Beef Cattle Production - MP184 - University of Arkansas ...

MP184

Beef Cattle Production

DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE

RESEARCH & EXTENSION

University of Arkansas System

University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating

BLANK - inside front cover

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Chapter 2: SYSTEMS OF BEEF CATTLE

PRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

CowCalf Phase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Backgrounding Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Finishing/Feedlot Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

The Purebred Herd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Chapter 3: BEEF CATTLE SELECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Major Performance Traits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Selection Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Performance Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Genetic Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Chapter 4: ANIMAL BREEDING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Basis for Genetic Improvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Mating Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Crossbreeding Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Genetics and the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Chapter 5: BEEF CATTLE NUTRITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Essential Nutrients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Protein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Carbohydrates and Fats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Minerals for Beef Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Vitamins for Beef Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Balancing Rations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Chapter 6: BEEF CATTLE FEEDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Feeding the Cow Herd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Special Nutrient Deficiencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Feeds Produced in Arkansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Chapter 7: FORAGES FOR BEEF CATTLE . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Matching Pastures With Seasonal Forage

Requirements of Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Planning the Grazing Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Grazing System Planning Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Pasture and Hay Forage Inventory Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Chapter 8: BEEF CATTLE MANAGEMENT

PRACTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Management of Breeding Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Artificial Insemination of Beef Cows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Estrous Synchronization in Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Embryo Transplantation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Body Condition Scoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Management at Calving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Managing the Calf Crop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Feed Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Chapter 9: KEYS TO SUCCESS IN

STOCKER PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Economics of Stocker Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Effects of Health on Performance and

Profitability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Types of Stocker/Backgrounding Programs . . . . . . . . 58

Summary and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Chapter 10: HERD HEALTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

The Beginning Herd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Herd Health Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Suggested Herd Health Practices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Treatment of Stocker Calves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Common Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Cattle Vaccinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Health Calendar and Cattle Vaccinations . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Chapter 11: WORKING AND FEEDING

FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Working Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Feeding Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Chapter 12: MARKETING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Marketing Alternatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Future Price Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Current Market Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Market Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Management Factors Affecting Market Price . . . . . . . . 77

Marketing Purebred Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Market Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Chapter 13: FARM MANAGEMENT FACTORS . . . . . . . 79

Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Income Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Budgeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Feeder Cattle Budgeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture ? Cooperative Extension Service is implied.

Editors

? Shane Gadberry, PhD

Associate Professor Nutrition and Management Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Little Rock

? John Jennings, PhD

Professor Forages Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Little Rock

? Heidi Ward, DVM, PhD

Assistant Professor Veterinarian Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Little Rock

? Paul Beck, PhD

Professor Stocker Cattle Management Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Southwest Research and Extension Center Hope

? Bryan Kutz

Instructor Cattle Breeding and Selection Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Fayetteville

? Tom Troxel, PhD

Professor Beef Cattle Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Little Rock

Chapter 1

Introduction

All Cattle and Calves

As of January 1, 2015, Arkansas' inventory of cattle and calves was 1.6 million head (Table 11). The record for herd size in the state was recorded on January 1, 1975, with a total of 2.68 million head. Cattle production ranks as the fourth highest income producing commodity in Arkansas (Figure 11). Cash receipts from the marketing of cattle and calves in the state in 2014 were $766 million.

Arkansas is a cowcalf state. Most cattle producers are in the business of selling calves from their herd for further growth and finishing in feedlots. A certain portion, about 20 percent, of the calves are kept to replenish the breeding herd, with the remainder shipped to other states for finishing and slaughter. Arkansas' climate and most of its soil and terrain are suited for the production of grass and other forage necessary for this type of cattle production. Many areas in Arkansas are suited for grazing stocker calves on winter pastures of wheat and other coolseason grasses. Stocker cattle are put on pasture to increase size before placement in feedlots. The stocker calves will eventually go to feedlots in the Plains. Cattle

production is a good way to use land not suited for crop production. Arkansas cattle are of the quality and type that have a ready market.

TABLE 11. Beef Cattle Numbers in Arkansas

Year

2015 2014

Total Inventory1

1,6404

1,650

Beef Cows2 8634

862

Calf Crop3

7504

2013

1,600

851

760

2012

1,670

909

760

2011

1,720

928

800

2010

1,910

937

800

2009

1,800

905

820

2008

1,810

960

770

2007

1,750

940

820

2006

1,710

920

800

2005

1,860

990

850

1All cattle and calves 2Cows and heifers that have calved 3During previous year 4Thousands head

Source: Arkansas Agricultural Statistics Service

Poultry and Eggs

4 7

Rice

1 5

Soybeans

20

Catle and Calves

Coton

5 2

Other Livestock 0

Wheat 1

Hogs 0 5

0

10 20

30

40

50

PercePnertcoefnTt ootfaTloRtaelcReeipcetsipts

FIGURE 11. Cash receipts in Arkansas ? 2014 (as a percent of total receipts).

FSioguurrcee1: .SACorkuaarscnhes:RaAesrckAeaginprsitcassuilnAtugArrraickluaSlnttusarataissl tS?icta2st0iSs1te4icr(vsaiSsceearvpiceer

cent of total receipts).

5

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