Beef Cattle Genetics and Management

Texas A&M UniversityANSC 485

Allen Livingston IV

Areas of Interest

• East Texas

• Central California

• Queensland, Australia

East Texas Characteristics

East Texas Area

Land

• Soil– Sandy loams and clays mixed throughout the area

• Average top soil depth is 6 to 7”• Water

– Water table is approx. 4 ½ to 5 feet– Average yearly rainfall is 45 inches

• Minerals– Nitrogen deficient soils

• 450 total acres

Texas Rainfall

Warm Season Grass

• Texas tough Bermuda • Superior production to coastal (sprigged) bermudagrass at

TAMU Overton and Commerce• Combination of hulled common, Unhulled common and hulled

giant berdmudagrass for spring and early summer planting• Planted in pastures at a seeding rate of ten pounds per acre, or

interseeded in existing pastures at five pounds per acre• Economically priced to avoid the high cost of sprigging hybrid

bermudagrass pastures or beefing up existing bermudagrass pastures

• 10 lbs of seed per acre planted in disced pastures

Cool Season Grass

• TAM 90 Rye grass– High forage yield potential– Improved winter hardiness– Crown rust resistance– Plant in late September and early October– Fertilize with Nitrogen in December on three

pastures, so as not to interfere with stockpiled Bermudagrass

Invasive Vegetation

• Bahiagrass (Paspalum Notatum) • Carpet grass (Axonopus affinis)• Crabgrass (Digitaria ischamum)

• Fertilization and spring disking will combat these species

Carrying Capacity• 1 ½ to 2 acres per cow, 450 total acres• Rotational grazing

– Three pastures of 112 acres and one pasture of 114 acres– From breeding to weaning two herds of 109 head will be on

three pastures (100 ac) with calves from August to February on Bermuda/Tam 90

– From February to mid March weaned calves (approx. 189) will be on two pastures of Tam 90

– From April to July Stockers (approx. 80) will be on one pasture of Bermudagrass

– Herds will be rotated every 14 to 21 days

Stockpiled Bermuda

• From August to late November, one pasture of 150 acres will be set aside for stockpiling Bermuda

• Bring both herds in mid September a week apart to graze down thatch and then come in with a recommended Nitrogen ratio based on soil tests

• Graze pasture from October to December

Mineral/Protein Supplementation

• Iono-Lyx B300 • 28% Crude protein• 12% NPN• 2% Magnesium• Feed from September to

December along with stockpiled Bermuda (6% CP)

Mineral/Protein Supplementation

• Roylx Max• 4 % Crude protein• 5 % Magnesium• Feed from February to

May to prevent Grass Tetany

– Both supplements come in 250 lb tubs

• 1 tub can feed 20 to 25 head

Insect Control

• Pour-on wormer– Cydectin (1 ml per 22 lbs)

• Covers broad spectrum of internal and external parasites

• Fly control– Rubs placed around gates and/or trees

Cow-calf Operation

• Three breed terminal cross– Maine Anjou bulls bred to F1 Angus/Brahman females

• Maine Anjou bulls (8 total)– Black hide– Good growth rate and mature size– Lean to fat ratio – Age at puberty– Good milk production

Cow-calf Operation

• F1 females (210 total)• Angus

– Black hide– Early maturing– Age at puberty

• Brahman– Good growth rate and mature size– Lean to fat ratio – Good milk production

Calving Season

Vaccinations

• All Vaccinations will be given in front of the shoulder, subcutaneous injections only

• Females– 5-way Lepto, 7-way Blackleg, and Bovi-Shield

Gold 5 given in August • Bulls

– 5-way Lepto and 7-way Blackleg given in August

Vaccinations

• Calves– First 5-way Lepto, 7-way Blackleg, and Bovi-

Shield Gold 5 given in October or November– First Ralgro Implant given in October or

November– Heifer Brucellosis given in January– Pasteurella Hemolyticum given in January

Vaccinations

• Calves– Second 5-way Lepto, 7-way Blackleg, and

Bovi-Shield Gold 5 given at weaning (February)

– Second Ralgro implant given at weaning• Stockers

– Ralgro implant given in April– Wormer

East Texas Vaccination Costs

TEXAS Cattle Vaccines Product Name Quantity 1st Vacc 2nd Vacc Price/Vacc Total CostCows 210 5-way Lepto Vibrio-Lepto 5 (50 dose) 6 Aug - Sept $25.50 $153.00

8-way Blackleg Ultrabac 8 (50 dose) 6 Aug - Sept $13.95 $83.70Bovi-Shield Gold 5 (50 dose) 6 Aug - Sept $56.95 $341.70Wormer Cydectin (1 ml per 22 lbs) Aug - Sept $0.00Total 18 $96.40 $578.40

Bulls 8 5-way Lepto Vibrio-Lepto 5 (10 dose) 1 Aug - Sept $5.00 $5.008-way Blackleg Ultrabac 8 (10 dose) 1 Aug - Sept $3.45 $3.45Wormer Cydectin (1 ml per 22 lbs) - 1 L 1 Aug - Sept $86.00 $86.00Total 3 $94.45 $94.45

Calves 189 5-way Lepto Vibrio-Lepto 5 (50 dose) 8 Oct - Nov Feb - Apr $25.50 $204.008-way Blackleg Ultrabac 7/Somubac (50 dose) 8 Oct - Nov Feb - Apr $34.95 $279.60Bovi-Shield Gold 5 (50 dose) 8 Oct - Nov Feb - Apr $56.95 $455.60Ralgro Implant (24 dose pkg) 16 Oct - Nov Feb - Apr $25.50 $408.00Wormer Cydectin (1 ml per 22 lbs) - 5 L 1 Oct - Nov $302.95 $302.95Hefier Brucellosis Veterinary call 95 Jan $5.00 $475.00Pasteurella hemo. One Shot Mannheimia (50 dose) 8 Jan $108.00 $864.00Total 144 $558.85 $2,989.15

Stockers 82 Ralgro Implant (24 dose pkg) 4 April $25.50 $102.00Wormer Cydectin (1 ml per 22 lbs) - 2.5 L 1 April $189.00 $189.00Total 5 $214.50 $291.00

Misc Ralgro Gun 2 $46.00 $92.00Ralgro Needles (6 needles/pkg) 6 $5.88 $35.28Total 330 $1,016.08 $4,080.28

Price per Cow = $8.18Price per Bull = $11.81Price per Calf = $2.40Price per Stocker = $3.55

East Texas Forage Costs

Acres Cattle Planting time Seeds lbs/ac Cost/lb Seeds total/ac Cost/ac Total Cost450 300

Tex Tough Bermuda March-April 10 $5.00 4500 $50.00 $22,500.00TAM 90 Ryegrass Sept-Oct 25 $0.42 3750 $10.50 $4,725.00Total 450 300 35 $5.42 8250 $60.50 $27,225.00

East Texas Fertilizer Costs

TEXAS Fert Acres Cattle Time of Year lbs/ac needed Tons Needed Cost/ton Cost/ac Total Cost450 300

TX T. Bermuda 17-17-17 April 300 68 $298 $20,115Ryegrass Mix 17-17-17 Mid-December 45 10 $298 $3,017Total 450 300 78 $596 $0 $23,132

East Texas Protein Costs

Acres Cattle Time of year Tubs needed Consumption Cost/hd/day Cost per tub Total CostSupplement 400 300Rolyx - 4% CP Feb - May 11 .5 to 1.5 lbs/hd $0.50 $133.75 $1,471.25Iono-Lyx B300 Sept - Dec 9 .5 to 1.5 lbs/hd $0.44 $118.00 $1,062.00Total 20 $0.94 $251.75 $2,533.25

Marketing

• All calves will go through the VAC-45 program– Calves will be held for 45 days after weaning– All calves will be implanted with a second Ralgro implant

unless they are heifers that will be retained for replacements

– All calves will also be tagged with a radio frequency ID that meets the requirements of United States Animal Identification Plan (USAIP)

• 10 to 15% of heifers will be retained for replacements ( approx. 15)– Depending on market conditions

Marketing

• Calves will be sold through the NETBIO sale at Sulphur Springs, TX– Calves will be

vaccinated according to the requirements of the sale

Marketing

• Buy approx. 80 stockers from NETBIO sale in Sulphur Springs, TX in late march

• Background stockers for 60 to 90 days – Sell in mid July at NETBIO sale

Future Considerations

• Possibly add more stockers and keep more replacements depending on the market in future years

• Reseed pastures with Tam 90 ryegrass in third year

• Interseed Tex Tough Bermudagrass in 4th or 5th year to beef up the common Bermudagrass that will have taken over

Central California Characteristics

Central California Area

Land• Soil

– Sandy loams and Clays mixed throughout the area– Average soil depth is 2 to 3 ft

• Water– No water tables – Average yearly rainfall of 30 inches– Rainfall comes in late fall and winter, no rain from may to

October• Minerals

– Selenium, Copper, and Molybdenum are deficient• 3900 total acres

California Rainfall

Warm Season Grass

• California Brome Grass (Bromus carinatus)– Good on droughty soils– Have to mow in summer months to 3-4” to

decrease fire chances– Can be damaged by overgrazing

Cool Season Grass

• California Fescue – Festuca californica– Grows 2 ft tall– Good groundcover for slopes– Drought tolerant– Mid-sized bunch grass

Invasive Vegetation

• Yellow Star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis)• Medusa head (Taeniatherum crinitum)

– Annual grass that contains high amounts of silica– Will shade out improved grasses

• Control measures– Burn– Spray– Intensive grazing

Carrying capacity

• 12 to 15 acres per cow• Rotational grazing• Short Duration Grazing System (SDG)

– Eight pastures of 490 acres apiece – November to May rest periods will be five

days, because of California Fescue growth– June to October rest periods will be 7 to 14

days, due to the dry period

Mineral/Protein Supplementation

• Stockmaker CAL-204 • 12.5% Crude Protein• 200 ppm Copper (min)• 3.6 ppm Selenium (min)• Liquid will provide

additional protein needed

• Increases dry matter digestibility by 30%

• Feed from June through November

Mineral/Protein Supplementation

• 2101 Cow Base HC weatherized– Mineral helps maintain

nutrition during the winter months when green grass starts growing

– Contains organic minerals for better availability and is wind and rain resistant

Insect Control

• Wormer – Ivomec Plus injectable

• Injectable needed for “All natural” beef operation

• Fly control– Rubs placed around gates

Cow-calf Operation

• Cross• Angus bulls bred to F1 Angus/Hereford

females• Angus bulls (12 total)

– Black hide– Early maturing– Age at puberty– Good milking ability

Cow-calf Operation

• Angus/Hereford F1 females (288 total)• Hereford

– Good size– Age at puberty– Good milk production– Hardiness

Calving Season

Vaccinations

• Females– 5-way Lepto, 7-way Blackleg, and Bovi-Shield

Gold 5 given in July • Bulls

– 5-way Lepto and 7-way Blackleg given in July

Vaccinations

• Calves– First 8-way Blackleg, and Bovi-Shield Gold 5

given in November through January– Heifer Brucellosis given in February through

March– Second 8-way Blackleg given in February

through March– Bovi-Shield Gold 5 and wormer given in April

California Vaccination CostsCALIFORNIA Cattle Vaccines Product Name Quantity 1st Vacc 2nd Vacc Price/Vaccine Total CostCows 288 5-way Lepto Vibrio-Lepto 5 (50 dose) 6 July - Aug $25.50 $153.00

7-way Blackleg Ultrabac 8 (50 dose) 6 July - Aug $13.95 $83.70Bovi-Shield Gold 5 (50 dose) 6 July - Aug $56.95 $341.70Wormer Ivomec Plus Injectable 3 July - Aug $369.95 $1,109.85Total 21 $466.35 $1,688.25

Bulls 12 5-way Lepto Vibrio-Lepto 5 (50 dose) 1 July - Aug $25.50 $25.507-way Blackleg Ultrabac 8 (10 dose) 1 July - Aug $3.45 $3.45Wormer Ivomec Plus Injectable 1 July - Aug $101.95 $101.95Total 3 $130.90 $130.90

Calves 260 8-way Blackleg Ultrabac 8 (50 dose) 12 Nov - Jan Feb -Mar $13.95 $167.40Bovi-Shield Gold 5 (50 dose) 6 Nov - Jan Apr $56.95 $341.70Hefier Brucellosis Veterinary call 95 Feb -Mar $5.00 $475.00Wormer Ivomec Plus Injectable 1 Feb -Mar $573.90 $573.90Total 114 $649.80 $984.10

Total 138 $2,803.25

Price per Cow = $5.61Price per Bull = $10.91Price per Calf = $0.66

California Protein Costs

Acres Cattle Time of year Tons needed Consumption Cost/hd/day Cost per ton Total CostSupplement 3900 300Stockmaker June - Nov 28 1 to 1.5 lbs/hd $0.18 $300.00 $8,400.002101 Cow Base Sept - Dec 6 0.1 to 0.25 lbs/hd $0.06 $650.00 $3,900.00Total 34 $0.24 $950.00 $12,300.00

Marketing• All calves will be sold

through the Niman Ranch• No antibiotics or

hormones will be administered

• All calves will be selected by Niman Ranch representatives

• All calves will be tagged with an electronic ID, to go along with the USAIP

Future Considerations

• In second or third year bring in Stockers, to supplement possibly low market prices in the future

• Stockers will not go through the Niman Ranch program, but will be sold in a local sell barn

• Stockers will be managed very little to maximize profit on them

Queensland Characteristics

Queensland, Australia Area

Land

• Soil – Various Clay soils mixed throughout the area

• Water– In the last 36 months, they have had 94 in of rainfall

• Minerals – Deficient in Selenium, Copper, Molybdenum, and

Magnesium if grazing on dryland oats• 2000 total acres

Queensland Rainfall

Grass• Native Grasses

– Kangaroo grass (Themeda australis)• Perennial• Summer growing• Palatable forage• Doesn’t withstand heavy grazing• Fire tolerant

– Queensland Blue grass (Dicanthium spp.)• Very frost sensitive, but resumes growth when warm weather starts• Deals with trampling very well• Not as drought resistant, but a heavy seeder• Reproduces well with adequate rains

Carrying Capacity

• Natural pastures – 450 kg (990 lbs) animal to 2-4 hectares (4.5 to 9 acres)

Mineral/Protein Supplementation

• Anipro – Molasses based

supplement that contains a slow release protein – Rumapro

– There is a sweet and a sour component and consumption can be controlled by increasing the ratio of either component

Mineral/Protein Supplementation

• Intake for Cow/calf pairs is approx. 1 lb per day

• Distributor from Performance Feeds services each 500 L Trough on a three week cycle

• One trough per 40 cows

Insect Control

• Wormer– Ivomec Plus Injectable

• Dosage is 2 ml per 220 lbs

Cow-calf Operation

• Three breed terminal cross– Wagyu bulls bred to F1 Wagyu – Angus females

• Wagyu bulls– Tajima bloodlines are thought to be ideal for the

production of F1 cattle for slaughter– Regarded as the best quality meat in all of Japan– Higher ratio of mono-unsaturated fatty acids to

saturated fatty acids which makes fat softer and meat taste better

Cow–calf Operation

• Wagyu – Usually have black hides, but they also have a recessive

red gene– Horned– Early maturing

• Angus– Early maturing– Good milk production– Good marbling

Calving Season

Vaccinations

• Cows– 5-way Lepto and 7-way Blackleg

• Bulls– 5-way Lepto and 7-way Blackleg

• Calves– 7-way Blackleg

Australian Vaccination CostsAustralia Cattle Vaccines Product Name Quantity 1st Vacc 2nd Vacc Price/Vacc Total CostCows 288 5-way Lepto Vibrio-Lepto 5 (50 dose) 6 Sept - Oct $25.50 $153.00

7-way Blackleg Ultrabac 8 (50 dose) 6 Sept - Oct $13.95 $83.70Bovi-Shield Gold 5 (50 dose) 6 Sept - Oct $56.95 $341.70Wormer Ivomec Plus Injectable 1 Sept - Oct 1,479.80 $1,479.80Total 19 $39.45 $2,058.20

Bulls 12 5-way Lepto Vibrio-Lepto 5 (10 dose) 2 Sept - Oct $5.00 $10.007-way Blackleg Ultrabac 8 (10 dose) 2 Sept - Oct $3.45 $6.90Wormer Ivomec Plus Injectable 1 Sept - Oct 136.90 $136.90Total 5 $8.45 $16.90

Calves 260 8-way Blackleg Ultrabac 8 (50 dose) 12 Nov - Jan March $13.95 $167.40Bovi-Shield Gold 5 (50 dose) 6 Nov - Jan March $56.95 $341.70Wormer Ivomec Plus Injectable 1 Nov - Jan $573.90 $573.90Total 19 $644.80 $1,083.00

Total 43 $3,158.10

Price per Cow = $5.27Price per Bull = $1.41Price per Calf = $3.19

Australian Protein Costs

Acres Cattle Time of year Tubs needed Consumption Cost/hd/day Cost per tub Total CostSupplement 2000 300Anipro Nov - Apr 50 0.7 - 0.9 L/day $0.11 $319.00 $15,950.00Total 50 0.7 - 0.9 L/day $0.11 $319.00 $15,950.00

Marketing

• Australia currently supplies 30 percent of Japanese market requirement – about 1 million carcasses annually

• Market growth to Japan will continue to grow, but more in boxed beef

• Japanese consumers will pay a premium for highly marbled meat

Marketing

• Wagyu steers are targeted at the Japanese B3 market– A long stay in feedlots with a high-energy diet is

required• Australian grading is 5-star with MS3+• B3 market is for feeder steers 16-18 months of age

and 792-880 lbs live weight to be slaughtered at 26-28 months after 200+ days feeding with a final carcass weight of 836-880 lbs, marble score of 3-4 with 25 mm of fat

Marketing

• W.A.L. Wagyu Australia Limited– A private share company has been set up to

facilitate Wagyu Markets through a single marketing desk

Marketing

• Animal welfare and origin is very important to Japanese consumers– All calves will be tagged with an electronic ID,

as required by the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS Australia)

– No implants and very few if any antibiotics will be administered to cattle

– Background calves for at least 45 days before sending to a feedlot

Future Considerations

• Introduce Rhodes grass (improved/native)

• Implement a rotational grazing system

First Year Total Costs

Texas California AustraliaVaccines $4,080.28 $2,803.25 $2,803.25Fertilizer $23,132.00 n/a n/aProtein $2,265.75 $12,300.00 $15,950.00Forage $27,225.00 n/a n/a

Total $56,703.03 $15,103.25 $18,753.25

Future Total Costs

Texas California Australia2nd year $6,613.53 $14,195.95 $17,054.403rd year $14,355.53 $14,195.95 $17,054.404th year $6,613.53 $14,195.95 $17,054.405th year $6,613.53 $14,195.95 $17,054.40

Total $34,196.12 $56,783.80 $68,217.60