Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Chapter 3 The Beef Industry
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Beef in the American Diet Each year, average American consumes 67.5 pounds of beef and veal Beef consumption increasing in recent years (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Beef in the American Diet Buy more beef than fresh poultry, pork, and seafood combined –Beef accounts for approximately 6 percent of all supermarket sales U.S. exports approximately one million metric tons of beef each year
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Fundamentals of Beef Lean beef –Very nutrient dense Meat is among the most nutritionally complete human foods –88 percent of vitamin B 12 –67 percent of riboflavin –65 percent of protein and phosphorus –57 percent of vitamin B 6 (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Fundamentals of Beef Meat is among the most nutritionally complete human foods –48 percent of fat –43 percent of niacin –42 percent of vitamin A –37 percent of iron –36 percent of thiamine –35 percent of magnesium
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Types of Beef Veal Baby Grain-fed Grass-fed Natural Certified organic
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Beef Industry in the U.S. Beef has played prominent role in U.S. economy –97 million head on roughly 800,000 farms and ranches –Accounts for nearly 25 percent of world’s beef supply –Contributes more than $66 billion annually (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Beef Industry in the U.S. America well suited for beef production Americans spend less of annual incomes on food than other nationalities Critics say beef-eating is wasteful
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Beef Cattle Breeds U.S. grows more than 40 breeds depending on: –Market –Environmental conditions –Personal likes and dislikes Each breed fulfills unique needs –Sire breeds –Dam breeds
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. U.S. Breed Classifications British –Angus –Hereford –Shorthorn (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. U.S. Breed Classifications Continental European (exotics) –Limousin –Simmental –Charolais –Chianina Zebu –Brahman
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Segments of the Beef Industry Purebred Cow-calf Stocker Feedlot
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Purebred Operations Industry’s first phase Purpose: –Produce seed stock cattle Breed shows serve two purposes: –Education –Change
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Cow-Calf Operations Industry’s second phase Cows grown and sent to market Most calves crossbred U.S. operations centered in southern and western states Calves usually sold upon weaning
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Stocker Operations Industry’s third phase Provide step between weaning and finishing –Buy from cow-calf producers and sell to feedlot operators –Give calves transition period Fading trend
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Feedlot Operations Industry’s fourth and final stage before slaughter Cattle put on proper amount of fat cover Many U.S. feedlots are in Midwest –Produce most grain –More economical than shipping (continued)
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Feedlot Operations With proper degree of finish, animals move to slaughterhouse
Copyright © 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Summary Beef industry represents large part of U.S. diet and economy Beef provides hard-to-get nutrients America ideal for beef production Industry provides millions of jobs As a dynamic, growing sector, industry should remain strong for many years