Beef And Dairy Cattle Exam

Total Beef cattle in the US: 93.6 million Total Cows: 31.2 million cows (90% of cow herds have <100 cows) Total Cattle on Feed: 10.8 million cattle on feed

1) Texas 2) Nebraska 3) Kansas 4) Colorado 5) Iowa …15) Wyoming 1.3 million cattle 0.7 million beef cattle

Beef Production -25.8 billion lbs -$78.2 billion —> Per Capital Consumption -65.8 lbs -27.6 lbs of beef 42% —> Per Capita Spending on Meat -Beef: $340 (46.5%) -Pork: $192 -Chicken: $175

• Feed costs 50-70% of annual costs (15-20% for labor costs) • Maximize the use of roughages, forages, • Pasture, range • crop residues • silage

• reduced labor, equipment/fuel expense

• use animals to manage forage base • stocking rates • forage availability • forage quality

• minimize losses during storage and feeding • can exceed 20-30% of available forage • protection from exposure to weather • method of feeding can help control losses • haybuster vs roundbale feeders

• supplemental feed for the calf only • inaccessible to the cows • added 20-50 lbs. weaning wt • Decreased demand on cow • not always economical • cost of supplemental feed • decreased psot-weaning gain • want growth but not fat • Fat heifers –> impaired milk production

• Too thin • extended post-partum interval • Too fat • not economical (high feed cost) • negative impact on milk production • 1: emaciated (little muscle fat) • 2: very thin (no fat, bones visable) • 3: Thin (Foreribs visible) • 4: Borderline (Forerib not visible, 12th and 13th ribs visible) • 5: Moderate (neither fat nor thin) • 6: Good (smooth appearance) • 7: Very Good (Smooth with fat over back and tail head) • 8: Fat (Blocky, bone over back not visible) • 9: Very fat (tail buried and in fat)

• Spring Calving (Feb-April) • coordinates forage available for grazing with period of highest nutrient demand • Calving –> lactation –> breeding • Minimize use of harvest forage • Fall Calving (Sep-Oct) • better weather at calving, improved calf survival • takes advantage of seasonal market prices for weaned calves • increased reliance on harvest forage

• Length of calving season • 40-60 days • Uniformity of calf crop, concentration of labor • Observe “close-ups” every few hours • Pelvic ligaments relax

• poor calf survivability • extended post-partum interval

• scours, pneumonia • protection from weather • importance of colostrum in 1st 48 hrs of life

• want to remove unprofitable animals • body condition score • preg. testing

• Average 15% of herd culled/replaced annually • Two important factors in heifer development • AGE • breed heifers to calve at 2 yrs of age • heifers need to reach puberty by 15 months • WEIGHT • target= 65% of mature body weight • Medium-frame breeds (Angus, Hereford) 650-750 lbs • Large-frame breeds (terminal crosses) 750-900 lbs

• Use low birth weight bulls for heifers • minimize dystocia • birth weight EPD’s • Breed heifers to calve early in calving season • heifers typically have longer post-partum interval • increased dystocia • need to cycle with cow herd at 2nd calving • Keep heifers separated from cow herd if possible • reduced competition for feed • more intensive management

• depends on system • length of breeding season • size of pasture, range • heifers vs. cows • US Average • ~ 30:1

• Physical Examination • feet and legs • eyes • body condition • indications of illness • Rectal Examination • Prostate • Seminal vesicles • Ampullae • Internal inguinal rings • External Examination • Testes • Scrotum • Penis • Prepuce • Semen Evaluation • Volume • Color • Motility • Morphology • Mating Desire • Present

• Bull Selection • EPD’s etc. • Maximize use of crossbreeding • Crossbred heifers • Higher conception rates • Earlier puberty • Crossbred Calves • more vigorous • faster growth rate

• IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis) • PI3 (Parainfluenza-3) • BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhea) • BRSV (Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

• Bang’s Disease • Transmissible to humans –> Undulant Fever

• Leptospirosis • Vibriosis (Campylobacteriosis) • Clostridial Diseases • Blackleg • Enterotoxemia • Tetanus