Beef Student Notes Working Doc. .docx

**Strand: Animals** **Topic: Beef Production** **Student Notes:** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. **Common Beef Breeds:** 1. a. b. c. d. 2. e. f. g. h. 3. i. j. k. l. 4. m. n. o. p. 5. q. r. s. t. 6. u. v. w. x. **Beef in Ireland** - - - - - - **D...

**Strand: Animals** **Topic: Beef Production** **Student Notes:** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. **Common Beef Breeds:** 1. a. b. c. d. 2. e. f. g. h. 3. i. j. k. l. 4. m. n. o. p. 5. q. r. s. t. 6. u. v. w. x. **Beef in Ireland** - - - - - - **Dairy Breeds** **Beef Breeds** -------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Top Line and Underline converge at point. Bottom line and Underline Parallel Shoulders narrow, hindquarters narrow. Shoulders & hindquarters wide and meaty Head long & narrow Head short and wide Back level but thin Back level and well fleshed Legs are long, wide, strong but not fleshy Legs are long, wide and deep **There are two categories of beef breeds:** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Continental Beef Breeds** | **British Beef Breeds** | +===================================+===================================+ | - - | - - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | - - | - | | | | | | | | | | | | - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Conformation: Is the shape of the animal and particularly the distribution of muscle in the body.** **Beef Production Systems** Beef cattle are produced from two systems: 1. 2. Depending on breed and gender they are slaughtered at ages 12-30 months There are two outlets: 1. a. b. c. 2. d. e. f. g. **Animal Growth & Development** Two varying growth patterns 1. 2. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 1. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 2. | | | |  | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ - - - A. B. Tissue Development and Composition - - - - Bulls have the fastest growth rates but can be violent. Steers/bullocks do not produce testosterone, which inhibits their growth. **Bull vs Heifer Beef Production** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Bull Beef** | **Heifer Beef** | +===================================+===================================+ | - - - - - - - | - - - - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Castration:** - - - **Grading Carcase Quality** Carsace quality is measured using the EUROP system. E = Best P = Worst Each carcass in a meat factory is graded for length of carcass, shape of hind quarters, % fat, meat content, etc. Depends on two factors 1. a. 1 = Low 2 = Slight 3 = Average 4 = High 5 = Very High 1. b. **Target Weights:** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Weight at slaughter: Bull - 750kg Steer - 550kg Heifer - 450kg +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Animals Growth Curve - Two Year Period** | | | |  | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ **Beef Production System Ireland** A. B. Production from the dairy herd is more common in Ireland Friesen calves are suitable for the continental market (veal) Suckler herd animal account for 25-30% of the beef production in Ireland 1. Floor Space Feeding Space ------------------ ------------- --------------- Weanlings 1.4 m^2^ 0.3 m Fattening Cattle 2.0 m^2^ 0.4 m **The Beef Production Year:** **(Agri Aware/Farmers Journal/IASTA)** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Key Points when Spring | **Summer Essentials:** | | Calving:** | | | | - - - - - - - - - | | - - - - - - - - - | - | | - - - - | | +===================================+===================================+ | **Winter Management Includes:** | **Key points to remember when | | | autumn calving:** | | - - - - - | | | | - - - - - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Two Year Calf to Beef System** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Spring Born Suckler** | **Autumn Born Suckler** | +===================================+===================================+ | - - - - | - - - - - | | | | | **Birth weight: 40-50kg** | **Birth weight: 45kg** | | | | | **Daily LWG: 0.8-1kg/day** | **Daily LWG: 1-1.2kg/day** | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Calf Management** 1. a. b. c. d. 2. e. f. g. 3. h. i. j. k. 4. l. m. n. o. **Buying in calves from the dairy herd:** - - - - - - Healthy calves: - - - - - - Conformation - - On arrival to the farm - - - - - - - - - - **Rearing Calves** Feeding Colostrum: - - - - If calves are purchased they must be handled very carefully and weaned onto new diet. Whole milk or powered milk should be introduced gradually over 3-4 days. Feed at about 10% of the calf's body weight per day. (45kg = 4.5 litres per day) Half in the morning and half in the evening - - - - - - - - - All calves should have access to - - - - - **Raring a Hereford x Freisian Beef Animal in 2 Year** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Calf | Calf at Weaning: | | | | | - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | +===================================+===================================+ | 1st Winter | 2nd Summer | | | | | - - - - - - - | - - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 2nd Winter: | | | | - - - - - - - | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ **Successful Calf to Beef System:** To produce a quality calf in a beef system the following must be taken into account: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. **Diseases in Cattle** 1. a. b. c. 2. d. e. f. 3. g. h. i. 4. **Caused by:** Virus **Symptoms:** Weight loss, diarrhoea, abortion and congenital defects. **Treatment/Prevention:** Vaccine. **Notifiable Disease:** Is any disease that is required by law to be reported to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. Examples: 1. 2. 3. **Biosecurity Measures:** - - - - **Selection of Female Breeding Stock:** 1. 2. 3. 4. **Hybrid Vigour** - - - - - - **Selection of a bull:** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Two options: +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Stock Bull** | **AI** | +===================================+===================================+ | **[Advantages]** | **[Advantages]** | | | | | - - | - - - | | | | | **[Disadvantages]** | **[Disadvantages]** | | | | | - - | - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Achieving High Conception Rate:** - - - - - - - - **Breeding Programme:** - - - - - - - - -