Animal, Plant & Soil Science

Lesson C7-1The Beef Industry

What are the common breeds of beef animals, and how do they differ?

Angus cattle are the most popular purebred beef cattle, partially because they are vigorous and perform well in feedlots.

The animals are polled, or born without horns.

They are moderate in size compared to other breeds and are solid black or red.

The red animals do not absorb as much heat as the black ones, making them more heat tolerant.

What are the common breeds of beef animals, and how do they differ?

Angus cattle are known for their marbling, which is the desirable presence of fat in the muscle.

The American Angus Association has been active since 1883 and has not allowed red calves to be registered since 1917.

The Red Angus Association was formed in 1954.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of beef production?

Beef production has several advantages and disadvantages.

A. The advantages of raising beef cattle are: 1. Beef cattle eat roughages. 2. While beef cattle are good foragers, they do

not essentially need to be fed daily. 3. If a producer follows good management

practices, typically death losses are reasonably low in beef cattle production.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of beef production?

4. Beef cattle can be raised in small numbers or by several thousand head.

5. Meat is constantly indemand by consumers.

6. The beef industry provides many jobs. 7. Beef cattle provide an interest to FFA and 4-

H projects.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of beef production?

B. The disadvantages of raising beef cattle are: 1. A producer can take on several risks by

raising beef cattle. 2. The efficiency of a beef animal is not as

stable as that of other livestock. 3. A beef cow has a 283-day gestation period. 4. The cost of starting a beef operation is

expensive.

What facilities and equipment are required in beef production?

Beef cattle facilities and equipment can be reliant on the various types of production and climate.

Number of cattle, amount of space, kind of facility, location, herd and property security, environment and climate conditions, money readily available for investment, and use of other facilities and equipment are key factors in planning for beef cattle production.

What facilities and equipment are required in beef production?

A. Shelter for beef cattle can be loose and open yet provide enough protection from wind, rain, cold, and heat.

B. Fencing is another important component of raising beef cattle.

C. Pens and corrals are used to confine beef cattle and are important components in feedlots.

What facilities and equipment are required in beef production?

What facilities and equipment are required in beef production?

D. Other equipment in beef production is used for castration, dehorning, and identification purposes.

1. An elastrator or Burdizzo is used in castration. Castration is the removal or

destruction of the testicles of a male so it does not breed.

2. There are many ways to dehorn cattle. Dehorning is the removal of the horns from

horned breeds.

What facilities and equipment are required in beef production?

3. Many types of identification are used in beef cattle production. Examples are ear tags, ear tattoos,

neckbands, branding, nose prints, DNA testing, and microchips.

New ear tags allow for electronic tracking of animals.

Nose prints and DNA testing show the precise identity of animals.

Microchips can be placed beneath the skin of animals, and scanners will decode their signals.

What are the leading states and nations in beef production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?

Statistics show the leading states and nations in beef production and the major export and import markets for the United States.

A. The leading beef-producing states, based on beef cash receipts for 2009, are the following: (1) Texas, (2) Missouri, (3) Oklahoma, (4) Nebraska, (5) South Dakota, (6) Kansas, (7) Montana, (8) Kentucky, (9) Tennessee, (10) Iowa.

What are the leading states and nations in beef production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?

B. The top 10 beef-producing nations are the following: (1) United States, (2) Brazil, (3) European Union, (4) China, (5) Argentina, (6) India, (7) Mexico, (8) Australia, (9) Russia, (10) Canada.

C. The top 10 world exporters of beef are the following: (1) Brazil, (2) Australia, (3) India, (4) New Zealand, (5) Canada, (6) Argentina, (7) Uruguay, (8) United States, (9) European Union, (10) Ukraine.

What are the leading states and nations in beef production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?

1. The leading nations to which the United States exports are the following: (1) Mexico, (2) Canada, (3) Japan, (4) Taiwan, (5) Hong Kong.

D. Although the United States is the largest producer of beef in the world, it is also a large importer of beef.

What are the leading states and nations in beef production, and what are the major export and import markets for the United States?

1. The top nations from which the United States imports beef are Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The beef from Australia and New Zealand is

mostly used for ground-beef products. 2. The United States also imports

beef from Argentina and Brazil. Cooked beef products are the main

beef products imported from these two countries.

How does the beef industry affect the economy?

The beef industry is important to the economy.

Cattle and calves lead farm commodities.

Producers earned the largest cash receipts in the United States.

A. Beef is the number one selling protein in the United States. Beef cattle production represents the largest

single segment of U.S. agriculture.

What are common parasites and diseases that affect beef cattle, and what are appropriate prevention and treatment methods?

Several common parasites and diseases can affect beef cattle.

Good management systems and prevention programs can control these.

A. Common external parasites include flies, mosquitoes, lice, mites, and ticks. Sanitation practices applied to facilities and

equipment can reduce these parasites.

What are common parasites and diseases that affect beef cattle, and what are appropriate prevention and treatment methods?

B. Common internal parasites include roundworms and flatworms. Anthelmintics are chemicals used to control

worms and to deworm animals. These chemicals can be injected, given orally,

applied by a pour-on method, or may be mixed with feed.

C. Diseases can drastically affect a beef herd. Veterinarians help producers manage herd

health.