Beef Cattle Breeding and Management Notes

Tropical Beef Cattle Breeds

• Common tropical beef breeds: Boreno, Africander, Brahman, Gir, Nelore, and Guzerat.

• Borana (South Ethiopia/Kenya): Multipurpose breed (meat, milk, work). Bull weights range from $250-395\,kg$ in Ethiopia to $500-850\,kg$ in Kenya; cows weigh $225-355\,kg$.

• Brahman (India): High heat, insect, and drought resistance due to thick skin. Bulls weigh $800-1000\,kg$ and cows weigh $500-700\,kg$.

• Africander (South Africa): Meat purpose; resistant to tick-borne diseases. Bulls weigh $820-1090\,kg$ and cows weigh $450-600\,kg$.

Temperate Beef Cattle Breeds

• Found primarily in the USA and Europe; characterized by the absence of a hump.

• Hereford (England): Well-adapted to various environments; bulls weigh $850\,kg$ and cows weigh $550\,kg$.

• Angus (Scotland): Polled breed (no horns) with high cold tolerance; transcript lists bull and cow weights both at $550\,kg$.

• Charolais (France): Large-sized breed used for meat; bulls weigh $1100\,kg$ and cows weigh $900\,kg$.

Cattle Measurement and Selection Traits

• Birth Weight: Initial weight recorded immediately after birth.

• Weaning Weight: Weight taken at the weaning period, typically at $205\,\text{days}$.

• Carcass Weight: The weight of the animal after the head, feet, and internal organs are removed.

• Dressing Percentage: Ratio of the dressed carcass weight to the live animal weight.

• Carcass Quality Traits: Includes Marbling (intramuscular fat), Loin-eye-area (square inches of muscle at the 12th and 13th rib), and tenderness.

Feed Resources and Nutrition

• Dry Feeds: Includes hay, grain, oilseed, corn cobs, and soybean.

• Green Feeds: Pasture and green chops.

• High Moisture Feeds: Silage, high moisture grain, root and tubers, fresh milk, Cactus, and Enset.

• Nutrient requirements are determined by breed, age, weight, and physiological status (e.g., pregnancy or lactation).

Housing and Disease Management

• Housing Factors: Proper location (drainage, accessibility), ventilation, and orientation (East to West to manage sun exposure).

• Rinderpest: A viral disease causing inflammation, hemorrhage, and erosion of the digestive tract. It is fatal and contagious with no known treatment; managed via vaccination and destruction of infected animals.

• Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD): A highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-footed animals; characteristics include fever and vesicles (blisters) on the muzzle, tongue, feet, and udder.

• Modes of FMD Transmission: Direct or indirect contact with infected secretions including saliva, semen, urine, and blood.

Tropical Beef Cattle Breeds

• Common Breeds: Boreno, Africander, Brahman, Gir, Nelore, Guzerat

• Borana: Multipurpose; bull weights $250-395 \,kg$ (Ethiopia) to $500-850 \,kg$ (Kenya).

• Brahman: High resilience; bulls $800-1000 \,kg$, cows $500-700 \,kg$.

• Africander: Meat purpose; bulls $820-1090 \,kg$, cows $450-600 \,kg$.

Temperate Beef Cattle Breeds

• Common Breeds: Hereford, Angus, Charolais

• Hereford: Adaptable; bulls $850 \,kg$, cows $550 \,kg$.

• Angus: Polled; bulls & cows both $550 \,kg$.

• Charolais: Large size; bulls $1100 \,kg$, cows $900 \,kg$.

Cattle Measurement and Selection Traits

• Birth Weight: Recorded at birth.

• Weaning Weight: At $205 \,days$.

• Carcass Weight: After removal of head, organs.

• Dressing Percentage: Dressed carcass weight/live weight ratio.

• Carcass Quality: Includes marbling, loin-eye-area, tenderness.

Feed Resources and Nutrition

• Types of Feeds: Dry (hay, grain), Green (pasture), High Moisture (silage).

• Nutrient requirements vary by breed, age, weight, physiological status.

Housing and Disease Management

• Housing: Proper location, ventilation, and orientation.

• Diseases: Rinderpest (fatal, managed by vaccination), Foot and Mouth Disease (contagious, characterized by lesions).

• FMD Transmission: Direct/indirect contact with infected secretions.

Tropical Beef Cattle Breeds

• Common Breeds: Boreno, Africander, Brahman, Gir, Nelore, Guzerat

• Borana: A multipurpose breed found in Ethiopia (bulls: $250-395 \,kg$) and Kenya (bulls: $500-850 \,kg$); cows weigh $225-355 \,kg$.

• Brahman: Known for high heat and insect resistance; bulls weigh $800-1000 \,kg$ and cows $500-700 \,kg$.

• Africander: Primarily for meat; bulls weigh $820-1090 \,kg$ and cows $450-600 \,kg$.

Temperate Beef Cattle Breeds

• Common Breeds: Hereford, Angus, Charolais

• Hereford: Adaptable to various environments; bulls weigh $850 \,kg$ and cows $550 \,kg$.

• Angus: Polled breed (no horns) with high cold tolerance; both bulls and cows weigh $550 \,kg$.

• Charolais: Large-sized breed for meat production; bulls weigh $1100 \,kg$ and cows $900 \,kg$.

Cattle Measurement and Selection Traits

• Birth Weight: Weight immediately after birth.

• Weaning Weight: Recorded at $205 \,days$.

• Carcass Weight: Weight post-removal of head and organs.

• Dressing Percentage: Ratio of carcass weight to live weight.

• Carcass Quality Traits: Includes marbling (intramuscular fat), loin-eye-area, and tenderness.

Feed Resources and Nutrition

• Types of Feeds:

  • Dry: Hay, grain.

  • Green: Fresh pasture.

  • High Moisture: Silage and root crops.

• Nutritional needs vary with breed, age, weight, and reproductive status.

Housing and Disease Management

• Housing Considerations: Ensure proper drainage, ventilation, and direction to manage sunlight.

• Diseases:

  • Rinderpest: Highly contagious and fatal, managed through vaccination.

  • Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD): Characterized by blisters on affected animals; transmission through contact with infected fluids.