Beef Cattle
US Cash Receipts
US cash receipts from beef cattle: $63.1 billion (38% of annual animal and animal product cash receipts)
Beef vs. Veal
Beef: from cattle older than 1 year
Veal: from cattle less than 3 months old
Top Worldwide Cattle Numbers
India: 305.0 million cattle; produces 8.6 billion lbs
Brazil: 232.4 million cattle; produces 19 billion lbs
China: 96.9 million cattle; produces 14.7 billion lbs
US: 94.4 million cattle; produces 24.6 billion lbs
Comparison: US has 9% of worldwide cattle population but produces 20% of beef and veal
India's cattle population: high due to religious reasons (cattle considered sacred, cannot be sold for slaughter)
Major Beef Cattle Breed
#1 Beef Producer: Angus
Domestication and Spread of Cattle
Cattle domesticated approximately 6500 BC.
Spread with human populations and explorers to the Western Hemisphere.
Cattle introduced in the American West as part of Spanish mission culture in the early 1600s.
History of Beef Cattle
1600s
Settlers brought cattle to New England for milk and labor
Mid-1800s
Introduction of Shorthorns in the West for cattle improvement
Shorthorns: preferred breed because they fit better in barns and are multi-purpose, but they don't tolerate rain well
Post-Civil War (≥1865)
Scarcity of longhorns led to Herefords dominating the beef industry
Herefords valued for milk production, adaptability, and maternal qualities.
Meat Marbling
Definition: distribution of fat beneath the skin contributing to meat quality.
Shift in Beef Production (>1945)
Transition from grass-fed to grain-fed beef production
Nutritional changes involved concentrating feeding large numbers of cattle on grain in the finishing phase, increasing energy intake but decreasing protein
US Cattle Locations (1950s-1960s)
1950s: California, Arizona
1960s: Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska
Beef Consumption Trends (1970s-2000s)
1975: total cattle peaked at 132 million (beef and dairy)
Beef consumption declined from 1976 to the 1990s but stabilized before trending downward.
Factors Influencing Farmers' Decisions
Key considerations: US and worldwide demand, drought conditions, feed availability, land rent
Reasons for decreased demand for beef:
Quality concerns
Safety issues
Changing population
Low availability of convenience products
Price factors
Health-related concerns
US Beef Cattle Distribution
Major regions: Southwest (Texas, California) due to favorable flat land for converting forage to muscle with minimal weather variability.
Life Cycle of Beef Production
Heifer
Stages: Breeding → Gestation → Nursing → Bred again while lactating
Calf
Stages: Born → Nursing → Weaning → Stocker/Yearling Operation (if small) → Feedlot → Packing Plant → Market
Business Structure of the Beef Industry
Segmented structure: different ownership at different production stages
Cons: Stress and disease in cattle due to movement between segments
Benefits: Faster return on investment through quicker turnover
Production Goals
Seed Stock Production
Objective: produce breeding stock (bulls, heifers, embryos, semen) focused on genetics rather than beef yield.
Cow-Calf Production
Goal: produce the heaviest calves at the lowest cost
Ideal newborn calf size: ~60 lbs to minimize assistance needed for birthing.
Calf Management
Weaning at approximately 500 lbs (6 months). Immediate sale to Stocker or Feedlot operations.
Stocker Operations
Input: Purchase weaned calves (300-500 lbs)
Output: Raise calves to 600-850 lbs using low-priced forage/high crude fiber feeds before sale
Feedlots
Inputs: 600-850 lb cattle
Outputs: 900-1450 lb cattle (for slaughter)
Cattle fed high-energy rations, primarily grain, for 120-150 days.
Reproductive Management
Each cow aims to produce and raise 1 calf per year. Breeding occurs late spring to early summer to align calf births with abundant pasture in early spring.
Estrous Cycle
Nonseasonally polyestrous, estrous cycle lasts 18-24 days.
Breeding options:
Natural Service (dominant method)
Artificial Insemination (AI) - more common in dairy.
AI Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros: 1. Genetic improvement 2. Maximize bull usage 3. Safety 4. Lower disease spread
Cons: 1. Cost 2. Need for trained labor 3. Time-consuming 4. Special handling required 5. Necessary equipment
Replacement Heifers
Desired weight at 15 months: 65% of adult weight.
Heifers should calve for the first time at 2 years of age.
Bull Evaluation
Bulls evaluated for: 1. Genetic contribution 2. Breeding soundness
Tested 60 days prior to breeding to allow for sperm maturity.
Calving Season
Occurs in 60-90 days during Spring (March to June) and Fall (September to October).
Goals: Clean and safe environment, frequent observation, assistance as needed, maintain records.
Feed Composition
Stocker-yearling operations: pasture-forage ration
Feedlots: high-concentration ration
Grass-Fed Beef Production
Sold for higher prices (~$8/lb) due to more natural diets
Exportation of US Beef
US exports over 11% of beef valued at $8.1 billion, primarily to Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.
Health Concerns
Calf Diarrhea (Scours)
Second leading cause of calf mortality; can be prevented through vaccination of the mother.
Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex
Economic importance due to treatment costs and production loss; stress from moving cattle increases susceptibility.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
General Overview
Known as Mad Cow Disease; affects cattle's CNS with no cure.
Symptoms
Nervousness, aggressiveness, ataxia, abnormal posture, inability to rise, muscle twitching, progressive weight loss.
Diagnosis and Transmission
Diagnosed post-mortem through brain examinations, caused by prion proteins.
History and Regulations
First case identified in UK in 1986; various regulations now in place to prevent BSE transmission, including slaughter restrictions and import bans.