1 Unit E Segments of the Animal Industry Lesson 1 Exploring the Cattle Industry

2 Terms Cattle feeders Cattle feeders Conformation Conformation Cow-calf operation Cow-calf operation Cutability Cutability Demand Demand Dual-purpose breed Dual-purpose breed desirable traits desirable traits Feeder calves Feeder calves Frame Score Marbling Performance Polled Purebred breeders Supply Yearling feeders

3 What are the external parts of a beef animal?

4 External Parts of a Beef Animal

5 What are the Beef Animal Meat Cuts?

6 Beef Animal Meat Cuts

7 What are the common breeds of beef animals? Terms Polled Polled born naturally without horns born naturally without horns marbling marbling desirable presence of fat in the muscle desirable presence of fat in the muscle cutability cutability amount of available retail cuts from the carcass amount of available retail cuts from the carcass dual-purpose breed dual-purpose breed traditionally used for both milk and beef production traditionally used for both milk and beef production

8 Brahman Cattle Used in crossbreeding programs Used in crossbreeding programs Light gray or red & sometimes black Light gray or red & sometimes black loose skin, large hump over shoulder & large drooping ears loose skin, large hump over shoulder & large drooping ears Resistance to disease, insects Resistance to disease, insects Tolerant to heat, rapid weight gain, quality carcasses Tolerant to heat, rapid weight gain, quality carcasses unpredictable temperament unpredictable temperament Excellent ability to forage on poor range Excellent ability to forage on poor range

9 Brahman Cattle

10 Oxen Oxen (singular ox) are cattle trained as draft animals. They are adult, castrated males. Oxen are used for plowing, transport, hauling cargo, threshing grain by trampling, powering machines for grinding grain, irrigation or other purposes, and drawing carts and wagons. Oxen are most often used in teams of two, paired, for light work such as carting.

11 Oxen Cattle

12 Zebu Cattle Zebu is a term which is synonymous with "Bos Indicus," the scientific name for the humped cattle of the world. Zebu is a term which is synonymous with "Bos Indicus," the scientific name for the humped cattle of the world. The major Zebu cattle breeds of the world include Gyr, Guzerat, Indu-Brazilian, Nelore, and Brahman. They originated in India, and are thought to be the world's oldest domesticated cattle. The major Zebu cattle breeds of the world include Gyr, Guzerat, Indu-Brazilian, Nelore, and Brahman. They originated in India, and are thought to be the world's oldest domesticated cattle. Gyr Indu-BrazilianNelore BrahmanGyr Indu-BrazilianNelore Brahman The first importations of Zebu were bullocks for draft purposes, but they later interbred with other cattle breeds and produced hybrids which were bigger, faster growing, and more thrifty. The first importations of Zebu were bullocks for draft purposes, but they later interbred with other cattle breeds and produced hybrids which were bigger, faster growing, and more thrifty.

13 Zebu Cattle Gyr Cattle Indu-Brazilian Nelore Cattle

14 How do I know what beef animals are better than others? Terms Desirable traits Desirable traits traits that are in demand at the market place traits that are in demand at the market place Conformation Conformation the shape, form, and type of an animal the shape, form, and type of an animal Performance Performance the ability of an animals to reproduce, wean, gain weight and stay strong the ability of an animals to reproduce, wean, gain weight and stay strong Frame score Frame score measurement based on animals being observed and evaluated at 205 days measurement based on animals being observed and evaluated at 205 days

15 How do I know what beef animals are better than others? Select based on the frame score Select based on the frame score 1 through 7 scale is used for frame score 1 through 7 scale is used for frame score Select based on conformation score Select based on conformation score 1 through 17 is used for performance score 1 through 17 is used for performance score 9 – 11 below average 9 – 11 below average average average above average above average

16 How do I know what beef animals are better than others? No one breed is superior in all traits No one breed is superior in all traits Decide on individual priorities & select breed based on them Decide on individual priorities & select breed based on them Commit to good management practices Commit to good management practices diets nutritious diets nutritious comfortable living conditions comfortable living conditions monitor health concerns monitor health concerns assess breeding stock assess breeding stock

17 How do I know what beef animals are better than others? Choose a reputable breeder & producer Choose a reputable breeder & producer insure animals are free of diseases and genetic problems insure animals are free of diseases and genetic problems look at records of the animals look at records of the animals determine if animal will profit your herd determine if animal will profit your herd

18 What type of production best suits my needs? Cow-calf operation Cow-calf operation keeping mature cattle to produce calves keeping mature cattle to produce calves cows bred every year cows bred every year calves sold 2 ways calves sold 2 ways Feeder calves Feeder calves weaned animals under a year old until sold to feedlot and raised to slaughter weight weaned animals under a year old until sold to feedlot and raised to slaughter weight Yearling feeders Yearling feeders calves between 1 and 2 years of age sold to another producer to feed out to slaughter weight calves between 1 and 2 years of age sold to another producer to feed out to slaughter weight

19 Cow-Calf Operations Advantages utilizes pastures utilizes pastures less labor intense less labor intense low investment costs low investment costs require little equipment & facilities require little equipment & facilities easy to increase herd size easy to increase herd size Disadvantages Large initial land investment Price may be low when time to sell calves

20 What type of production best suits my needs? Cattle feeders Cattle feeders producers that feed beef animals to slaughter weight producers that feed beef animals to slaughter weight buy yearling or calves and finish them quickly buy yearling or calves and finish them quickly

21 Cattle Feeders Advantages production lag is only 4 – 6 months production lag is only 4 – 6 months Quick turn-over time for money Quick turn-over time for money Disadvantages initial investment is high higher feed housing & equipment more labor

22 What type of production best suits my needs? Purebred breeders Purebred breeders producers that keep herds for breeding stock and replacement bulls or semen for cow-calf operations producers that keep herds for breeding stock and replacement bulls or semen for cow-calf operations

23 Purebred Breeders Advantages provides genetic improvements to herds provides genetic improvements to herds Receive higher values for animals sold Receive higher values for animals sold Disadvantages initial start-up cost higher for genetically superior animals time consuming record-keeping