COMMON BEEF BREEDS

and other important stuff!

Vocabulary

Polled- means hornless Ruminant- animal having a

four compartment stomach Castration- removal of males

testicles Bovine- means cows Calf- immature bovine Heifer- immature female calf

that has not had offspring

Steer- a male that has been castrated

Market weight- 1100 lbs. Herd- group of cattle Sheath- covering of skin

around the bulls penis Pendulous sheath-

sheath that hangs to far under the bull

Vocab.

Bull- male that has not been castrated

Cow- female that has had a calf. And reached mature body weight.

Gestation- period from breeding to calving

The cattle industry at a glance

Cattle operations

Cow-calf- Raising calves to sell at beef sales and retaining only your best heifers for replacement stock ( Most common in AL)

Stocker- feeding of calves after weaning usually on grass then sold to finishing.

Finishing- Taking a 500-600 lbs animal and finishing it out to 1100 lb. Slaughter weight

Purebred- Breeding only purebred animals to better the breed. EX: angus bulls to angus to cows

Time line of Cow-calf operation

Heifer born in Jan. 11 Heifer bred in Jan 12 (Must be at least 70% of

mature body weight) Heifer gives birth (~283 days)in Sept. If a bull he will be castrated at 3 weeks old Given a shot for blackleg at 2 months Calf is weaned at 8 months then in March

sold at market weighing 400-600lbs.

Bovine Management Practices

Identification- needed for herd identification and individual animal identification

- 1. Ear tagging- 2. Ear tattooing- 3. Ear notching- 4. Hot iron branding- 5. Freeze Branding

Castration of Bull calf

Three methods 1- Emasculation- A tool similar to vice grip used to

crush the cord b/w the testicles and penis. 2- Elastration- putting a strong rubber band on the cord

b/w the testicles and the penis. Scrodum losses blood supply and falls off.

Total removal- removal of testicles using a razor blade

Bovine Management Practices cont..

De-horning- to prevent development of secondary sex characteristics

- 1. Barnes type de-horners- 2. scoop- 3. hot iron- 4. Loppers- 5. Saw

Bovine Management Practices cont..

Vaccinations- to prevent health problems such as black leg

- 1. Subcutaneous- below the skin - 2. Intramuscular- in the muscle - 3. Intravenous- directly into the blood stream - 4. Oral - 5. Pour on type De-Wormers

Breeding management

Cow- managed to calve one time per year Heifer- calve one time per year, but should be

managed with the following consideration: - 1. Breed to calve on month ahead of mature

cow herd- 2. Breed to a bull known for producing low birth

weights- 3. separate heifers from cows at time of calving

Breeding management cont…

All animals should be bred during a breeding season of about 60 days:

- 1. allows concentration of labor during calving season

- 2. allows calving to occur during peak grass season

- 3. eliminates the need for maintaining a bull year round

- 4. cull all open cows and heifers after the 60 day period

Artificial Insemination (AI)

Means of obtaining pregnancy without the use of a natural service

- Advantages 1. Improvement of herd

2. wider selection of sire3. Prevention of disease spread4. Increases in offspring uniformity5. Reduced cost of keeping sire6. reduced chance of damage to dam7. safety

Artificial Insemination (AI) cont…

Disadvantages of using AI:– Skilled technician required– Close supervision of female required– More equipment needed

Sources of seamen for AI:- Studs- Collecting from own sire- Buying frozen straws from a breeder

Artificial Insemination (AI) cont…

Factors that affect volume of semen produced:- 1. Age- 2. size- 3. health- 4. frequency of collection

Estrus Detection

Estrus detection is the most important factor of AI program

- Too early sperm dies- Too late egg dies- Estrus cycle (definition)- The interval b/w the

onset of one estrus and the onset of the next estrus; usually days in beef cattle

Estrus Detection cont…

Behavioral estrus:- 1. is 6 to 14 hours in length- 2. vulva and vagina become enlarged- 3. seeks out bull, stands to be mated- 4. ovulation occurs 8 to 10 hours after standing

heat

Estrus Detection cont…

Signs of behavioral estrus:- 1. standing to be ridden- 2. riding others- 3. nervousness, restlessness- 4. clear sticky mucus flowing from vulva- 5. hair standing up to tail head- 6. bellowing

Ways to detect Estrus

1. Heat detection patches- Released by pressure( red dye)- 2. Chin ball marking harness- ( belt worn by bull that marks a cow upon

mounting)- 3. Teaser bull- (bulls penis has been altered so that it can not

bred- 4. Steroid treated animals.

EPD- best way to select superior animals!!!!

Expected Progeny Difference- or how the offspring of one parent will perform compared to the average performance for the breed.

- cannot be used to compare one breed to another, and can only be used with purebred cattle.

- is determined by the accurate record keeping of a sire or dam and their offspring

The performance of an animals progeny in the past is the most accurate way to predict how well the future progeny will perform.

Items on a EPD sheet

Birth date Birth weight Weaning weight Age at weaning Yearling weight Birth weight EPD

Birth weight EPD Weaning weight EPD Yearling Weight EPD Milk EPD

Sample EPD:

AU Gold BEPD

1.4

WEPD

1.7

YEPD

1.5

ROBIN 1.2 2.6 2.5

SCARLET 0.6 3.1 3.8

CHAMPION 2.4 3.0 3.1

WHAT IS A BREED?

A breed consists of animals which have been selected for certain characteristics and which breed true for those characteristics

PRIOR TO 1965… There were very few different breeds of cattle

in the United States. Dominant breeds included:

Texas Longhorns (from Spanish Longhorns)AngusHerefordShorthorn

Composite breeds were also being developed.

WHAT’S A COMPOSITE?

A composite breed is developed from two or more previously established breeds.

Examples would include:

Santa Gertrudis (Brahman X Shorthorn)

Brangus (Brahman X Angus)

Braford (Brahman X Hereford)

BEFORE THE 1960’s…

Approximately 20 different breeds were available in the United States.

Today, there are over 70 breeds found in the United States.

The development of the feedlot industry created the catalyst for the increase in the number of breeds.

CURRENTLY…

The number of breeds in the United States will vary.

Importations from other countries will affect the numbers.

Only about 12-15 breeds of the approximately 70 actually have a major influence on the cattle industry!

CROSSBREDS

A large portion of the U.S. cattle industry relies on crossbreeding to improve and/or enhance the genetics of purebreds.

However, a large problem then exists with management and consistency in product quality.

What do you call a cow on the barnyard floor?

Ground Beef

Ha! Ha! Ha!

COMMON U.S. BREEDS

The next group of slides represent breeds common in the United States.

You will need to take notes about each breed!

British Breeds

These breeds were first developed in the british isles, I.e. Scotland, Ireland, England

ANGUS

ANGUS

Color: black Horned of Polled: polled Cow mature size:1150-

1250 lbs. Origin: Scotland 1- most popular breed

Desirable:- Carcass quality- Fertile, good milking, easy

calving- Polled Undesirable:

-Breeding problems w/ bulls

- not as cold tolerant as Herefords

HEREFORD

Hereford

Color: red body, white extremities

Horned of Polled: horned Cow mature size:

1150lbs. Origin:England 2- most popular breed

Desirable: -Hardiness in winter

-fertility of female

-good disposition

Undesirable:- low milk production- Do not marble well

POLLED HEREFORD

Polled Hereford

Color: Same as Hereford Horned of Polled: polled Cow mature size: Origin: Iowa U.S.

Desirable: larger frame than horned Hereford

Undesirable: less muscling

Shorthorn

Shorthorn

Color: Red, roan or white Horned of Polled: both Cow mature size: 1050 Origin: England

Desirable:- Easy calving- Good disposition

Undesirable:- light muscling- Poor carcass cutability

RED ANGUS

Red Angus

Color: Red Horned of Polled: polled Cow mature size: 1100 Origin: U.S. not as

popular as angus

Desirable: similar to angus

Undesirable: similar to angus

The following breeds are Continental breeds

This means they were developed in France, Spain etc…

CHAROLAIS

Charolais

Color: creamy white Horned of Polled: Both Cow mature size: 1550 Origin: France 5- most popular breed

Desirable: - Heavy muscling- Rapid growth

Undesirable:- less fertile- Milk production

SIMMENTAL

Simmental

Color: Yellow to red and white and black

Horned of Polled: predominately horned, some polled

Cow mature size:1500 Origin: Switzerland 4- most popular breed

Desirable:- High milk production- Rapid Growth- Good sire or dam breed

Undesirable:

- Some calving difficulties “high birth weight”

LIMOUSIN

Limousin

Color: golden red to light yellow

Horned of Polled: both Cow mature size:1300 Origin: France 3- most popular breed

Desirable:- Highest yielding carcass

of all breeds- Easy calving

Undesirable:- Slow ADG- Nervous- Milk production

GELBVIEH

Gelbvieh pronounced “GELP-Fee”

Color: yellow to golden red

Horned of Polled: both Cow mature size: 1300 Origin: Austria “West

Germany” 8- most popular breed

Desirable:

-rapid growth- good carcass- Good mothers

Undesirable:

- calving difficulties

CHIANINA (CHIANGUS, ETC.)

Chianina

Color: White to grey muzzle, feet, and switch

Horned of Polled: Cow mature size:1700 Origin: Italy

Desirable:- rapid growth- Ease of calving

Undesirable:- poor fertility- Nervous- Milk production not good

MAINE ANJOU

Maine- Anjou

Color: red and white Horned or Polled:

horned Cow mature size: 1700 Origin: France

Desirable: raid growth

- high milk production

Undesirable:- extreme calving difficulty- High calf mortality

Why do cows wear bells?

Their horns don't work!

Brahman and Brahman CrossesGeneral

Characteristics:

1. Heat tolerance

2. Parasite tolerance

3. High Heterosis when crossed with british breeds, and other exotics

BRAHMAN

Brahman

Color: White, black, brown, red

Horned of Polled: horned usually

Cow mature size: Origin: India 10- most popular breed

Desirable:- ease of calving- High heterosis- Great mothers

Undesirable:- low fertility- Slow growth- Lack good muscle

SANTA GERTRUDIS

Santa Gertrudis

Color: dark red Horned of Polled: both Cow mature size: 1450 Origin: U.S. King ranch

in Texas First beef breed

developed in the U.S.

Desirable:- Rapid growth- Good milk production

Undesirable:

- lower fertility than other Brahman X british crosses

BRANGUS

Brangus

Color: Black Horned of Polled: both Cow mature size: 1300 Origin: U.S.A.( 5/8Angus

and 3/8 Brahman 9- most popular breed

Desirable:- good milk production- High fertility

Undesirable:- Nervous- Pendulous sheath- Meat is tough- Not adapted to cold climate

BEEFMASTER

Beefmaster

Color: Red and white Horned of Polled:

predominately horned Cow mature size: Origin: U.S. 6- most popular breed

Desirable: Similar to brangus but lower fertility

Undesirable:

What do you call a cow that has 3 legs?

Lean beef !

The Texas Longhorn

This breed was developed purely by nature in the wide open spaces of of the U.S. southwest.

LONGHORN

Longhorn

- Color: White body covered w/ red or black spots

Horned of Polled: Big horns

Cow mature size:

Desirable: very prolific

Undesirable: meat is tough

TO LEARN MORE…

For more information on any of these breeds of cattle or for rarer breeds, please visit the following website:

www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/

Once there, click on beef breeds and select the breed you would like to know more about!

Test your knowledge

The farmer had been taken so many times by the local car dealer that when the dealer wanted to buy a cow, the farmer priced it to him like this: Basic cow, $200; two-tone exterior, $45; extra stomach $75; product storage compartment, $60; dispensing device, four spigots at $10 each,$40;genuine cowhide upholstery, $125; dual horns, $15; automatic fly swatter, $35. Total = $595.

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