1. BEEF Cattle (Bovine) Nutrition Production Bi-Products Food Safety
Structure/Cuts

2. PRODUCTION

3. Basic Function
To utilize crops which are unsuitable or less desirable for human consumption in their natural form (grains, grasses, hay, by-products) to a desirable beef product.

4. Ancestry Bos indicus- humped cattle, developed in tropical countries
Bos taurus- humpless cattle, developed in more temperate zones.

5. U.S. Cattle Rankings Texas Nebraska Kansas Colorado Iowa Oklahoma
California

6. Types of Cattle Operations
Purebred
Registered cow-calf
Provide range bulls
Improve genetics

7. Commercial Cow-Calf
Calves for stocker and feeder operations
Replacement females
Stocker Operations
Provides cattle for feedlots
Replacement Heifers

8. Feeder Operations
Commercial / farm feeders
Finish cattle for slaughter
Supply beef packers

9. Calf to Market Calving Dependent on grass season
Usually fall or spring
Gestation length 283 days (approximately 9 months)
Weaners
5-8 months old
lbs

10. Stocker Cattle
lbs
1.5-2 lbs average daily gain
Generally gain lbs
Feedlot
days
lbs
Average daily gain 3-4 lbs
Efficiency 5-9 lbs feed/lb gain

11. Carcass
lbs
60-63% dressing
65-75% retail product

12. Traits of Economic Importance
Polled vs. horned
Color
Carcass traits
Performance and efficiency
Maternal traits
Temperament
Age at puberty
Calving ease

13. CROSSBREDS
A large portion of the U.S. cattle industry relies on crossbreeding to improve and/or enhance the genetics of purebreds.
However, a large problem then exists with management and consistency in product quality.

16. RED ANGUS

20. Black Baldy Cross between an angus and hereford.
The white face is a dominant gene/trait.

24. Charolais

27. Chianina One of the oldest breeds of cattle
Tallest breed of beef cattle
Short hair that is white to steel gray
Terminal breed
Low milk production

29. Limousin

30. LIMOUSIN

37. Brahman

39. Texas Longhorn

42. Simmental

44. Belgian Blue

46. Bovine
Female Cattle
Cow

47. Bovine
Male Cattle
Bull

48. Bovine
Juvenile Cattle
Calf

49. Bovine Young Female Cattle Heifer Castrated Male Cattle Steer
Young Male Cattle
Bullock

50. Bovine How long is a cows gestation period? 9 months
The average calf weighs how much?
lbs
How much does the average cow weigh? Bull?
1000 lbs and 1500 – 2000 lbs

51. Bovine What do cattle eat? Grasses, hay, grains, & silage
How much water will the average cow drink in a day?
50 gal
Having a four part/compartment stomach, cows are known as?
Ruminants