Beef Cattle Terminology and Breeds

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Questions and Answers

What is a steer?

A young male or female

A female that has had at least one calf

A castrated male (correct)

A male that has not yet had a calf

Which of the following breeds is a British Beef Breed?

Simmental

Hereford (correct)

Limousin

Charolais

What is conformation in beef cattle?

The breed of the animal

The age of the animal

The shape of the animal and the distribution of muscle (correct)

The weight of the animal

What is the primary advantage of the compensatory growth model?

Lower feed costs Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the period when cattle are fed a low plane of nutrition?

Store period Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of beef production systems?

To produce beef for human consumption Signup and view all the answers

How many tonnes of beef per year are produced in Ireland?

0.5m tonnes Signup and view all the answers

What is the main objective of hybrid vigour?

To surpass the growth performance of the parents Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of crossing beef x dairy cows?

Enhanced reproductive success, lower calf mortality and higher calf growth rates Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of flushing cows before mating?

To place the cows on a low plane of nutrition Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of a calf's birth weight takes place during the final 3 months of pregnancy?

90% Signup and view all the answers

What is the ideal body condition score (BCS) of a cow at calving?

2.5 Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of 'steaming up' in a breeding programme?

To provide extra supplements of concentrates to the cow Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why bulls have the fastest growth rates?

They produce testosterone, which promotes growth. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the burdizzo in castration?

To break the blood vessel leading into the testicles. Signup and view all the answers

What is the grading system used to measure carcase quality?

EUROP system Signup and view all the answers

What is the target weight for slaughter of a bull?

750kg Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of tagging in calf management?

To identify the calf's ownership. Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended amount of milk to feed a calf per day?

10% of the calf's body weight. Signup and view all the answers

What is the age at which weaning takes place in calf management?

6 weeks old Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of a successful calf to beef system?

To produce high-quality calves. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of Blackleg disease in cattle?

Bacterial infection. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of biosecurity measures in cattle production?

To reduce disease incidence. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cattle Classification

Male cattle are classified as intact males
Steers are castrated males
Cows are female cattle that have had at least one calf
Heifers are female cattle that have not yet had a calf
Calves are young male or female cattle

Beef Breeds

There are two categories of beef breeds: Continental and British
Continental breeds include Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, and Belgian Blue
British breeds include Hereford and Aberdeen Angus

Beef Production in Ireland

There are approximately 4.5 million beef animals in Ireland
The country produces around 0.5 million tonnes of beef per year
80% of Irish beef is exported to countries like the UK, Germany, Egypt, and Iran
Beef production is the lowest income-generating activity per hectare in Irish farms
Irish beef production relies on good spring grass and good silage
Most beef animals in Ireland originate from dairy herds

Beef Production Systems

There are two beef production systems: dairy and suckler herds
Dairy herd production is more common in Ireland
Suckler herds account for 25-30% of beef production in Ireland

Animal Growth and Development

Beef cattle have two growth patterns: high-level nutrition and store periods
Growth curves show that animals on high-level nutrition grow faster
Store periods involve feeding cattle low-quality silage to reduce winter feed costs
Compensatory growth occurs when cattle are fed well after a period of restricted feeding

Tissue Development and Composition

Bulls have the fastest growth rates but can be violent
Steers/bullocks do not produce testosterone, which inhibits their growth

Castration

Castration is carried out using a burdizzo, which breaks the blood vessel leading into the testicles
This causes the testicles to shrink, soften, and eventually deteriorate

Grading Carcase Quality

Carcase quality is measured using the EUROP system
The system grades carcasses based on length, shape, percentage of fat, and meat content

Target Weights

Target weights for slaughter are: 750kg for bulls, 550kg for steers, and 450kg for heifers

Beef Production System Ireland

Key points for spring calving: good grassland management, good housing, good husbandry, and high live weight gain
Key points for autumn calving: good grassland management, good housing, good husbandry, and high live weight gain

Calf Management

Key practices include tagging, registration, dehorning, and castration
Calves should be handled carefully on arrival to the farm and weaned onto a new diet
Feeding colostrum is essential for calf health

Rearing Calves

Calves should be fed whole milk or powered milk gradually over 3-4 days
Feed at 10% of the calf's body weight per day
Half of the feed should be given in the morning and half in the evening
Automatic feeders can be used to encourage calves to suck and produce saliva

Diseases in Cattle

Blackleg is caused by Clostridium chauvoei and can be treated with antibiotics
Brucellosis is caused by Brucella bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium bovis and can be treated with antibiotics
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is caused by a virus and can be treated with antibiotics and vaccination

Notifiable Diseases

Notifiable diseases are required by law to be reported to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Marine
Examples include Blackleg, Brucellosis, and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD)

Biosecurity Measures

Biosecurity measures include proper hygiene, sanitation, and isolation of sick animals
Vaccination and testing can also help prevent diseases

Selection of Female Breeding Stock

Selection criteria include fertility, milking ability, and calving ease
Hybrid vigour can be achieved by crossing different breeds to obtain the best qualities of both
Cross-breeding can improve traits with low heritability like fertility and milking ability

Selection of a Bull

Selection criteria include fertility, growth rate, and temperament
Two options for breeding are: stock bull or AI (artificial insemination)

Achieving High Conception Rate

Achieving high conception rate involves planning the mating of cows to coincide with the desired calving date
Cows should be in optimum condition and fed supplementary concentrates if necessary
A body condition score (BCS) of 2.5 at calving is ideal

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Description

This quiz covers the terminology and breeds of beef cattle, including male, female, and young cattle definitions, as well as common breeds such as Belgian Blue and Aberdeen Angus.