Beef Cattle

Question 1

Intact male cattle

Answer 1

Bull

Question 2

Castrated male cattle

Answer 2

Steer

Question 3

Female cattle who’s had a calf

Answer 3

Cow

Question 4

Female cattle who’s not had a calf

Answer 4

Heifer

Question 5

What is calving?

Answer 5

The act of a cow giving birth

Question 6

What is the offspring of a cow called?

Answer 6

Calves/Calf

Question 7

How many times do cows come into heat?

Answer 7

Multiple times throughout the year. They are polyestrous

Question 8

What is the gestation period of a cow?

Answer 8

283 days

Question 9

What is the length of a cows estrous cycle?

Answer 9

21 days

Question 10

What is the range of body temperature of beef cattle?

Answer 10

98.0 - 102.4

Question 11

What is the phylum of beef cattle?

Answer 11

Chordata

Question 12

What is the Subphylum of beef cattle?

Answer 12

Vertebrata

Question 13

What is the class of beef cattle?

Answer 13

Mammalia

Question 14

What is the order of beef cattle?

Answer 14

Artiodactyla

Question 15

What is the suborder of beef cattle?

Answer 15

Ruminata

Question 16

What is the family of beef cattle?

Answer 16

Bovidae

Question 17

What is the genus of beef cattle?

Answer 17

Bos

Question 18

What is the species of beef cattle?

Answer 18

Taurus or Indicus

Question 19

What are the top breeds of beef cattle?

Answer 19

Angus (Black Coat), Red Angus, Hereford, Simmental

Question 20

Benefits of rearing cattle?

Answer 20

• Using grass that would not be used for anything
• By products
• Utilize excess grain produced by the cereal grain industry

Question 21

Where is much of crop residue is found?

Answer 21

In the Corn Belt (Iowa and Missouri)

Question 22

What region of the US has an abundance of grazing lang and good weather conditions year round?

Answer 22

The southeastern region

Question 23

Which states does majority of cattle feeding done and what percentage does it account for?

Answer 23

Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado accounting for 80% of finished cattle

Question 24

What happens at a Seed Stock Production?

Answer 24

Goal: Produce breeding stock
- Breeding bulls
- Embryos

Animals are not used for meat consumption directly

Question 25

What happens at a Commercial Cow-Calf Production?

Answer 25

Goals: Produce the heaviest calves possible with the least cost. Produce calves that will be marketed - Calves are sold to a stocker or feedlot at weaning Age: 6-10 months old Weight: 300 to 700 lbs

Question 26

What happens at a Yearling or Stocker Operators?

Answer 26

Goal: Grow calves to heavier weights on low-priced forage before the calves enter the feedlot. - Purchase calves from cow-calf producers and grow them during a specific season and then ship them to feedlots.

Question 27

What happens at a Feedlots Operators?

Answer 27

Goal: This is the finishing phase of the industry (slaughter) Enter at weight: 600 to 850 lbs Slaughter at weight: 900 to 1400 lbs

Question 28

What does Heterosis?

Answer 28

The tendency of a crossbred individual to show qualities superior to those of both parents.

Question 29

What other name can we call Heterosis?

Answer 29

Hybrid Vigor

Question 30

What tools are used for sire selection in beef cattle?

Answer 30

Performance testing, sire summaries, and expected progeny difference (EPDs)

Question 31

What are the 2 factors that affect all economic traits in cattle?

Answer 31

Environment to which the animal is exposed & Genetics of the animal

Question 32

What is heritability?

Answer 32

How important genetics is to a given trait

Question 33

What is the heritability of reproductive traits?

Answer 33

Low heritability (<0.20)

Question 34

What is the heritability of growth traits?

Answer 34

Moderate heritability (0.20-0.40)

Question 35

What is the heritability of carcass traits?

Answer 35

Fairly high heritability (>0.40)

Question 36

What is performance testing?

Answer 36

Determining if potential of your bulls as a sire Group bulls and feed a free choice 13% ration for 112 days Collect body weight and growth measurements every 28 days Conclusion: Breeding soundness exam and ultrasound (back fat and loin eye area)

Question 37

What age should heifers be managed to calve, be mated, at what weight and what do farmers opt for?

Answer 37

At 2 years 15 months and at least 65% of adult weight Opt for calving heifers first at 30-36 months

Question 38

What diseases affect reproductive efficiency directly?

Answer 38

Brucellosis (Bang's disease) Vibriosis Leptospirosis IBR/BVD Complex Trichomoniasis

Question 39

How can you maintain a healthy herd?

Answer 39

Adequate nutrition Good sanitation Vaccination Parasite control

Question 40

What happens with Calf Diarrhea?

Answer 40

Diarrhea in newborn calves Caused: Bacteria, Viruses, and Protozoa. Calves that don’t receive adequate colostrum from their dams are more susceptible to developing diarrhea that is often severe enough to be fatal.

Question 41

What happens with Bovine Viral Diarrhea?

Answer 41

Caused by: Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Symptoms: Fever, mouth ulcers, pneumonia and diarrhea. Can cause abortions. Some animals can be persistent carriers. Prevention: Vaccinate and cull persistent carriers

Question 42

What happens with Bovine Respiratory Disease?

Answer 42

Respiratory disease resulting in pneumonia and is one of the most economically important diseases affecting the cattle industry Cause: Viruses and Bacteria as well as environmental factors like weaning, transport or crowding