Livestock Production Systems

• Cow Calf • Stocker • Feedlot • Seed stock

• large range production in which producers maintain cow herd year round (market calves, retain replacement females, over 90% use bulls instead of AI • efficiency is based on pounds of product produced per cow • genetics are blended leading to lack of uniformity

• Fertility • Weaning Weight • Cow efficiency • Adaptability • Quality product produced efficiently

• Weaning weight: 600-850 lbs • WW, weather and grain prices are determining factors as to where cattle go • Roughage based diets (available forage) cheap gain (wheat pasture, improved pasture, silage)

• lightweight, thin cattle • selection factors • price • growth potential • health

• high energy (concentrate) corn/milo • feed by products to keep price down • normally 120-150 days on feed reach 1100# • located in dry areas close to resources *profit potential -ADG -Feed Efficiency • Health- death loss

• influencing factors • quality • yield • dressing % *commercial (87%) • many feeding options • farmer < 1000 head

• 520,000 hd • 10 feed yards in TX and KS • 25,000 hd in Argentina • market over one million hd per year

• specialized cow calf system • high investment in facilities and management • advertisement,show ring, magazines, etc. • develops extremities of emphasis on particular traits of selection

• food safety • bovine spongiform encephalopathy • hormonal implants / growth promotants • feed additives • antibiotics • organic vs normal • grain vs grass fed *industry integration • imports

• one dairy cow = $14,000 ecominc impact • value of all milk products sold from US dairy farms is more than $35.91 billion 90% milk 10% from calves, cows, and crops

• dairy farmers are situated in all 50 states and Puerto Rico • about 42,000 dairy farms in U.S. • approximately 9.4 million cows in U.S. • average herd size is 187 cows • dairy farms sustain rural America • takes 48 hours for milk to travel from farm to storm • DHIA (Dairy Herd Improvement Association)

• most highly specialized industry • confinement, large investments in equipment Leading States: California, Wisconsin, Idaho, New York, Texas, Michigan

• 565,000 milk cows produce an average of 24, 513 lbs of milk • Texas is 5th in dairy Production • Texas is 5th in dairy cow numbers • total U.S. milk production is 223 billion lbs *high production areas located near population centers

• Castro-Dimmitt • Deaf Smith- Hereford • Erath- Stephenville • Hartley- dalhart • Parmer- Farwell *Golden Grandma Award Holstein 200,000 lbs of lifetime Milk

• genetics (A.I. & Gronomics) • feeds • health • management

MILK * 100 lbs of milk (13 lbs dry matter) * 4.9 lbs of lactose (sugar) * 3.6 lbs of milk fat * 3.1 lbs of milk true protein WASTE PRODUCTS * 190 lbs of total waste * 60-70 lbs of urine * 120- 130 lbs fecal material

• replacement heifers are typically raised in feedlot or pasture settings until ready to be moved in with dairy herd 2.replacement heifers are bred around 15 months of age and begin producing milk 9 months later (2 years old) • What helps replacements? Sexed semen

• After calving, cows are milked 2-3 times a day and the lactation cycle begins • Calves are removed from the cow 1-2 days after being born • Males are used for veal or are raised to be slaughter steers • Heifers are kept to become replacements or are used for meat • during lactation, cows are re-bred • 60 days before they give birth, they are dried off • average production cycle is 5-7 years

• ensured adequate quality and quantity colostrum • bottle fed • milk and starter ration until weaning (3 months)