ANSC 1000 - Lab Midterm notes

Greene ANSC 1000 class

Cattle

Purpose of the Beef Industry

• Produce beef for human consumption

• Provide high-quality protein and essential nutrients.

• Utilize forage and land that may not be suitable for crops

• Produce valuable by-products

• Support the agricultural economy

Primary product of cattle

Beef: meat

Dairy: milk

Body type

Meat: thick, muscular, wider-bodied

Dairy: More angular and lean

Muscling

Beed: Heavy muscling, especially over loin and hindquarters

Dairy: Less muscling

Udder

Beef: Functional but not selected for high-quality milk production

Dairy: Large, well-developed udder; selected for milk production

Management

Beef: often pasture-based during cow-calf production

Dairy: More intensive daily mangement

Calf management

Beef: Typically remain with and nurse the cow until weaning

Dairy: Calves are commonly separated from the dam early and raised separetly

Major selection traits

Beef: Growth, feed efficiency, carcass traits, reproduction

Dairy: Milk yield, milk components, udder traits, reproduction

Common breeds

Beef: Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Simmental, Brahman

Dairy: Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire

Cow

A mature female bovine that has had at least one calf

Heifer

A young female bovine that has not had a calf

Bull

An intact male bovine

Steer

A male bovine that has been castrated

Calf

A young bovine, generally less than one year old

British breeds

Moderate size, early maturity, strong maternal traits, carcass quality

Examples of British breeds

Angus and Hereford

Continental breeds

Larger framed, rapid growth, heavier muscling

Examples of Continental breeds

Simmental and Charolais

Bos indicus breeds

Heat tolerant, insect/parasite adaptability, adapted to hot climates

Examples of Bos indicus breeds

Brahman

Composite breeds

Developed by combining breeds to capture desirable traits from each

Examples of Composite breeds

Brangus and Beefmaster

Examples

Bos taurus: Angus, Hereford, Simmental, Charolais

Bos indicus: Brahman

Origin

Bos taurus: Primarily European breeds

Bos indicus: Tropical/subtropical ancestry

Appearance

Bos taurus: No prominent hump, tighter skin, smaller ears

Bos indicus: Shoulder hump, loose skin, large/drooping ears

Heat tolerance

Bos taurus: Lower

Bos indicus: Higher

Parasite/Insect resistance

Bos taurus: Lower

Bos indicus: Higher

Temperament

Bos taurus: Generally more docile

Bos indicus: Can be more reactive/alert

Best adapted to

Bos taurus: Cooler/temperate climates

Bos indicus: Hot, humid climates

Angus classification

British breed — Bos taurus

Angus color

Most commonly black, but can be red

T or F: Angus are naturally polled

True

Angus identification

Moderate frame, smooth-bodied

Angus are known for:

Excellent marbling & carcass quality, strong maternal characteristics, good fertility, early maturity

Angus

Hereford classification

British breed — Bos taurus

Hereford identification

Red body, white face, belly, legs, and switch

T or F: Hereford are naturally polled

False, can be either polled or horned

Hereford are known for:

Hardy and adaptable, good disposition, strong forage utilization, maternal ability, fertility and longevity

Hereford

Simmental classification

Continental breed — Bos taurus

Simmental identificaition

Solid black or red

T or F: Simmentals are naturally polled

True

Simmental are known for:

Rapid growth, larger mature size, heavy muscling, good milk production, strong maternal performance

Simmental

Charolais classification

Continental breed — Bos taurus

Charolais color

White to cream

Charolais identification

Large framed and heavy muscling

T or F: Charolais can be horned or polled

True

Charolais are known for:

Excellent growth rate, heavy muscling, large, mature size, strong performance in crossbreeding

Charolais

Limousin classification

Continental — Bos taurus

Limousin color(s)

Goldish-red/reddish brown, can also be black, lighter around the eyes and muzzle

Limousin identification

Heavy muscling, especially through the hindquarters, moderate to large frame

Limousin are known for:

Excellent muscling, lean carcasses, good growth and feed efficiency

Limousin

Brahman classification

Bos indicus

Brahman color(s)

Gray or red

Brahman identification

Large hump over shoulders, long drooping ears, loose skin, large dewlap

Brahman are known for:

Excellent heat tolerance, adaptability to hot humid climates, insect and parasite tolerance, longevity, ability to perform under challenging environment conditions

Brahman

Brangus are developed from:

Brahman x Angus (3/8 B + 5/8 A)

Brangus color(s)

Black or red

T or F: Brangus are usually horned

False

Brangus Brahman influence

Looser skin, larger ears, slight hump

T or F: Brangus generally appear more Brahman-like than Angus like

False

EPD

A prediction of how an animal’s offspring are expected to perform compared to offspring within the same breed.

EPDs are used for:

• Breeding decisions

• Genetic potential comparison

• To select certain traits

• Herd improvement

CED

Calving Ease Direct; likelihood of unassisted birth, higher desire

BW

Birth Weight; expected calf birth weight, lower desire

WW

Weaning Weight; growth to weaning, higher desire

YW

Yearling Weight; growth to one year, higher desire

Milk

Maternal Milk; maternal contribution to calf weaning weight, moderate to high desire

Marb

Marbling; genetic potential for marbling, higher desire

REA

Ribeye area; genetic potential for ribeye area, higher desire

Puberty

Heifer becomes reproductively capable

Estrous cycle

Approximately 21 days

Estrus (heat)

Period when the female will accept the male

Gestation

Approximately 283 days (~9 months)

Calving

Giving birth

Postpartum

Period after calving before normal reproductive cycling resumes

Breeding methods

Natural service and artificial insemination (AI)

Natural service

Bull breeds cows/heifers naturally

• Common in commercial beef operations

• Requires maintaining bulls

• One bull can breed multiple females

Artificial insemination (AI)

Semen is collected from a sire and placed into the reproductive tract of the female

• Access to better genetics

• Allows producers to select for certain traits

• Requires proper estrus detection and/or synchronization

What makes a ruminant different?

Herbivorous, specialized stomach to process cellulose, usually have 4 chamber stomachs

What is the role of rumen microorganisms?

To break down cellulose in the plant-based diet of the animal

Beef cattle diet: Forages

• Primary feed source

• Pasture

• Hay

• Silage

Beef cattle diet: Concentrates

• Higher-energy feeds

• Corn and other grains

• Common in finishing diets

• Promote faster weight gain

Beef cattle diet: Protein sources

• Needed for growth, reproduction & milk production

• Forages can supply

• Supplemental protein may need to be added when needed

• Soybean meal, cottonseed meal, distillers grains

Beef cattle diet: minerals & vitamins

• Support growth, reproduction & health

• Calcium, phosphorus & salt

• Often provided through supplements

Beef cattle diet: water

• Most important mineral

• Should always be available

• Requirements increase with heat, lactation, and feed intake

Production stage: maintenance

Maintain the animal, needs to support normal functions & body conditions

Production stage: growth

Grow the animals, needs to support bone & muscle development

Production stage: pregnancy

Grow the fetus, needs to support cow maintenance + fetal development

Production stage: lactation

Produce milk, needs to support milk production + maintaining the cow

Production stage: finishing

Reach market weight, needs to support rapid growth + muscle & fat deposition

Beef cattle production system

Cow-calf → Stocker → Feedlot → Harvest

Cow-Calf: breeding

Cows and heifers are bred to produce a calf

Cow-Calf: gestation

About 283 days