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Questions and Answers
What is a steer?
Which of the following breeds is a British Beef Breed?
What is conformation in beef cattle?
What is the primary advantage of the compensatory growth model?
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What is the term for the period when cattle are fed a low plane of nutrition?
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What is the primary goal of beef production systems?
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How many tonnes of beef per year are produced in Ireland?
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What is the main objective of hybrid vigour?
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What is the result of crossing beef x dairy cows?
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What is the purpose of flushing cows before mating?
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What percentage of a calf's birth weight takes place during the final 3 months of pregnancy?
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What is the ideal body condition score (BCS) of a cow at calving?
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What is the purpose of 'steaming up' in a breeding programme?
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What is the primary reason why bulls have the fastest growth rates?
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What is the purpose of the burdizzo in castration?
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What is the grading system used to measure carcase quality?
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What is the target weight for slaughter of a bull?
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What is the purpose of tagging in calf management?
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What is the recommended amount of milk to feed a calf per day?
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What is the age at which weaning takes place in calf management?
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What is the primary goal of a successful calf to beef system?
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What is the cause of Blackleg disease in cattle?
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What is the purpose of biosecurity measures in cattle production?
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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.