beef cattle mgmt

1. What is meant by the phrase “freezer beef”?

Beef cattle raised and sold directly to consumers for personal freezer use.

2. What types of identification are used in cattle, and in what situations would each be used?

Dangle tags (visual ID), metal clip tags (official ID), RFID tags (electronic tracking), tattoos and freeze brands (permanent ID).

3. What methods of identification are considered permanent?

tattoo and freeze branding

4. Why is it important to identify and trace animals in the cattle industry?

For record keeping, disease tracing, and herd management.

5. What percentage of cattle are out on pasture?

Most cow/calf operations are forage or pasture-based.

6. What is a seed-stock producer?

Produces breeding animals; controls genetics for the beef industry.

7. What is a replacement heifer?

A young female kept to replace an older cow in the herd.

What is the average age of a beef cow?

Around 8–12 years

At what age are many heifers culled out of production? Why?

Around 10 years or when reproduction declines.

10. European cattle breeds prefer what type of climate?

Cool, temperate climates.

11. What is the purpose of the stocker cattle operation?

Grow weaned calves on forage before feedlot entry.

12. How long do cattle stay in a stocker operation?

Usually several months, short-term.

13. What is pounds weaned per cow exposed, and why is it important?

-Measure of herd productivity

-more pounds = greater efficiency.

14. What is bovine viral diarrhea?

A contagious viral disease causing diarrhea and immune suppression.

15. What does it mean when a calf has a persistent BVD infection?

Calf is permanently infected and sheds virus for life.

16. What should be done with calves having persistent BVD? Why?

Cull them — they spread the virus.

17. What is the purpose of a cattle feedlot operation?

Feed cattle high-energy rations to reach market weight.

18. Who is the feedlot’s customer?

packing plants

19. What is meant by “not all ground can handle a plow, but all ground can handle a cow”?

Some land is unsuitable for crops but good for grazing cattle.

20. In what regions are spring vs. fall calving popular? Why?

Spring in the North (milder weather); fall in the South (better forage).

21. Why is it not popular to AI cattle that are out on rangeland?

Difficult to monitor and manage heat cycles.

22. What venereal disease is a concern with natural service?

trichomoniasis

23. What is the most stressful time in a calf’s life? Why?

Weaning — loss of mother, diet change, new environment.

24. What are best practices for weaning calves?

Fence-line or gradual weaning to reduce stress.

25. What is the purpose of rotational grazing?

Improves forage use and nutrient distribution

26. What is mob grazing? What are pros/cons?

High-density, short-term grazing; improves soil but requires management.

What is best practice for warming a hypothermic calf?

Warm water and warm air; act quickly and aggressively

What is failure of passive transfer?

Calf doesn’t get enough antibodies from colostrum

Why use colostrum from the home herd?

Contains herd-specific antibodies and reduces disease risk

What is the colostrum rule of thumb for calves?

2 pints within 6 hours; 2 quarts within 24 hours

31. What is the benefit of plasma transfusion in calves?

Provides antibodies if colostrum intake was inadequate.

32. What is scours, and what are the causes?

Calf diarrhea; bacterial, viral, or protozoal (environmental management).

33. What is cryptosporidium?

Protozoal parasite causing calf diarrhea.

34. What is best practice to manage coccidiosis scours?

Improve sanitation and provide coccidiostats.

35. Why is pneumonia a problem in calves during summer?

Viral origin; heat stress weakens immune system.

36. Why not vaccinate and castrate during weaning? When is best?

Too stressful; do several weeks before weaning.

37. What are: preconditioned calves, backgrounders, bawlers?

Preconditioned = vaccinated, castrated;
Backgrounders = grown on forage;
Bawlers = unweaned, stressed sale barn calves

38. What is "compensatory gain?"

Rapid growth after feed restriction.

39. Benefit of manual vs. automatic chute?

Manual gives more control and less injury risk.

40. Ideal chute/tub setup? Why?

Curved, solid sides — uses cattle’s natural flow behavior.

41. What do cows like to do behaviorally, and how can producers use that?

Follow others and move toward light — aids low-stress handling.

42. How should pour-on dewormers be applied?

Along topline on clean, dry hair.

43. Which method is most effective for dewormers? Pros/cons?

Injectable (accurate, lasting)

-pour-on (easy, less accurate)

-oral (variable).

44. Why cut out fly tags at season’s end?

Prevents insecticide resistance.

45. How does an insect growth regulator (IGR) affect flies?

Prevents larvae from maturing.

46. Why start oral fly control a month before season?

Allows buildup in manure before flies hatch.

47. What are methods/tools of castration?

Surgical (knife, emasculator) and non-surgical (bands, Burdizzo).

48. What vaccine is required before banding? Why?

Tetanus — prevents infection from banding.

49. Why give injections SQ in the neck?

Avoids damaging high-value meat cuts.

50. How is Banamine administered?

IV or transdermal (flunixin meglumine).

51. Why is Excede given SQ at base of ear?

Labeled site for food safety and proper absorption.

52. Why observe cattle from a distance first?

Get accurate vitals before they’re stressed.

53. What can you learn from distant observation?

Respiration, attitude, gait, feeding, feces, hydration.

54. How can you assess rumination at a distance?

Watch for chewing cud and relaxed posture.

55. How can you assess hydration?

Sunken eyes, skin tent, dry nose/muzzle.

56. Why does cattle body temp fluctuate daily?

Diurnal pattern; influenced by eating and environment.

57. Why is tail restraint important?

prevents kicking during handling

58. Where does 80% of lameness originate?

in the foot

59. What does it mean when calves are called chronic or lungers?

Recovered from pneumonia but have lasting lung damage.

60. What is rumen acidosis? Clinical signs?

Low rumen pH from high-grain diets; lameness, diarrhea, dehydration.

61. “Sour smell to feces” indicates what?

rumen acidosis

62. What is bloat? Clinical signs?

Excess gas in rumen; distended left side, discomfort.

63. Difference between free gas and frothy bloat?

-Free gas = trapped gas

-frothy = foam from high-protein feeds.

64. Methods to relieve free/frothy bloat?

Orogastric tube or rumenotomy; mineral oil/poloxalene for frothy bloat.

65. Why watch antibiotic withdrawal times in feedlot cattle?

To ensure no drug residues remain in meat.