1. Introduction to Beef Cattle

2. Bovine Humor

3. Objectives Describe terms commonly used with beef cattle.
Learning the language
Identify external parts of the beef animal.

4. Terms Commonly Used Bovine - A general family grouping of cattle
Cow - a sexually mature female bovine animal, usually one that has produced a calf

5. Terms Commonly Used
Calf -A young male or female bovine animal under 1 year of age
Heifer - A young female bovine cow before she has produced her first calf

6. Terms Commonly Used Steer – A bovine male that is castrated
Bull - A bovine male
Polled--Naturally without horns

7. Terms Commonly Used
Yearling – An animal that is approximately one year old.
Lean--Muscle without the fat
Carcass Merit – The value of a carcass for consumption

8. Terms Commonly Used
Reproductive efficiency--Ability of an animal to produce offspring
Conformation - The physical form of an animal; the shape and arrangement of parts
Soundness--Having a correct skeletal structure

9. Terms Commonly Used
Breed Characteristics: specific traits unique to a certain breed
Sex Characteristics: traits that distinguish an animal as a male or female.
Condition: amount of fat cover on an animal.

10. Terms Commonly Used
Pedigree: the record of the ancestors of an animal

11. Parts of Beef Cattle
1. Let’s see what you know!

13. Parts of Beef Cattle
1. Now, follow along. Please make corrections and additions as needed.

15. Beef Carcass Cuts
Nine primal carcass cuts from which retail cuts come from

17. USDA Beef Grades Quality grades refer to characteristics of meat
Tenderness
Juiciness
Flavor
Top three grades are often found in grocery stores

18. USDA Beef Grades – page 6,7 Beef Basics
Prime
Most marbling – small flecks of fat throughout the meat
Generally in finer restaurants and higher priced
Choice
Sufficient amount of marbling, cheaper than prime
Select
Less marbling than choice, leaner

21. What am I?

22. What am I?

23. What am I?