Beef Breeds
Bos Indicus
Bos taurus
- Brahman
- Brangus
- Beef master
- Santa Gertrudis
- Simbrah
Bos taurus
- Angus
- Hereford
- Shorthorn
- Braunvieh
- Charolais
- Chianina
- Limousin
- Main Anjou
- Simmental
3 Phases
Cow/Calf- Beef productions begins with ranches who maintain a breeding herd of cows that nurture calves every year. When a calf is born, it wights about 60-100 lbs. Over the next few months, each calf will lie off its mother' milk and graze grass in pasture's.
Stocker/Yearling- After weaning, cattle continue to grow and thrive b grazing during the stocker and yearling phase. 600-800 lbs.
Feedlot- The next step in beef production is when mature calves are moved to feedyard's. Here, they typically spend four to six months, during which time the have constant access to water, room to move around, and are free to graze at feed bunks containing a carefully balanced diet. Veterinarians, nutritionist and cattlemen work together to look after each animal. 900-1300 lbs.
Stocker/Yearling- After weaning, cattle continue to grow and thrive b grazing during the stocker and yearling phase. 600-800 lbs.
Feedlot- The next step in beef production is when mature calves are moved to feedyard's. Here, they typically spend four to six months, during which time the have constant access to water, room to move around, and are free to graze at feed bunks containing a carefully balanced diet. Veterinarians, nutritionist and cattlemen work together to look after each animal. 900-1300 lbs.
Packers and Consumers
Packers- Look for bovine from 600-800 lbs for their carcasses.
Consumers- Raw products, cooked products, by-products. 6.8 billion Worldwide.
Consumers- Raw products, cooked products, by-products. 6.8 billion Worldwide.
Digestive tract Nutrients
All bovine need nutrients to support themselves and their digestive tracts. These nutrients include water, carbohydrates, fats, protiens, minerals and vitamins.
Water
- Most important nutrient Random Fun Facts
- Functions: - Cattle can detects smells from 6 miles away - Raising beef cattle is the single largest segment of American agriculture
- Transport nutrients
- Temperature maintenance
- Physical shape of body (cell content)
Carbohydrates
- Found in plant and animal tissue
- Simple carbohydrates
- Starch
+ Easily digested
+ High in energy
- Complex carbohydrates
- Cellulose, lignin
+ Energy source
+ Present in cell walls
Fats
- Includes oils Random Fun Facts
- Fats are solids, liquid oil at room temperature - Angus cattle were imported from Scotland in 1873
- 2.25 x more energy/ lbs than carbs - Beefmaster cattle were developed in Texas in the 1930's
- >100 fatty acids identified - Brahman cattle were imported from India in 1854
Protein
- Simple
+ Building blocks of the animals body
- Complex
- Lipoprteins
- Hemeproteins
- Only nutrient class that contains nitrogen
- 6.25 multiplier- %N x 6.25 = % Protein
Minerals
- Macrominerals Random Fun Facts
- Req. in large amounts - There are an estimated 300 million cattle in India
- Important for several major bodily functions - Cattle are red/green color blind
- Microminerals - Meat from calves is known as veal
- Trace minerals, req. in small amounts
- Important for vitamins, hormone synthesis
- Usually work together with other nutrients
- Can be harmful in high levels
Vitamins
- Organic nutrients req. for very specific bodily function
- 16 vitamins
- Fat soluble
+ A, D, E, K
- Water soluble
+ C, B12,B1, Niacin
+ In ruminants, these are synthesized by the microorganisims
Digestive tract 4 stomachs
Bovine are called ruminants, because of there 4 stomachs or 4 compartments. These compartments are the Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum, and Abomasum.
Rumen
- The rumen is a huge fermentation vat
- When cattle are fed we are actually feeding the bacteria and protozoa in the rumen
- These bacteria and protozoa feed the animal with "by products" of fermentation
- The rumen is lined with papilli
- Papilli give the inside of the rumen the look of a deep carpet.
- Net results in the increased surface area of absorption of nutrients
- The rumen is partially compartmentalized
- This allows for mixing "access" to all feed in the rumen
Reticulum
- Part of the ruminant digestive system serves as the "traffic cop"
- Recieves feed stuffs from the esophagus and sends these to the rumen
- The reticulum also recieves partiall digested feeds from the rumen and sends these to the omasum.
Omasum
- Omasum is characterized by it's "many folds" or "pages of a book".
- This structure serves to absorb the water from rumen contents. It also produces a grinding action that helps break feed stuffs down into smaller particle sizes.
Abomasum
- After feed leaves the omasum it travels to the abomasum.
- this is the true stomach of a human or a swine.
For more on the Ruminant stomach and digestive system see Goat and Sheep page
For the reproductive system of cattle see the Diary cattle page
Copyright 2015 Animal Management. Last updated July 31, 2015