Mid term exam introduction to beef production

History of cattle

Originally used for draft power and milk production; now primarily for meat or dairy production.

Domestication

Bred in captivity for economic profit and/or companionship, with human control over breeding, territory, and food.

Production cycle of cattle

Includes breeding, gestation (9 months), calving, weaning (6-8 months), stocker phase (3-8 months), feedlot (4-6 months), and harvest.

Seedstock

Specializes in genetics, sells breeding animals and genetic information to commercial cow-calf producers.

Cow-calf segment

Maintains cowherds to raise calves from birth to weaning, primarily revenue from calves.

Stocker cattle

Adds weight to weaned calves before they enter feedyards, usually have year-round forage.

Feedlot

Confinement feeding operations where cattle are fed finishing rations for 100-200 days prior to harvest.

Purveyor

An operator who purchases beef and sells it to retailers or wholesalers; acts as a middle man.

Consumer's role in the beef industry

Acts as the primary economic driver and quality standard-setter.

Wholesale cuts

Large sections of the carcass used for further fabrication.

Retail cuts

Consumer-sized portions like ribeye steaks, strip steaks, and ground beef.

Co-products/by-products

Materials like hides, fats, and bones used in food, feed, and various products.

Differences in meat display in grocery stores

Includes styrofoam trays, plastic wrapping, and results in different storage durations depending on the type.

Marbling

Fat within meat that improves tenderness perception; more marbling equals more tenderness.

Sarcomeres

The individual unit of myofibril that allows muscle contraction and relaxation.

Wet-aged beef

Provides more juiciness to the meat.

Dry-aged beef

Gives beef more flavor.

Registered animal

An animal with registration papers.

Commercial animal

Crossbred animals focused on production economics.

Purebred cattle percentage

3% to 5% of cattle are purebred.

EPD

Estimated Profitability Differences calculated using statistics within the same breed.

Gestation length

The gestation period for cattle is 283 days.

Starter ration

High in roughage and protein, designed for stressed newly arrived calves.

Finisher ration

Formulated for heavy cattle nearing slaughter, high in concentrates and lower in roughage.

Feedyard ration

Total mixed ration (TMR) provides a uniform mix of nutrients for cattle.

Dystocia

The term for when a cow has difficulty giving birth.

Calf crop percentage calculation

(Number of calves weaned / # of cows exposed to breeding) times 100.

Breakeven analysis formula

(Total expense - secondary sales) / total weight of cattle sold.

Prevalent diseases in stocker operations

Include respiratory, digestive, metabolic, nervous system, and musculoskeletal diseases.

Top 5 feedyards in the U.S.

Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Cactus Feeding, Friona Industries, Foote Cattle Co, J.R. Simplot Co.

Morbidity

Rate of sickness within a population.

Mortality

Rate of death within a population.

Types of feedyards

Commercial feedlots are large-scale and industrial, while farmer feeders are small family-owned operations.

Growth promoters

Used to achieve faster growth and better feed efficiency, benefiting economics and environment.