Beef + Small Rumin

What are the two main species of cattle? Bos taurus and Bos indicus. What is Bos taurus? European cattle that are generally hump-less. What is Bos indicus? Indian/Zebu cattle that have a hump and are adapted to heat. What animal are modern cattle descended from? Aurochs. When were cattle domesticated? Approximately 6,000–8,000 years ago. When did the last aurochs die? 1627. Who introduced cattle to the Western Hemisphere? Christopher Columbus in 1493. Who brought cattle into Mexico? The Spaniards, including Hernando Cortez, around 1520–1540. What breed developed from early cattle introduced into Texas? Texas Longhorn. What are Texas Longhorns known for? Hardiness, disease resistance, and calving ease. Who imported the first Herefords into the United States? Henry Clay in 1817. Who imported Angus bulls from Scotland to Kansas? George Grant. When was barbed wire patented? 1867. Who patented barbed wire? Lucien B. Smith of Kent, Ohio. What is the beef production chain? Seedstock → Commercial Cow-Calf → Stocker/Backgrounder → Feedlot → Packer → Retailer → Consumer. How long does it take from cattle conception to calving? About 9 months. How long is the typical period from calving to weaning? About 6–8 months. How long is the stocker phase? About 2–8 months. How long is the feedlot phase? About 3–7 months. How long are cattle typically at the packer? About 3–7 days. How long can the entire beef production process take? About 30–32 months. What is the primary product of a cow-calf operation? A weaned calf. What is a typical weaning weight? About 450–500 pounds at approximately 7 months. What is dressing percentage? Carcass weight ÷ live weight × 100. What country is Angus from? Scotland. What colors can Angus cattle be? Black or red. Are Angus cattle horned or polled? Polled. What is Angus known for? Carcass quality, marbling, good mothering ability, and moderate frame size. What does CAB stand for? Certified Angus Beef. Where did Hereford cattle originate? Herefordshire, England. What are Herefords known for? Hardiness, easy keeping, docility, early maturity, and longevity. What does CHB stand for? Certified Hereford Beef. Where did Limousin cattle originate? France. What are Limousin cattle known for? Good growth, carcass yield, feed efficiency, and muscling. Where did Charolais cattle originate? France. What are Charolais cattle known for? Large frame, heavy muscling, fast growth, feed efficiency, and high carcass yield. What is a possible disadvantage of Charolais cattle? Calving difficulty. Where did Simmental cattle originate? Switzerland. What are Simmental cattle known for? Good growth and being the heaviest milking Continental breed. What are the three original purposes of Simmental cattle? Meat, milk, and draft. Where was Beefmaster developed? Lasater Ranch in Texas. What breeds make up Beefmaster? ½ Brahman, ¼ Shorthorn, and ¼ Hereford. What are the six traits selected for in Beefmaster? Weight, conformation, milking ability, fertility, hardiness, and disposition. Where did Gelbvieh originate? Germany. What are Gelbvieh known for? Fertility, calving ease, mothering ability, high milk production, growth, muscling, medium frame, and docility. What percentage Brahman and Angus make up Brangus? ⅜ Brahman and ⅝ Angus. What color are Brangus cattle? Solid black. Are Brangus cattle polled or horned? Polled. Where did Shorthorn cattle originate? England. When were Shorthorns imported? 1783. What are Shorthorns used for? Triple-purpose production. Where did Brahman cattle originate? India. What are Brahman cattle known for? Hardiness, insect resistance, heat tolerance, loose skin, sweating ability, and good mothering. Why do Brahman cattle tolerate heat well? They have adaptations such as loose skin, sweating ability, and lower internal heat production. What breed was developed at King Ranch? Santa Gertrudis. What breeds make up Santa Gertrudis? Approximately ⅝ Shorthorn and ⅜ Brahman. What are Santa Gertrudis known for? Heat and tick resistance, calving ease, mothering ability, milk production, and weight gain. Where did Maine-Anjou originate? France. What are Maine-Anjou cattle known for? Large frame, growth, feed efficiency, milking ability, and docility. Where did Salers originate? France. What are Salers known for? Hardiness, calving ease, maternal efficiency, and carcass merit. What is unique about Texas Longhorns? They are hardy, disease resistant, have calving ease, and are late maturing. How long have Texas Longhorns experienced natural selection? About 400 years. Where did Chianina originate? Italy. What are Chianina cattle known for? Very large size, feed efficiency, weight gain, and terminal production. Approximately how tall can Chianina cattle be? About 70 inches. Where did Murray Grey cattle originate? Australia. What are Murray Grey cattle known for? Smaller frame, carcass quality, mothering, milk, growth, and docility. Where did Wagyu originate? Japan. When were Wagyu cattle imported to the United States? 1976. What are Wagyu cattle famous for? Extensive marbling, flavor, tenderness, and juiciness. What are maternal sheep breeds selected for? Breeding-season length, wool, longevity, milk production, and fertility. Give examples of maternal sheep breeds. Rambouillet, Merino, and Finnsheep. What are paternal sheep breeds selected for? Carcass traits and growth. Give examples of paternal sheep breeds. Suffolk and Hampshire. What are dual-purpose sheep breeds? Breeds that combine maternal and paternal traits. Give examples of dual-purpose sheep breeds. Dorset and Columbia. Where did Merino sheep originate? Australia. What are Merino sheep known for? Fine wool, large frame, white face, skin folds, and prolificacy. Where did Rambouillet sheep originate? Spain. What are Rambouillet sheep known for? Large size, white face, fine wool, and maternal ability. What is unique about Lincoln sheep? They have the heaviest and longest fleece and are the largest sheep breed. What are Lincoln sheep often used for? Hand spinning. Where did Romney sheep originate? England. When were Romney sheep imported to the United States? 1904. What are Romney sheep known for? Long wool, dual-purpose production, and resistance to foot rot. Where did Dorper sheep originate? South Africa. What type of sheep is the Dorper? Hair/meat breed. What are Dorper sheep known for? Hardiness, fertility, growth, mothering, and non-seasonal breeding. Where did Katahdin sheep originate? Maine. When was the Katahdin developed? 1956. What type of sheep is the Katahdin? Hair/meat breed. What are Katahdin sheep known for? Non-seasonal breeding, parasite resistance, maternal ability, and docility. Where did Cheviot sheep originate? England. What are Cheviot sheep known for? Maternal ability, foot-rot resistance, parasite resistance, and helical crimp. What type of sheep is the Dorset? Dual-purpose. What is unique about Dorset sheep? They can breed out of season and may be horned or polled. What color are Hampshire sheep's head and legs? Black. What are Hampshire sheep known for? Large size, high growth, muscularity, leanness, and fewer multiples. Where did Romanov sheep originate? Russia. What are Romanov sheep known for? Extremely high prolificacy and early sexual maturity. What types of multiple births are common in Romanov sheep? Quadruplets, quintuplets, and sextuplets. Where did Suffolk sheep originate? England. What breeds contributed to Suffolk sheep? Southdown and Norfolk Horned. What are Suffolk sheep known for? Black head and legs, large size, fast growth, muscularity, leanness, and few multiples. Where did Texel sheep originate? The Isle of Texel in the Netherlands. What are Texel sheep known for? Exceptional muscling, leanness, feed efficiency, and use as a terminal sire. What is a special carcass advantage associated with Texel sheep? A 6–10% advantage in loin eye area according to the lecture. What is the Columbia sheep? The first sheep breed developed in the United States. Where and when was the Columbia developed? Wyoming in 1941. What breeds make up Columbia sheep? Lincoln and Rambouillet. What are Columbia sheep used for? Dual-purpose wool and meat production. Where did Corriedale sheep originate? New Zealand. What are Corriedale sheep known for? Dual-purpose production, good carcass quality, and wool. How does Corriedale rank worldwide in popularity? Second behind Merino. Where did Finnsheep originate? Finland. What are Finnsheep known for? Small size, early puberty, high fertility, and high multiple births. What is Polypay sheep? A four-breed composite sheep developed for high productivity. Where was Polypay developed? Dubois, Idaho Sheep Experiment Station. What was Polypay designed to produce? Two lamb crops and one wool crop per year. What are Polypay sheep known for? Prolificacy and non-seasonal breeding. What are dairy goats selected for? Milk production. Where did Nubian goats originate? England. What are Nubian goats known for? Muscularity, higher milk components, and pendulous ears. What is unique about LaMancha goats? They have very small gopher or elf ears. Where was the LaMancha developed? The United States. Where did Saanen goats originate? Switzerland. What are Saanen goats known for? Being the largest dairy goat breed and having high milk production. What are Alpine goats known for? Excellent milk production and good udders. What characteristics distinguish meat goats from dairy goats? Meat goats generally have shorter frames, thicker necks and chests, more leg muscle, and higher muscle-to-bodyweight ratios. What are examples of meat goats? Boer, Pygmy, and Angora. When does a bull typically reach puberty? About 12 months. What is the approximate scrotal circumference of a bull at puberty? About 26 cm. When does a ram lamb typically reach puberty? About 5–7 months. When does a buck typically reach puberty? About 4 months. What are pheromones? Chemical substances that stimulate reproductive behavior. What are hormones? Chemical messengers transported in the blood to target cells. What does the hypothalamus do in male reproduction? It receives sensory information and releases GnRH. What does GnRH stand for? Gonadotropin-releasing hormone. What does GnRH control? The anterior pituitary gland. What does FSH act on in the male reproductive system? Sertoli cells. What does FSH do? It helps nourish developing sperm and regulates sperm production. What does LH act on? Leydig cells. What does LH cause Leydig cells to produce? Testosterone. What do Sertoli cells produce? Inhibin. What does testosterone do? Stimulates sperm production and male sexual behavior. What do the testes produce? Sperm, testosterone, and inhibin. Where does spermatogenesis occur? In the seminiferous tubules. What is the function of the scrotum? To regulate testicular temperature. How much cooler than body temperature do the testes need to be for normal sperm production? About 3–5°C cooler. What does the cremaster muscle do? It relaxes in heat and contracts in cold to regulate testicular temperature. What is cryptorchidism? A condition where the testes fail to descend. When do bull testes normally descend? About 100–105 days of gestation. What is the function of the epididymis? It concentrates, stores, and matures sperm. How long does sperm production take? About 45–50 days. How long does sperm typically spend in the epididymis? About one week. What is the function of the vas deferens? It transports sperm. What procedure involves cutting or blocking the vas deferens? Vasectomy. What are the three accessory sex glands? Seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral/Cowper's glands. What do accessory sex glands contribute to semen? Fluid, nutrients, buffers, and carrier proteins. What is semen? Sperm combined with fluid from the accessory sex glands. What type of penis do bulls, rams, and boars have? Fibroelastic penis. What is the sigmoid flexure? A bend in the fibroelastic penis that straightens during erection. What hormone is released by the hypothalamus to control reproduction? GnRH. What hormone acts on Sertoli cells? FSH. What hormone acts on Leydig cells? LH. What hormone is produced by Sertoli cells and helps regulate FSH? Inhibin. What hormone is produced by Leydig cells? Testosterone. What hormone causes contraction of myoepithelial cells around the vas deferens according to the lecture? Oxytocin. How much semen does a bull produce per ejaculation? About 5 mL. What is the approximate sperm concentration of bull semen? About 1.1 billion sperm/mL. How much semen does a ram produce per ejaculation? About 1 mL. What is the approximate sperm concentration of ram semen? About 3 billion sperm/mL. How much semen does a boar produce per ejaculation? About 225 mL. What is the approximate sperm concentration of boar semen? About 200 million sperm/mL. How much semen does a stallion produce per ejaculation? About 80 mL. What is the approximate sperm concentration of stallion semen? About 150 million sperm/mL. What two characteristics are evaluated during semen evaluation? Motility and morphology. What percentage of beef cows are bred by natural service according to the lecture? About 95%. What percentage of sheep are bred by natural service according to the lecture? About 99%. What does BSE stand for? Breeding Soundness Exam. What is included in a BSE? Physical examination/BCS, scrotal circumference, and at least one semen sample. What two semen characteristics are evaluated during a BSE? Motility and morphology. What does scrotal circumference indicate? Sperm production and puberty. What is the lecture standard for bull scrotal circumference at 15 months? More than 30 cm. What is the minimum progressive sperm motility for a bull? More than 30%. What is the yearling bull breeding ratio? About 1 bull to 18 females. What is the mature bull breeding ratio? About 1 bull to 30 females. What is the mature ram breeding ratio? About 1 ram to 35–50 ewes. What is the ram lamb breeding ratio? About 1 ram to 15–30 ewes. What is the synchronized mating ratio for sheep/goats? About 1 male to 5–10 females. What is estrus synchronization? Controlling the estrous cycle so females express estrus around the same time. Why is estrus synchronization used? To reduce heat-detection labor, aid embryo transfer, create uniform groups, and save labor. What hormone induces ovulation? LH. What products can be used to induce ovulation? Factrel or Cystorelin. What hormone restarts the estrous cycle? Prostaglandin. What products contain prostaglandin? Lutalyse, Estrumate, and Prostamate. What hormone suppresses estrus? Progesterone. What products provide progesterone? CIDR and MGA. What does CIDR stand for? Controlled Internal Drug Release. What is a CIDR? An intravaginal progesterone insert. How much progesterone is in the cattle CIDR according to the lecture? 1.38 g. How much progesterone is in the sheep/goat CIDR according to the lecture? 0.3 g. What does MGA stand for? Melengestrol Acetate. What is the MGA dosage in the lecture? 0.5 mg per head per day for 14 days. When is prostaglandin given after MGA withdrawal? 19 days after withdrawal. What is a challenge with MGA? Ensuring uniform consumption by all animals. Why is artificial insemination used? Genetic improvement, access to superior genetics, disease control, and use of semen from dead or injured sires. What are the major factors affecting AI success? Accurate estrus detection, proper timing, and technician skill. What is the primary sign of estrus? Standing heat. What are secondary signs of estrus? Restlessness, vocalization, sniffing, mounting, fighting, chin resting, flehmen response, mucus, swollen/red vulva, decreased feed intake, and bleeding after estrus. When does about 70% of mounting occur? Between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. When should cattle be observed for heat? Early and late in the day for at least 30 minutes. Why is estrus harder to detect in sheep and goats? Their signs of estrus are less obvious. What helps detect estrus in sheep and goats? The presence of a ram or buck. What does an ewe do during estrus? Seeks out and stands for the ram. What are signs of estrus in does? Flagging/wagging the tail, nuzzling, and attempting to mount. What are tools used for heat detection in cattle? KaMar/Bovine Beacon, tail paint, scratch-off patches, HeatWatch, and activity monitors. How long after the onset of standing heat does ovulation occur? About 25–32 hours. How long does bovine sperm capacitation take? About 6 hours. What is embryo transfer (ET)? The transfer of fertilized embryos from a donor female to recipient females. What is the purpose of embryo transfer? To maximize superior female genetics and produce many offspring per year. What are the basic steps of embryo transfer? Superovulate donor, inseminate donor, synchronize recipients, flush embryos, and transfer or freeze embryos. What are the stages of embryo development listed in the lecture? Unfertilized, 2–12 cell, early morula, morula, early blastocyst, blastocyst, expanded blastocyst, hatched blastocyst, and expanding hatched blastocyst. Which embryo stages have the greatest viability during freezing and thawing? Stages 4, 5, and 6 according to the lecture. What does a Grade 1 embryo look like? Tightly compacted, round, with no dead cells or loose material. What does a Grade 2 embryo look like? Somewhat out of round with some dead cells. What does a Grade 3 embryo look like? Malformed, out of round, with dead material. What is sexed semen? Semen separated into X-bearing and Y-bearing sperm. How much more DNA does a bovine X sperm have than a Y sperm? About 3.8% more DNA. What technology is used to separate X and Y sperm? FACS. What are disadvantages of sexed semen? It is slower and more expensive. What is superfetation? The production of a second egg/pregnancy after an initial pregnancy has already begun. What is heteropaternal superfecundation? Twins produced from two different sires. How often does heteropaternal superfecundation occur according to the lecture? About 1 in 5,000 births. What is the ram effect? The stimulation of non-cycling ewes by introducing a ram or teaser. What causes the ram effect? Ram pheromones and the presence of the ram. How soon after the ram effect does ovulation usually occur? About 3–4 days later. What type of ovulation may occur after the ram effect? A silent ovulation. When do ewes typically recycle after the first ram-effect ovulation? About day 18. What success rate for the ram effect is listed in the lecture? About 60–70%. What methods can synchronize sheep and goats? CIDR, MGA, prostaglandin, melatonin, light control, and the ram effect.