1. Beef Cattle Production
ISU – Animal Science Dept.

2. Objectives What Determines a Beef Breed Production Phases
Beef Issues and Diseases

3. Beef 101 Scientific Name: Classification
Bos Taurus (British or European Breeds)
Bos Indicus (Tropical countries “Humpbacked”)
Classification
Bull- intact male
Cow- mature female
Steer- castrated male
Heifer- female before giving birth

4. Beef 101 (cont.) 104.5 million cattle in U.S. (July 2005)
Top 5 Cattle Producing States
Texas million
Kansas million
Nebraska million
California million
Oklahoma million
(Iowa ranks 8th with 3.6 million)

5. Beef Breeds Angus Red Angus Beefmaster Belgian Blue Brahman Brangus
Charolais
Chianina
Gelbvieh
Hereford
Limousin
Maine Anjou
Shorthorn
Simmental
Many breeds were originally developed to serve more than one purpose. They were used for meat, milk, and work.

6. Beef Breeds Breeds are characterized by their phenotypic id’s
Color and color pattern
Frame and size
Degree of muscling
And many others

7. Beef Production Phases
Breeding
Gestation
Calving
Weaning
Replacement Breeding Stock
Market Animals

8. Breeding Spring vs. Fall calving
Management decision depending on which scenario works best for the operation
If calving in Spring, breeding is done in late spring to early summer
If calving in Fall, breeding is done in late fall
Cow rebred days after calving
Estrous cycle 21 days

9. Breeding Natural vs. Artificial Insemination vs. Embryo Transfer
Depends mainly on the purpose of the operation
Cost also plays a large part in this decision

10. Natural Breeding
Bull is turned out with cows and allowed to naturally service them
Bull is usually turned out for approximately 3 months to ensure cows are bred
Less labor involved
Must own or lease the bull

11. Artificial Insemination
More labor intensive
Able to use the best bulls available at a cheaper rate
Disease control
Details of A.I.
Synchronization may be used
Cow is inseminated by technician 12 hours after first signs of heat.
Semen is placed in the uterine body

12. Embryo Transfer Costly
Able to have more than 1 calf per year out of the best cows.
Used mainly in purebred and specialized operations.

13. Gestation
Gestation lasts days (9 months), depending on the breed of cattle.
During gestation the cow is fed to maintain her weight until the last trimester when nutrition is increased.

14. Calving Cows should be closely monitored as calving time approaches.
Udders will fill and tighten
Cow’s will start to “spring”
Cow will start to become restless and nervous
Vulva will become dilated

15. Calving Dystocia (calving difficulty)
Caused by numerous factors including calf birth weight, pelvic area, condition of dam
At times, assistance may be needed and the calf may need to be pulled
Some calves come breech or backwards
The “Konefal Method” is used when feeding
Cows fed at night so they spend the night eating and calve during the day.

16. Calving The calf should receive colostrum within 6 hours of birth.
Navels should be monitored for infection.
Many producers id their calves at birth.
Most calves weigh from 70 to 100 lbs. at birth.

17. Weaning Standard weaning age is 7 months.
Weaning weight is 500 pounds.
Creep feed may be done between calving and weaning to increase weight.
Many calves are processed at this time.
Castration of males intended for feedlot*
Vaccination
Dehorning*
Implanting of castrated males
*Castration and Dehorning is typically done as early as possible

18. Replacement Breeding Stock
After weaning the decision must be made of which animals will be retained for breeding stock.
Yearling heifers and bulls will be selected to put back into the herd
This animals should not be fed as much because it is important for them to grow and develop.
Bulls should be months of age before breeding.
Heifers should be bred at about 15 months and will then calve at about 24 months of age. (60-65% mature body weight)

20. Expected Progeny Differences
EPD’s are very important in the cattle industry and are an important part of retaining breeding stock.
EPD’s give the producer an idea of how the animal’s offspring will genetically perform.

21. Market Animals
If not intended for breeding purposes, animals are sent to feedlot following weaning, and are called feeder cattle.
Some animals are in a stocker program
Spend a year on grass growing
Cattle put into feedlot consume a high-concentrate diet.

22. Market Cattle
Cattle are sent to market as they reach the desired finish and grade.
This is normally around 1250 lbs. and 13 to 15 months of age and typically gain 3 lbs/day.
When sending cattle to market remember the criteria for high quality cattle:
Yield Grade (1-5)
Quality Grade (Prime, Choice, Select, Standard)

23. Beef Industry Issues Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
US Beef Exports
Tibial Hemimelia (TH)

24. BSE
BSE or Mad Cow
Degenerative Neurological Disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle
Cause by a prion (deformed protein)
Cattle typically 30+ months of age
Transmitted through feed containing ruminant derived meat and bone meal

25. US Beef Exports BSE has caused many exports to be banned.
The US just recently started allowing Canadian cattle back into the US.
Japan, the largest importer of US Beef, banned the import of US Beef in 2003
Trade was resumed in December of 2005, but was banned again in January.
The United States has upped its standards in order to meet the requirements of Japan.
Trade was cancelled due to a box of bone-in-veal being accidentally sent to Japan

26. Tibial Hemimelia (TH) A genetic deformity found in Shorthorn’s
TH deformities include:
lesions included bilaterally malformed or absent tibia and abdominal hernia in all animals
a long shaggy hair coat
retained testicles in males
meningocele, which are protrusions of the coverings of the spinal cord or brain
*The following pictures may be graphic*

27. TH calves

28. Pulmonary hypoplasia with anasarka (PHA)
A genetic disorder currently being found in Maine bloodlines
Near absence of lung development causing fluid retention
All calves with PHA are born dead, but carriers live a normal life and heterozygous animals may be unknown
*Following picture may be graphic*

29. Questions?