Beef cattle

What are the features of traditional British breeds

• Small mature size so low maintenance costs

• Early maturing

• Hardy to climate and environment

• Suited to a forage system

• Good suckler cow

What are the features of continental breeds

• Large mature size

• Late maturing

• Higher demands

• More carcass

• Good terminal sires

What is the average size of a breeding herd

28 cows

What is the scale of the industry

• 1.6 million breeding cows

• 0.4 million breeding heifers

• 2.5 million fattening and slaughter cows

What is included on a cattle passport

• ID

• Dam

• Movements

• Death

What should the BCS of a cow be during calving

• 2.5 for mature cows

• 3.0 for 1st and 2nd time calvers

What are the essential components of a profitable sucker herd

• Low feed cost

• Longevity

• Tight calving pattern

• 1x calf every 365 days

• Low calf mortality

• Solid replacement policy

What is the target for an efficient cow

Rear her calf to >50% of her own bodyweight at weaning

What are the pros of spring calving

• Matches grass growth with peak lactation

• Calves are weaned in autumn when pasture quality declines

• Cows are dry over winter

• Better weather for calving

What are the cons of spring calving

• Spring weather can be unpredictable

• Labour can be high if coinciding with arable work and lambing

What are pros of autumn calving

• Calves are older and heavier at spring turnout

• Can be sold in summer when prices are higher

• Less conflict with spring arable work

• Housing may be less crowded

What are cons of autumn calving

• High winter feed costs for lactating cows and young calves

• Housing space needed during winter

• Calving season during poorer weather

What are the nutritional guidelines

When should calves be weaned

• When 6-8 months old

• Wean earlier if a cow has a low BCS

• Wean later if a cow has a high BCS

How much more energy is required is a cow is out-wintering

15% extra energy requirements

What are the requirements of a cow producing veal

• Dairy bred male calves

• Fed milk based diet throughout with some had feed and straw

• DLWG of 1.2-1.4 kg/day

• Slaughtered at 6-7 months old

• 300 kg live weight at slaughter

• 150 kg deaf weight at slaughter

What are the welfare standards of calves producing veal

• Crates are banned

• Must be group housed from 8 weeks old

• Diet must meet minimum iron and fibre requirements to prevent anaemia and improve welfare

What are the requirements for a calve producing rose veal

• Weaned off milk at 6-12 weeks

• Diet includes starchy feeds and straw

• Slaughtered at 8-12 months

• 400 kg LW at slaughter

• 200 kg DW at slaughter

What is the DLGW of suckler calves

• 1.2 kg bulls

• 1.0 kg steers and heifers

What are the rules of selling calves

• Illegal under 7 days old

• No resale within 28 days

• Navel must be healed

What are the rules of transporting calves

• Illegal under 10 days old

• Illegal under 14 days old if the journey is over 8 hours

• Navel must be healed

What is creep feed

• Starts minimum of 6-12 weeks prior to weaning

• Preserves cows BCS

• Primes rumen for post weaning diet

What is the percentage weight gain from dam’s milk

• 100% in 1st month of life

• 66% in 3rd month of life

• 33% in 6th month of life

What are the options after weaning

• Intensive - finish between 12 to 14 months

• Extensive - finish between 18 to 30 months

• Sell as store cattle - sold between 6 to 12 months

• Fattening growing cattle - weaned and reared for meat

• Finishing cattle - max weight gain a few weeks prior to slaughter

What are barley and silage beef cows

• Late maturing breeds

• Housed

• Target weight of 520 kg

• DLWG of 1.2 kg

• Feed conversion ratio of 5:1

What are the diet options for barley and silage beef cows

• Silage and 3 kg of barley

• Ad-lib barley and straw

What is the buller-steer problem

• One animal is repeatedly mounted or ridden by others

• Causes pain, exhaustion and death

• Causes bruising downgrading carcass value

What are clinical problems with barley beef

• Carbohydrate overload causing bloat, rumen acidoses and liver abscessation

• Hypovitaminosis A

• Lameness

• Pneumonia

What is feed conservation ratio

How many kg of feed is required for 1 kg of weight gain

How is feed conservation ratio calculated

Total feed to group of cattle / bodyweight gained in group

What is the killing out percentage

(Saleable carcass weight / live weight) x 100

What factors effect killing out percentage

• Nutrition - high roughage diet

• Gender - steers have heavier skull and skin, heifers have greater fat content

• Age - older have greater fat content

• Breed