Quiz 8 Beef Cattle

Yearling-Stocker profitability depends on cost and availability of:

Grass or forage

calves or yearlings

health management

Top states for yearling-stocker yards?

Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma

Calves at yearling stocker usually weigh ___

<500lb

USDA feeder cattle grades predict…

feedlot weight gain and harvest weight endpoint

What are the frame sizes

L, M, S

What are the muscling scores?

1, 2, 3, 4

What 3 components go into feeder cattle grades?

Frame size, Muscling, Thriftiness

List management considerations for yearling-stocker

Market prices, pasture costs, cattle health, nutrition

Cattle at the least health risk entering yearling-stocker are:

1) weaned 30-45d before shipping

2) Castrated within 90d of age

3) polled or dehorned prior to 90d of age

4) Free of internal and external parasites

5) vaccinated

What disease is the greatest problem?

Respiratory disease

Examples of cattle stressors

weaning, sorting, commingling, transportation, handling, processing, vaccination, weather, dietary changes

What is the best way to prevent cattle health issues at yearling-stocker?

One owner cattle

What has the greatest effect on profit at yearling-stocker?

Market prices

What does the “ideal” calf look like for yearling-stocker purchase?

Moderate condition, healthy, light for age (compensatory gain), moderate or better muscle and frame, seasonally priced (fall run calves cheaper)

What diet should freshly arrived cattle have?

Hay and water, high quality roughage maybe with a starter ration

What rate of gain should you expect when receiving cattle and how do you make them gain faster?

1.5 or higher; ear implants (ralgro, synovex) or ionophores (monensin)

How to calculate breakeven sale price

(dollar paid + costs of gain) / sale weight

How to determine breakeven price on gain

(projected sale value - cost buying calf) / estimated weight gain