Beef Industry Flashcards | Quizlet

What are the main sectors of the beef industry?

seedstock cow-calf backgrounder/stocker feedlot packer

seedstock

• part of the cow- calf - purebred animals/ replacements- lack hybrid vifor but contribute to it - more rigorous health screening and investment

cow- calf

• foundation in beef industry- cows maintained year round - the product the calf is sold after weaning, backgrounded, or farmer retains ownership

who are the players in the cow- calf sector of beef cattle

breeding cowsbreeding bullsreplacement animalscalvescull cows and bulls

backgrounder

• holding of lightweight calves- put on forage only diet on a dry lot - low gain/low cost- increase weight from $450\text{ - }600$ - get trained to use a bunk/ waterer for feedlot- preconditioning

stocker

• most profitable segment in beef - high risk- $100\%$ grazing - fast/ cheap gain - increase from $550\text{ - }850\,\text{pounds}$

feedlot

• areas of low precipitation for easy access to corn- $>90\%$ corn diet- $750\text{ - }1400\,\text{pounds}$ - high risk- hard on guts

packer

processing/ slaughter plant

What are the goals of the cow- calf sector?

1. decrease feed cost 2. increase weaning percentage 3. increase or keep pregnancy rate the same 4. decrease unit cost of production 5. produce more pounds of calf to sell

What are the goals of the backgrounder/stocker

1. buy low, sell high 2. decrease morbidity/mortality and cost of gain 3. increase weight, age, and quality of cattle 4. balance seasonal production of cattle, forage, and grain 5. utilize available forage

What are the goals of the feedlot?

1. rapid growth and high efficiency 2. produce nutritious, great tasking beef 3. high carcass weight with high grade 4. decrease cost of gain 5. avoid discounts at slaughter

feeder cattle

weaned calves that are fed high energy diet to be finished out at $6\text{ - }10\,\text{months}$ old

fed/fat/finished cattle

cattle ready to leave a feedlot for slaughter

cull cow

female cattle no longer needed in the herd and send for processing

heifer

young female that has not had a calf

first- calf heifer

heifer having a calf for first time

bull

mature male

what are the production goals of beef cattle?

• low maintenance - produce beef- all about the calves- wan at $6/7\,\text{months}$- decrease cost= profit

what are the production goals of dairy cattle?

• high maintenance- product is milk- remove from mom at $1\,\text{day}$ old - wean at $2\,\text{months}$-increase production= profit

What is the production term in beef cattle

calving seasonal for $65\,\text{days}$

What is the production term in dairy cattle?

Freshening occurs year round

What are the leading cattle producing states?

Texas Nebraska Kansas

What are the average herd sizes

in the united states in $2017$ it was $43$

What are the four companies that control over 80 percent of fed cattle slaughter capacity?

JBSTysonCargillNational Premium

What is the ideal calving season length?

$$65\,\text{days}$$