beef science test 1

how many cattle are currently in the US

87 million (beef and dairy)

how many beef cattle are currently in the US

28 million beef cows

what is average herd size in mississippi

26 head

calf crop percentage

number of cows exposed to a bull that weans its cow ~ 80% US

reasons for increase in pounds while decrease in numbers

average carcass weight increased

feedlot turnover

slaughter age decreased

genetically heavier cattle at a given age

what is the optimum harvest weight

1250 lbs

box beef

better fit into a box for shipping

prices on cattle are _____ _______ with corn

negatively correlated

what does the consumer control in the beef cattle industry

harvesting, feedlot, eat

top 5 states for cattle

texas-12 mil

nebraska- 6.25 mil

kansas- 6.15 mil

california- 5.1 mil

oklahoma- 4.7 mil

top 5 states for beef cattle

texas- 4.3 mil

oklahoma- 2 mil

missouri- 1.9 mil

nebraska- 1.7 mil

south dakota- 1.5 mil

what are all of the segments (in order) of the beef industry

seedstocks, commercial cow-calf, yearling stocker, feedlot, packing, purveyor, retail, consumer

seedstock segment

purebred or registered breeders, sell genetics like animals and semen and embryos

commercial cow-calf segment

maintain cow herds, raise calves from birth to weaning, cows expected to produce one calf a year, calves are primary source of income, calve in late winter or early spring which complements forage, all calves weaned at the same time, weaned calves sent off

cow-calf operations

land is not suited or needed for crop production, depends on range and pasture forage, beef cows harvest forage, over 100 head are 10% operation, below 50 head are multiple enterprises as supplemental income

yearling stocker segment

adding cheap gains to weaned calves, forage and hay and silage in winter, grazing grasses in spring and summer, lighter weight or younger calves go here, has cash flow, purchase calves in fall/spring, some don’t purchase bc CC retain ownership

feedlot segment

confined operation fed primary finishing or high energy diets prior to harvest, gain 2.5-4 lbs, 6:1 conversion, over 1000 head are 5% total lots and 80-90% fed cattle

factors to become feedlot

availability of grains

locations of packing plants

climate

geographic

top 5 states for cattle on feed

texas- 2.87 mil

nebraska- 2.75 mil

kansas- 2.6 mil

iowa- 1.18 mil

colorado- 1.05 mil

packing segment

all cattle but mostly steers and heifers, primarily boxed beef >80%, primal and subprimal cuts, fat and bone removed, vacuum packaged for longer shelf life, carcass preference is 650-850 lbs, case ready merch: prefabricated and packaged and pre cooked

boxed beef is more cost effective

labor rates lower at packing plant compared to retail

cutting fast - disassembly line

larger volumes of retail product handled in less space

more effiecent use of bone and fat products

transport cost is reduced because easier to handle than carcass

purveyor segment

meat wholesaler or jobber, sell to food industry, buy beef for some fabrication, distributors: buy or sell without cutting, take product from packer and do something with it then sell

middle man between packer and fast food

retail segment

receive cuts in primals, boneless subprimals, beef grinding

types: supermarkets, chains, independent, others (mom and pop), and wholesale club stores

consumer segment: per capita consumption

1976-early 1990s decreased

• lack of consistency in palatability

• smaller supplies of available beef

• higher costs relative to other meats

• perceptions of human health

1998-2006 beef demand increased 16%

• strong economy

• atkins diet

• beef check off

• product development~ convience

beef check off

national organization that promotes beef products and make it more valuable, 50 cents must be donated to it for every animal sold, money goes to looking at carcass to find muscle or fat that can be sold to increase carcass quality, in mississippi state keeps 50 cents and national gets 50 cents

US beef consumption

in 2010 at nearly 60 lbs per capita, drops in 2013-2016, 2024 just over 58 lbs per capita, an average individual eat that much beef in a year so per person per year

what are the parts of the biology of the beef cow

estrous cycle, gestation, parturition, lactation, puberty, breeding, cow to bull ratio, longevity, rate of gain, slaughter weight and age

estrous cycle

time between onset of heat periods, 21 days but range 17-24 days, estrus is standing heat—16hrs but range12-18hrs, ovulation—end of estrus to metestrus and 12 hr rule for AI

gestation

period of pregnancy, fertilization to partruition, average lenge is 283 days but will vary due to breed and is longer with males over females and shorter with twins, birth weight ranges 45-120

dystocia

difficulty of birth

parturition

process of birth, softening and dilation of cervix to calf and membrane expelled

signs of parturition

enlargement of udder and teats, vulva is swollen with mucous discharge, cow leaves herd

three stages of parturition

stage 1: dilation of cervix and entry of fetus in cervix

stage 2: expulsion of newborn (30 min to 2 hrs)

stage 3: expulsion of membranes (3-5 hrs)

what is the best measure of dystocia or calving ease

birth weight

what are the scores and descriptions of calving ease

score 1: no difficulty or assistance

score 2: minor difficult with some assistance

score 3: major difficult with mechanical assistance

score 4: c-section or other surgery

score 5: abnormal presentation

lactation

provides antibodies in first 6 hrs, peak at 45 days, peak at 2nd or 3rd time, wean at 5-10 months

puberty

major determination in lifetime reproductive efficency, female~ age at first estrus in which ovulation occurs, want to cycle more than one time to improve conception rates, males~ when viable sperm cells first produced

influences on puberty

1. age: 8-11 months

2. weight: reach adequate weight, 65% of mature weight to calve by 2, BCS of 5

   1. breed or biological type: some breeds take longer, females— reproduce by 2 yrs old, males— 14-16 months, increase scrotal circumference and decrease days to puberty

what is a good indicator of puberty in males that correlates to puberty in heifers

scrotal circumference

breeding

natural service- 95% cows, BSE is breeding service exam and done 30-60 days prior to use

cow to bull ratios

typical 30:1 at 24 months, mature bull gets 50-60 in a 60 day breeding season, dont want to give young bulls too much because it can cause issues later on

Longevity

length of productive life, 9-16 years, bulls only 2/3 as long, this increases then replacements decrease, breeds: british-9-12, brahman-13-16

mature weight

reached by 5-6 years, contiental heaviest (1300-1500), british lightest (1000-1300), brahman and american intermediates

consequences of large mature weights

bulls: increase dystocia

require more feed, forage, acreage per animal

as it increases then time to puberty increases and slaughter weight increases

rate of gain

number of pounds gained per day during a specified period, bulls>steers>heifers, larger mature weights grow more rapidly

slaughter weight and age

harvested at any age or weight, veal <6 months (350-425), beef <30 months (900-1400), older >42 months (any weight), older means tougher and lower quality