Beef Beginner study guide 1.docx

**Health** - Temperature: 100-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (calves: 101-103) - Heart rate: 60-70 beats per minute - Respiratory rate: 8-16 breaths per minute **Nutrition** **All feeds include six basic nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, lipids,** **minerals, vitamins and water**....

**Health** - Temperature: 100-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (calves: 101-103) - Heart rate: 60-70 beats per minute - Respiratory rate: 8-16 breaths per minute **Nutrition** **All feeds include six basic nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, lipids,** **minerals, vitamins and water**. **Common Forages for Beef Cows** Cool-season perennials -- most growth occurs in spring and fall. Warm-season perennials -- most growth occurs in summer. Winter annuals -- must be planted each year. Most growth occurs in early spring and late fall. Summer annuals -- must be planted each year. Most growth occurs in late spring and summer. **Digestive System** **Ruminant Defined** An animal with four distinct compartments in its stomach, which swallows its food essentially unchewed, regurgitates it, chews it thoroughly and reswallows it. o Examples include cattle, sheep, goats Four Compartments of the Ruminant 1\. Reticulum -- honeycomb -- 5% of capacity 2\. Rumen -- paunch -- 80% of capacity 3\. Omasum -- manyplies -- 7% of capacity 4\. Abomasum -- true stomach -- 8% of capacity **Meat** Beef: More than two types of grades: Quality grades, reflect differences in eating quality of meat based on: o Marbling scores -- amount of fat interspersed in the muscle. o Maturity scores -- reflects age of animal at slaughter. Types of quality grades for beef are: o Prime o Choice o Select ** Yield grades** o Identify carcasses for differences in cutability (the lean yield of a beef carcass) or yield of boneless, trimmed retail cuts. o Types of yield grades: 1\. Moderately Abundant 2\. Slightly Abundant 3\. Moderate 4\. Small 5\. Slight  **Signs of a Sick Calf** - - Poor Appetite - Droopy Ears - Rapid, noisy breathing - Dry, crusty or runny nose - Limping - Patchy haircoat - Diarrhea - Swelled, tight left side **Good Management for Disease Prevention** Be alert for signs of disease and conditions which can cause stress and strain. Provide clean, disinfected quarters, free from draft. Provide proper drainage of holding areas, barns, free stalls, etc. to help maintain the driest area possible. Protect them from the sun, rain and wind without overcrowding. Practice rigid sanitation and manure removal procedures. Provide a well-balanced diet. Get accurate diagnosis of health problems immediately so that treatment can be provided. Avoid unnecessary stress and strain. Buy disease-free stock from healthy herds. Isolate new animals for a period (to be sure they are healthy) before introducing them to your herd. Follow a set vaccination program. Dispose of dead animals immediately. **Reproduction** Estrous: 21 days Gestation: 10 months Nursing: 7 months Stocker: 4 months Feedlot: 4 months Processing: 1 month Conception to plate: 26 months **Breeding** April and May for spring calving. January and February for fall calving. Heifers are bred beginning 30 days before the older cows. **Production methods** Three types of enterprises 1\. Cow-calf 2\. Stocker or Feeder cattle 3\. Feedlot  BREED ID