Beef Lab Midterm

Ease of handling beef cattle largely depends on what 4 things?

1. Temperament

2. Size

3. Previous experiences

4. Design of handling facility

___ cattle are easier to move and sort than __ cattle

Calm

Excited

Cattle should be handled in groups rather than singles

True, they are herd animals

Why should chutes have solid sides?

So cattle cannot see out, they are sensitive to shadows

Straight chutes are better than curved chutes

False, can see too far ahead, curved chutes they can only see animal right in front of them

No more than __% of animals should fall leaving the chute

2%

No more than __% of cattle should vocalize in chute prior to treatment

5%

No more than __% of cattle should run or jump out of chute

25%

Non-electric handling devices (3)

1. Plastic paddles

2. Sorting sticks

3. Flags or streamers

__ of cattle should move through facility without electric prods

>/= 90%

What two factors influence size of cattle’s flight zone

1. Temperament

2. Past experiences

(T/F) The number of animals that can be placed in the race is dictated by the size of the sweep or tub

True

What cattle do we not BCS?

Lactating cows

BCS range

1 (thin)- 9 (fat)

Why is BCS more reliable for nutritional status than live weight or change in live weight?

Because of variations in frame size and muscling

When is BCS assessed (4)

1. Beginning of breeding season

2. At weaning

3. Prior to calving

4. At calving

Area of evaluating BCS (6)

1. Over back

2. Tail head

3. Pins

4. Hooks

5. Ribs

6. Brisket area

BCS can influence what? (4)

1. Pregnancy rate

2. Milk production

3. Calf age at weaning

4. Calving interval

What is post-partum period?

The time from which a cow calves to when she rebreeds.

How can BCS effect postpartum period?

If she has a low BCS, she can have a delayed cycle which increases postpartum period. And she has the probability of not rebreeding in time to stay in the herd

Cows must conceive by __ days after calving to maintain a 365 day calving interval

80 days

(T/F) BCS of a cow can influence the age at which a calif is weaned

True

(T/F) You can usually improve BCS on a cow relatively quickly, in as little as 2 weeks

False

Desired BCS of cows and heifers

Cows- 5

Heifers- 6 or higher

Why do we want heifers to have a higher BCS

Because she is still growing so she not only needs the energy for growing the calf but also to keep up with her own development

BCS management decisions (6)

1. Stocking rate

2. Forage management

3. Date of calving

4. Genetics

5. Group by age and nutritional needs

6. Evaluate teeth on older animals

0 sets of adult teeth

0-1.5 yrs of age

1 set of adult teeth

1.5-2 yrs of age

2 sets of adult teeth

2.5-3 yrs of age

3 sets of adult teeth

3.5-4 yrs of age

Full set (4) of adult teeth

4.5-5 yrs of age

What can wear cattle’s teeth down quicker

What forage they are maintained on and sandy soils

When do cattle receive their first vaccines?

At 3-4 month of age

When colostrum loses its efficacy

Clostridial diseases (8)

1. Black leg

2. Malignant edema

3. Clostridium novyi

4. Cl. sordellii

5. Tetanus

6. Cl. hemolyticum/red water

7. Cl. perfringens/ enterotoxemia

8. Botulism

Reproductive diseases (6)

1. Brucellosis/ Bang’s disease

2. Leptospirosis

3. IBR complex (infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis)

4. BVD complex (Bovine Viral Diarrhea)

5. Vibriosis

6. Trichomoniasis

Common name for bovine respiratory disease

Shipping fever

Shipping fever is cause by a combination of what?

1. Viruses

2. Bacteria

3. Stress

Why do we administer injections in the neck region? How close can we inject each one?

So if there is some type of reaction it does not affect a high quality/ priced cut of meat. Must be place 4-5 inches apart.

Why is the clostridial vaccine usually referred to as the Blackleg vaccine? What does it truly vaccinate for?

Because blackleg is a common clostridial disease in young cattle, truly vaccinates for all clostridial diseases

Different types of parasite control products (6)

1. pour-on

2. injectable

3. drench

4. paste

5. in feed

6. fly tags

Advantages off deworming cattle (3)

1. Lower maintenance/feed cost

2. Better BCS scores

3. Improved WWs

What are the two sub-species of cattle and what do they mean?

Bos taurus taurus- Non-humped longhaired

Bos taurus indicus- humped short haired

Bos taurus taurus are also called___ and are known for what traits?

British breeds → Known for maternal traits

Continental breeds → know for terminal sires

What breed is most numerous in registered cattle?

Angus

Angus origin

Northern Scotland

Angus characteristics

1. Longevity

2. Maternal qualities

3. Marbling ability

Red angus is the same

Red angus origin

Scotland

Shorthorn origin

Scotland

Shorthorn characteristics

1. Polled or horned

2. Good carcass

Hereford origin

England

Hereford characteristics

1. Can have udder issues

2. Polled or horned

3. No pigment around eyes

Continental breeds were introduced later than british breeds, why?

Had issues wth hoof and mouth disease so they had to be quarantined

Simmental origin

Switzerland

Simmental characteristics

1. Maternal ability/milking

2. Dual purpose→ still milked in switzerland

3. High rate of twinning