What is the specific definition of an Ox?

A castrated bull that has been trained to work and is at least $4$ years of age.

As of 31 December 2025, what was the total cattle inventory in the Philippines?

$2.51$ million heads.

How are cattle operations classified by size of cow inventory?

Smallhold (tending not more than $5$ cows), Semi-commercial (tending $6$ to $50$ heads of cows), and Commercial (tending $51$ cows and above).

What is the distribution percentage of cattle inventory in the Philippines by classification?

Smallhold: $86.3\%$, Semi-commercial: $11.3\%$, and Commercial: $2.4\%$.

Which region in the Philippines had the highest cattle inventory as of 31 December 2025?

Central Visayas with $273.10$ thousand heads.

What is the difference between Bos taurus and Bos indicus?

Bos taurus is of European origin, temperate, and without humps (e.g., Shorthorn, Hereford). Bos indicus is of tropical origin and humped (e.g., Brahman, Afrikander).

What are the breed compositions for Santa Gertrudis and Brangus?

Santa Gertrudis is $\frac{5}{8}$ Shorthorn and $\frac{3}{8}$ Brahman. Brangus is $\frac{5}{8}$ Angus and $\frac{3}{8}$ Brahman.

What are the distinct physical features of the Hereford breed?

White face, white flanks, white tail, white crest on its neck, and a body color ranging from cherry red to mahogany red.

Which breed is described as a small Scottish breed and the "oldest breed in Britain"?

Angus.

What is the origin and distinct feature of the Charolais breed?

It is a French breed that is white in color with a pink muzzle, long-bodied, and medium to large-framed.

What is Backgrounding in the beef production cycle?

A management and feeding program where cattle are fed for a period of time after weaning and before being placed in finishing feedlots for grouping and acclimatization.

What is the primary goal of a Cow-calf Operation?

To produce weaned calves, usually seven to eight months of age, to supply for replacement or fattening.

What is the goal and typical duration of a Growing-Fattening Operation?

The goal is to provide fattened cattle for meat consumption, typically requiring a fattening period of $120$ to $180$ days.

Define the Extensive System of cattle production.

Popularly known as ranching, it involves maintaining animals in vast tracts of open public lands where they graze freely.

What is the average duration of the estrous cycle and estrus (heat) in cattle?

The estrous cycle averages $21$ days ($18-24$ days). Estrus duration is $14-18$ hours for Exotic/European breeds and $10-12$ hours for Indigenous/Zebu breeds.

What is the target weight for breeding indigenous (Grades) and Exotic breeds?

Grades should be at least $250-300\,kg$, and Exotic Breeds should be at least $300\,kg$.

What is the average gestation period for beef cattle?

About $283$ days.

What are the bull-to-cow ratios for hand mating based on the bull's age?

An $18$-month old bull: $12$ to $15$ cows; a $2$-year old bull: $20$ to $25$ cows; a $3$-year old bull: $40-50$ cows.

What is Estrus Synchronization, and what hormone is typically used?

The manipulation of physiological conditions to allow predetermined occurrence of estrus, involving the administration of Prostaglandin F2 alpha ($PGF_2\alpha$).

What is the formula for Conception Rate (CR)?

$CR = \frac{\text{Cows pregnant at the end of the breeding season}}{\text{Cows exposed during breeding season}} \times 100$.

What is an ideal Calving Interval?

One year is ideal, though $18$ months is common.

Distinguish between Forages and Concentrates.

Forages (roughages) are natural grasses and legumes. Concentrates are feeds low in crude fiber ($< 18\%$) and high in TDN ($> 60\%$) on a dry basis.

Where is the owner's legal brand usually placed on an animal?

On the animal's left foreleg.

What effect does castration have on liveweight gain in bull calves?

It tends to decrease the rate of liveweight gain by $15\%-20\%$.Header

How long is the mandatory isolation period for newly purchased cattle?

A minimum of $30$ days.

What should be done if a cow's placenta is unexpelled beyond 24 hours?

It must be removed by gentle traction; if unsuccessful, inject oxytocin.

How should the umbilical cord of a day-old calf be treated?

Cut the cord and paint the remaining stump with strong tincture iodine.