Ruminant Production: Beef Production (Housing to Nutrition)

Part 1

Dairy has a few production systems, Beef has multiple operations

In terms of production systems and operations, how does the beef and dairy industry differ?

Does not qualify as a commercial farm

A backyard farm is defined as any farm or household, farming or non-farming raising at least one bird or animal and?

21 heads of adult and zero head of young

41 heads of young 

10 heads of adult and 22 heads of young

What are the conditions for satisfying a commercial farm of beef production

41

How many minimum young heads if only young calves are raised?

21

How many minimum adult heads if only adult cows/bulls are raised?

Semi-intensive

Intensive

Nucleus

Multiplier

Backyard

Commercial

What are the key terms in production?

1. Cow-Calf Operation

2. Breeder Farm Operation

3. Growing-Fattening Operation

What are the three types of cattle raising?

Cow-Calf Operation

Operation wherein cows and bulls are raised to produce calves which are either sold at weaning, used as replacement stock or fattened and sold?

1. Sold at 7-8 months of age (weanling)

2. Raised as replacement stock

3. Sold for fattening

If a farmer has a calf and is following the Cow-Calf operation, what are the possible options for the calf’s future?

7-8 months old

At what age is a beef calf weaned?

1. Reproductive phenomena

2. Breeding and feeding systems

3. Management practices

A prodcuer in a cow-calf operation must be knowledgable on 3 main things

Nucleus Farms or Breeder Farms

This operation or farm distributes stocks to different farms nationwide or abroad.

Strict implementation of protocols and guidelines for selection

Needs accreditation and renewal of certificates

Regulated by BAI

Characteristics of a nucleus/breeder farm

Masbate

Province in the Philippines with the nucleus/breeder farms and rodeos

Rodeo Masbateno Festival

The festival in Masbate that celebrates the culture and cattle industry, showcasing skills in livestock handling?

Second week of April

When does the Rodeo Masbateno Festival occur?

ED RANCH

A multiplier farm in Milagros, Masbate

JADECO FARMS

A nucleus farm in Milagros, Masbate

Multiplier Farm

Source of parent stock of commercial farms which multiply the superior genetic crosses made by the nucleus farm

Cow-Calf Operation

This operation can also produce animals for breeding

large

For replacement stocks, a ______herd is necessary?

F - big farm and big capital

Breder farms usually has a big farm, small capital (T/F)

Extensive

Intensive

Integrated with plantation/trees

What are the different types of Breeder Farm Operation (Cow-Calf Operation Breeder Production)

Extensively or Intensively

In a growing-fattening operation, the growing cattle can be raised either?

Growing-Fattening Operation

Little capital, simple managament?

Intensively by well-organized farms

A fattening or finishing operation is usually raised?

1. Small-scale/backyard level

2. Ranching

3. Semi-intensive and intensive systems

What are the different housing systems for a cow-calf operation?

Small-scale or backyard level

Animals are tethered by day and kept inside a shed by night.

Frames - Bamboo

Roof - Cogon and Nipa

The sheds in a small-scale or backyard level of cow-calf operation uses native materials for sheds like?

Ranching

Housing system wherein trees are used as sheds, or a suitable fixed shed is for the herd placed on high, well-drained ground

pasture, perimeter fence

A semi-intesnive and intensive system has a ______with_________

Noon or Afternoon

When does a semi-intensive and intensive system cut and carry roughage?

Barn with stalls or pens for housing each group

What is the main shelter for animals in the semi-intensive and intensive system?

Small-scale fattening/Feedlot farm

What is the housing system commonly used in a Fattening Operation?

1.5m x 4m/head per 1 animal

In a small-scale fattening/feedlot farm, what is the spacing for each individual stalls for each animal?

3 meters for ventilation

The shed in a small-scale fattening/feedlot farm is how high?

Concrete or Sand

What  is the flooring of a small-scale fattening or feedlot farm?

Fences/Fencing

Battens/Droppers

Handling Facilities

Feeding and Water Facilities

What are the common facilities used in beef production?

Facilitate proper livestock distribution

Eliminate overgrazing and can control drifting aimals

Shut out stray or trespass stock

Help in rotational grazing

Fence poisonous plant areas

What are the functions of a Fence/Fencing (FESHF)

Between; 5 m

Height; 1.5m above ground

Top wire; 1.4 m above ground

Spacing(wires): 50-50-40 cm

Spacing for fences?

If there is more than 5 meter distance between posts

When should battens be used?

Working corral

Race

What are the common handling facilities used?

Squeeze

Dipping vat

Weighing scale

Loading chute

What are the types of race (aka chute)

Production of a crop of uniformly high quality heavy weight calves

What is the main goal of herd management?

Sexual maturoty

High cpnception rate

High clf crop

Early rebreeding after calving

Excellent milk production of cow

Availability of a year-round feed supply

What are the specific goals of herd management?

22-51 days after calving, can return as early as 2 weeks

When does estrus occur after calving?

Herd division

This ensures appropriate nutrition of various age groups of herd

Age

Nutritional requirements of beef cattle are directly related to what?

Pregnant Herd

Breeding Herd

Heifer herd

Steer, Feeder or Fattener Herd

Bull Herd

What are the different kinds of herd divisions (PBHSB)

Pregnant Herd

Herd composed of pregnant females, once breeding season, grouped with breeding herd

Breeding Herd

It consists of dry cows and heifers ready for breeding. Transferred to the pregnant herd after breeding season if pregnant.

Heifer Herd

Composed of heifers not yet ready for breeding. This includes female calves after weaning.

Steer, Feeder or Fattener Herd

Growing cattle and those to be fattened for the market

Bull Herd

Mature males kept for servicing

Cessation of estrus

Noticeable enlargement of abdomen and udder

What are the signs of pregnancy?

60-90 days after breeding

When do we palpate to determine a pregnancy diagnosis?

Uterus is pulled into the abdominal cavity due to the weight of the fetus and its fluids

During late-stage pregnancy, why is it difficult to feel the fetus and palpation may cause abortion?

5-6 months

When is the late stage of pregnancy?

Cows that failed to get pregnant are exposed to bull for another 3 months in breeding herd

What is Clean-up Breeding?

Last 2 months of pregnancy, mixed with dry cows

A pregnant or lactating cow must be separated from the heifer herd at?

2 weeks before parturition

When should a lactating or pregnant cow be given a small grass paddock?

Pregnant/Lactating Cows

In the management of this cattle, they must be placed in close accessibility with the cowboys quarters

1 week before calving

To avoid stress, a cow is housed separately and prepared a calving area at?

3 hours

Within ____hours, a calf must suckle colostrum

5-6 hours

A calf must be lead to the cow’s udder if it has not suckled for ____post-calving

concentrates, creep feeding

Calves are given _____ at an early age for faster growth which is termed as?

False

T/F Growers are fattened immediately

Pasture or Confinement

Growers can be raised in?

2 weeks before breeding season

When are open cows and replacement heifers checked for reproductive disorders?

Fail to settle after cleanup breeding

A criteria for culling open cows and replacement heifers is if they?

Fatteners

These require a short feeding period to reach slaughter weight?

200-300 kgs at 1.5-2 years old

What is the goal weight/target of fatteners?

Feedlot or Pasture

Fatteners can be raised in?

2 years old

Bulls are usually purebreed, and are used for service at atleast around?

60-90 days before and after breeding

When are bulls given supplemental grain feeding or concentrates?

2 months before breeding season

When are bulls given their annual fertility tests

Offspring reaches sexual maturity (usually after 2.5-3 years in the herd)

Bulls can be kept in the herd but are separated when?

30 cm

at 1 year old, circumference of a bull testicle must be?

Cattle identification

Dehorning

Castration

Culling

Weight Approximation

Age Determination

What are the general management practices?

Tattooing

Ear tagging

Branding

What are the three practical ways to identify an animal?

Tattooing

Permanent ID on one ear or both

Ear tagging

ID is placed on tag but is prone to breakage or loss

Branding

Offers readability at a distance and permanent means of ID

Branding with hot iron

What is the most common method of ID cattle?

Owner brand

Livestock ID office of municipality

ID of cattle includes?

Left hip

Where is the municipality brand?

Right hip or left leg

Owners brand?

6.4 cm long 5.0 cm wide

What are the dimensions of the brand?

1.0 cm wide

Branding iron size

65 cm long

Handle of branding iron should be at least?

Act. No. 1147

RA regarding the branding and ID of cattle?

May 3, 1904

When was the act regarding cattle branding enacted?

Hero

Vernacular term for branding?

Copper

Material that retains heat longer than iron and does not rust

76 cm long for easy handling

The handle of a branding iron is at least?

8cm

The branding numbers are usually ____height?

10 cm

The branding letters are usually ______height?

5 seconds

Branding involves a rolling motion for no more than?

Freeze branding

works by destroying the pigment-producing cells in hair follicles resulting in white hair growth

Dehorning

A method recommended in large scale operations