Beef Sectors Exam 1

Question 1

Breeders provide genetic inputs and services that impact the beef industry

Answer 1

Seedstock

Question 2

The seedstock sector must focus on ______ term goals

Answer 2

Long

Question 3

The seedstock sector should focus on providing _____ that contribute to low breakeven prices, high profits, and increase consumer markets.

Answer 3

Genetics

Question 4

What is the purpose of performance records in the seedstock sector?

Answer 4

Provide accurate and objective measurements, adjusted for environmental effects, useful when utilizing EPDs

Question 5

What are the two primary focuses in selecting the herd bull?

Answer 5

1. Producing live calves
2. Improve herd genetics for the economic traits

Question 6

Which has a greater impact on genetic contribution: Cow or Bull and why?

Answer 6

Bull because there is a larger number of offspring he sires each calf crop

Question 7

How do you select sires?

Answer 7

1. Marketing Objectives
2. Labor Resources
3. Feed resources and Environmental Limits
4. Gaps Between Current and Desired Performance

Question 8

What is an EPD?

Answer 8

Expected Progeny Differences; Combines into one number a measurement of genetic potential based on the individual’s performance and that of related animals

Question 9

Give some examples of EPDs.

Answer 9

Birth weight, Milk production, Weaning weight, Yearling weight

Question 10

What EPDis the most difficult to measure?

Answer 10

Reproductive efficiency

Question 11

What EPD is the best measure of calving ease or difficulty?

Answer 11

Birth Weight

Question 12

_________ ___________ has an effect on growth and carcass characteristics

Answer 12

Sexual Maturity

Question 13

Feedlot and carcass goals are identified with ______ as they are processed at the slaughter plants

Answer 13

Steers

Question 14

Any value of the bull above salvage price is based on the bull’s ability to sire _______ calves and the ______ superiority of these calves

Answer 14

Live; Genetic

Question 15

What characteristics are replacement heifers based on?

Answer 15

Conceive early in the breeding season, calving ease, consistent milk production, weaning weight, contribute to calves post weaning growth and carcass merit

Question 16

Cull heifers at WW and YW ages that are extremely ____ AND _____ in categories for various traits

Answer 16

Low; High

Question 17

Cows do not enhance genetic progress in the herd. True or False?

Answer 17

True

Question 18

Economic decision to cull cows is based on what?

Answer 18

Pregnancy Status, death loss, age, etc

Question 19

What are some examples of other trends that impact the seedstock industry trends?

Answer 19

Selling cattle on individual carcass basis, demand for hybrid bull, technologies, partnerships will be at the fore front of business plans, value

Question 20

What are the marketing opportunities in the cow-calf sector?

Answer 20

Sell calves at weaning weight, sell calves at yearling weight, retain ownership and finish steers, sell replacement heifers and purebred bulls

Question 21

Why do we alter diets of cows?

Answer 21

To maintain body condition

Question 22

What changes between the diets pre and post calving?

Answer 22

After calving, a cow needs more protein and energy for lactating and thus we should increase quality and supplement

Question 23

What is the most lacking mineral in forages?

Answer 23

Sodium (but also Copper and Zinc are needed)

Question 24

When should you increase mineral intake?

Answer 24

When WW or BW/ pregnancy percentage is decreasing

Question 25

What should you add in while grazing pastures?

Answer 25

Protein supplement

Question 26

What is the result of adding in protein supplement?

Answer 26

Gains about 0.5 lbs extra a day

Question 27

What is the streak canal?

Answer 27

The bottom of the teat cistern

Question 28

What is the gland cistern?

Answer 28

The storage vessel of the mammary gland

Question 29

What is the point of milk synthesis?

Answer 29

Alveoli

Question 30

When does most development occur in a fetus?

Answer 30

Prior to 6 months

Question 31

When does mammary growth occur the most?

Answer 31

Pregnancy

Question 32

What should you increase in a lactating cow?

Answer 32

Carbs and fat in the diet

Question 33

What does Estrogen do in Mammary Development?

Answer 33

Nipple formation

Question 34

What does Progesterone do in Mammary Development?

Answer 34

Side branching of ducts

Question 35

What does Oxytocin do in Mammary Development?

Answer 35

Milk let down

Question 36

What is Colostrum?

Answer 36

The first milk produced after parturition; rich in antibodies and growth factors

Question 37

Describe the ejection of milk.

Answer 37

1. Starts by suckling of calf 2. Send impulses to the hypothalamus 3. Tells the PL of the pituitary to produce oxytocin 4. Oxytocin travels by blood to target receptors 5. The oxytocin binds to the receptor at the myoepithelial cells in the alveoli 6. Milk is stored in the gland cistern and goes out through the streak canal to the calf

Question 38

Operations that handle cattle that are fed and managed for growth prior to going to a feedlot for finishing

Answer 38

Stocker Phase

Question 39

Profitability of the stocker sector is based on what?

Answer 39

Cost and availability of resources and forages

Question 40

What are the top three stocker states?

Answer 40

Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma

Question 41

Why has stocker sector decreased?

Answer 41

More cow-calf producers are retaining ownership through this phase, and feedlot operations are maintaining calves through the backgrounding and feeding phases

Question 42

How do you improve cattle health?

Answer 42

Maintain cattle stress (weaning, sorting, commingling, transport, vaccines, climate, diet)

Question 43

What are the highest risk calves?

Answer 43

Light, just weaned, and have been subjected to several previous stressors

Question 44

Why is a sick animal costly to a producer?

Answer 44

Shrinks 10-20%, requires more labor and management, cheaper to prevent than to treat

Question 45

What are the ways to prevent disease and promote health in the stocker sector?

Answer 45

Be weaned for 30-45 days prior to shipment, castrate males, polled/dehorn, free of parasites, vaccinated

Question 46

What are the core 6 vaccines we use in cattle?

Answer 46

Clostridial, IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV, and Haemophilus Somnus

Question 47

In the stocker phase, grow ___ then grow ____

Answer 47

Up, Out

Question 48

What is the biggest nutrition challenge in the stocker phase?

Answer 48

Low feed intake, and water consumption

Question 49

What is the diet of a stocker?

Answer 49

2lbs/day of quality hay; chopped feedstuffs; does not include extra starch feedstuffs to prevent bloat

Question 50

The major growth of cattle occurred between 1945-1972 due to the _______ of cheap grains

Answer 50

Oversupply

Question 51

Development of cattle feeding industry follows the ______ production trends

Answer 51

Corn

Question 52

What is an AFO?

Answer 52

Animal Feeding Operation; Animals are raised and maintained in confined conditions for a total of 45 days in a 12 month period

Question 53

What is a CAFO?

Answer 53

Confined Animal Feeding Operation; First defined as an AFO, but the determined by the number of head of cattle if they are small, medium, or large

Question 54

What is different between beef and dairy breeds in finishing?

Answer 54

Dairy take longer to finish because they grow quickly in the first 1000 lbs; then they are inefficient to finish in a feedlot due to extra maintenance (higher energy need)

Question 55

What are the 5 major factors to managing a feedlot (give examples of each)?

Answer 55

1. Facilities (Land) 2. Cattle procurement and performance (Weight) 3. Costs per lb of gain or per day (Ration Cost) 4. Costs not related directly to cattle or feed (Labor) 5. Income (Sale weight)

Question 56

What should a feedlot manage in the environement?

Answer 56

Dust, Odor, Flies, and water quality

Question 57

What do you look at for a feedlot risk assessment?

Answer 57

Breakeven prices is the central focus; calculated on the price that can be paid for by feeder cattle, cost of grain, and/or sale price on fed cattle

Question 58

What is a pre-conditioned calf?

Answer 58

Weaned and vaccinated, custom to feed bunks and water troughs, generally experienced low stress conditions, remain healthy and productive in first 30 days of arrival

Question 59

What are the disadvantages of not pre-conditioned calves?

Answer 59

Spend about 20-30 more days on feed; higher health expenses; overall higher maintenance

Question 60

What is the largest disease concern in feeder cattle?

Answer 60

BRD (Bovine Respiratory Disease)

Question 61

What are the two parts of cost of gain?

Answer 61

1. Feed cost per pound gain 2. Non-feed cost per pound gain

Question 62

How do you improve feed efficiency in feedlot sector?

Answer 62

Increase energy density (less roughage); processing grain (hominy); Feed additive or growth stimulates; Reduce stressors

Question 63

What is a pro of using an implant?

Answer 63

Cheap and effective; increase growth and rate of gain

Question 64

What is a con of using an implant?

Answer 64

Withdrawal period and public perception

Question 65

What is carcass weight?

Answer 65

Size of retail cuts

Question 66

What is yield grade?

Answer 66

Fat to lean ratio

Question 67

What is quality grade?

Answer 67

Palatability, flavor, tenderness, juiciness