Transcript Industry

The Beef Industry
Since the main purpose of a beef animal is
meat consumption, we look at it
not only to identify its basic parts but also
to identify the beef cuts on the animal.
Many other terms that should be known
refer to beef cuts taken from an animal.
What are the common breeds of beef
animals, and how do they differ?
The common breeds of beef animals in the
United States were brought here from
many different countries.
 They include Angus, Charolais, Hereford
and Polled Hereford, Limousin, Shorthorn,
Simmental, Brahman, Brangus, and
Beefmaster.
 A. Aberdeen-Angus cattle, known here as
Angus cattle, originated in northeastern
Scotland and were brought to the United
States in the 1870s.
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Angus cattle are the most popular purebred
beef cattle partially because they are vigorous
and perform well in feedlots.
The animals are polled, or
born without horns.
They are moderate in size
compared with other breeds
and are solid black or red.
The red animals do not absorb as much heat
as the black ones, making them more heat
tolerant.
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Angus cattle are known for their marbling,
which is the desirable presence of fat in the
muscle.
The American Angus Association has been
active since 1883 and has not allowed red
calves to be registered since 1917.
It was not until 1954 that the Red Angus
Association was formed.
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The Charolais breed originated in the
province of Charolais, France.
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The animals have pink skin and are white to
light straw colored.
The breed is large compared with others.
Mature bulls weigh 2,000 to 2,500 pounds, and
mature cows weigh 1,500 to 1,800 pounds.
Charolais cattle can be either polled or horned
and are known for their heavy muscling.
This breed is popular to crossbreeding
programs to increase size and muscle in
offspring of other breeds.
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Hereford cattle originated in Hereford
County, England.
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In the United States, the first
known purebred herd was
established in 1840 in New
York.
Hereford cattle have white
faces and red bodies, with white markings on
the switch (tail), underline, below the hocks,
and on both their crest and flank.
They are tolerant to cold climates because of
their thick coats.
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The breed is horned and easy to handle
because of its moderate size and docile nature.
Polled Hereford animals were started in Iowa
by Warren Gammon, who gathered animals
that were naturally polled and bred them to
make more polled animals.
Polled Herefords have the same traits as
Herefords and are eligible for registry in both
the American Hereford Association and the
American Polled Hereford Association.
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The Limousin originated in southwestern
France. Limousin semen from Canada was
brought tothe United States in 1968.
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The breed is wheat to rust red
or orange colored, with the
area around the muzzle a
lighter version of the body color.
Recently black lines of cattle have been
developed.
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Limousin cattle can be either polled or horned.
The breed is long and shallow bodied and is
known for calving ease.
The cattle are also known for the leanness of
their carcasses and for large loin areas.
The cutability, or the amount of available
retail cuts from the carcass, is high in Limousin
cattle.
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The Shorthorn is a dual-purpose breed,
meaning that it has been traditionally
used for both milk and beef production.
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It originated in England and was named
because of breeding practices that shortened
the horns of the breed.
Shorthorn cattle can be red, white, or roan and
either horned or polled.
They are short and are known to be docile
animals with good mothering abilities.
Both horned and polled animals can be
registered with the American Shorthorn
Association, which was organized in 1872.
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The Simmental originated in western
Switzerland, where it derived its name
from the Simme Valley.
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The breed is very old, dating
back to the Middle Ages.
However, Simmental cattle
have been in the United
States only since 1969,
when they were brought here from Canada.
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The color pattern includes a white face that is
dominant and a red-and-white–spotted or
nearly solid red body.
Black lines of this breed have also been
developed.
Both polled and horned animals exist.
The breed is known for rapid growth, thick
muscling, and adaptability to many different
climates.
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The Brahman originated in the United
States after several animals were
imported from India and bred to several
British breeds.
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The Brahman was commonly
used in crossbreeding
programs, which led to the
development of many
desirable hybrids.
The coloring can be light
gray or red and sometimes almost black.
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A Brahman is easily recognizable because of its
loose skin, large hump over the shoulders, and
large drooping ears.
Sometimes called Zebu, Brahman cattle are
popular because of their resistance to disease
and insects, tolerance to heat, rapid weight
gain, and quality carcasses.
The breed, which is unpredictable in
temperament, has an excellent ability to
forage successfully on poor range.
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The Brangus is a cross of Brahman and
Angus based on foundation stock that is
3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus.
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Crossing Brahman and Angus cattle was done
at the USDA Experiment Station in Jeanerette,
Louisiana.
Research started about 1932.
Brangus cattle are polled animals, and their
color is solid black.
Because of their genetics, they have many of
the same characteristics of the Brahman and
Angus animals.
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Beefmaster cattle were developed in Texas
in 1908 by combining ½ Brahman, ¼
Shorthorn, and ¼ Hereford.
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Coloration varies, but red is the dominant
color.
Beefmaster can be horned or naturally polled.
The breed is very hardy and is known to milk
well.
Beefmaster cattle are popular because of their
good temperaments, hardiness, heavy weaning
weights, and rapid weight gain.
What are the advantages and
disadvantages of beef production?
Beef production has several advantages
and disadvantages.
 A. The advantages of raising
beef cattle are:
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1. Beef cattle eat roughages.
2. While beef cattle are good foragers, they do
not essentially need to be fed daily.
3. If a producer follows good management
practices, then typically death losses are
reasonably low in the production of beef cattle.
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4. Beef cattle can be
raised in small numbers
or by several thousand
head.
5. Meat is a constant
demand by consumers.
6. The beef industry provides many jobs.
7. Beef cattle provide an interest to FFA and 4H projects.
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The disadvantages of raising beef cattle
are:
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1. A producer can take on several risks by
raising beef cattle.
2. The efficiency of a beef animal is not as
stable as that of other livestock.
3. A beef cow has a 283-day gestation period.
4. The cost of starting a beef operation is
expensive.
What facilities and equipment are
required in beef production?
Beef cattle facilities and equipment can be
reliant on the various types of
production and climate.
 Number of cattle, amount of
space, kind of facility, location,
herd and property security, environment
and climate conditions, amount of money
readily available for investment, and use
of other facilities and equipment are all
key factors in planning for beef cattle
production.
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A. Shelter for beef cattle can be loose and
open yet provide enough protection from
wind, rain, cold, and heat.
 B. Fencing is another
important component of
raising beef cattle.
 C. Pens and corrals are used to confine
beef cattle and are important components
in feedlots.
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Other equipment in beef production is
used for castration, dehorning, and
identification purposes.
 1. An elastrator or Burdizzo
is used in castration.
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Castration is the removal or
destruction of the testicles of
a male so it does not breed.
2. There are many ways to dehorn cattle.
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Dehorning is the removal of the horns from
horned breeds.
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3. Many types of identification are
used in beef cattle production.
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Examples are ear tags, ear tattoos,
neckbands, branding, nose prints,
DNA testing, and microchips.
New ear tags allow for electronic
tracking of animals.
Nose prints and DNA testing show precise
identity of animals.
Microchips can be placed beneath the skin of
animals, and scanners will decode their
signals.
What are common parasites and diseases that
affect beef cattle, and what are appropriate
prevention and treatment methods?
Several common parasites and diseases
can affect beef cattle.
 Good management systems and
prevention programs can control
these.
 A. Common external parasites include
flies, mosquitoes, lice, mites, and ticks.
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Sanitation practices applied to facilities and
equipment can reduce these parasites.
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B. Common internal parasites include
roundworms and flatworms.
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Anthelmintics are chemicals used to control
worms and deworm animals.
These chemicals can be injected, given orally,
applied by a pour-on method, or mixed with
feed.
C. Diseases can drastically affect a beef
herd.
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Veterinarians help producers manage herd
health in the presence of diseases.
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1. Bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) is an acute
contagious disease of cattle.
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This disease can be spread by contact.
Boots worn from farm to farm must be cleaned
and disinfected before the wearer enters a
farm.
Signs of BVD are fever, diarrhea, poor gains,
discharge from the nose, dehydration, and
lameness.
Vaccination is possible.
However, no specific treatment exists.
Producers may use electrolytes and fluids to
rehydrate animals.
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2. Brucellosis (Bangs) is another disease
that can affects cattle.
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It is classified as a reproductive
disease.
A common sign is cattle aborting
after the fifth month of
pregnancy.
There is no cure for brucellosis.
When purchasing replacement
heifers, be sure they come from a brucellosisfree herd.
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3. Blackleg is highly infectious,
noncontagious disease of cattle.
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A major symptom is inflammation
of the muscles.
Animals can come into contact
with the bacteria through spores
from contaminated pastures.
The bacteria may live in the soil
and be present for years.
Prevention is very important.
Calves should be vaccinated at two and six
months of age.
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4. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), also
known as red nose, is a viral infection of the
respiratory system.
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The virus that causes this disease is also responsible for
infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPV), which affects the
female reproductive tract.
This virus can spread by contact with infected animals or
through the air.
Cattle with IBR show signs of fever, rough breathing,
and weight loss.
Cows with IPV have vulvar discharge and vulvar
swelling.
When a new shipment of cattle enters a feedlot,
vaccination is highly recommended as a preventive.
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5. Leptospirosis is a disease caused by
several strains of bacteria.
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Some common signs are fever
and depression.
Cattle should be vaccinated
twice a year.
6. Campylobacteriosis is a venereal
disease.
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The main symptom is infertility in females.
Cattle should be vaccinated before breeding.
Vaccination should then be repeated annually.
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7. Bovine trichomoniasis is a venereal
disease marked by infertility and early
abortion.
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This disease is spread by sexual contact
among bovine animals.
Cows that have been infected should rest at
least 90 days from sexual contact with a bull.
Use artificial insemination to prevent this
disease in a herd.
Also, use “clean” bulls (free of this disease) as
a further safeguard.
Because no official treatment exists, infected
bulls should be slaughtered.
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8. Johne’s disease is caused by bacteria in
contaminated feed and water.
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This disease has increased among
herds throughout the United
States in recent years.
The bacteria are commonly
carried through fecal materials.
The same equipment used to clean pens
should not be used to feed cattle.
Signs of this disease are diarrhea and weight
loss.
There is no treatment.