![]() In the 20th century, Canadian practice followed the American guidance. The 1996 seventh edition substituted the concept of metabolizeable protein for the sixth edition's crude protein. The standard text in the United States, Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle, has been through eight editions over at least seventy years. There are a range of types of feed available for these animals. On average, cattle will consume 1.4 to 4% of their body weight daily. Owners are expected to monitor their cattle's condition regularly for early detection and treatment, as some cattle illnesses can threaten both cattle and human health (known as zoonotic) as witnessed with Mad cow disease and Tuberculosis. Depending on a multitude of factors (season, type of production system, stocking density, etc.), illness and disease can spread quickly through the herd from animal to animal. If an animal is infected or suspected to have an illness, it is the responsibility of the owners to report it immediately to a practicing veterinarian for either treatment or euthanasia. According to the Canadian National Farm Animal Care Council, beef cattle must have access to shelter from extreme weather, safe handling and equipment, veterinary care and humane slaughter. ![]() Cattle maintenance Ĭattle handlers are expected to maintain a low stress environment for their herds, involving constant safety, health, comfort, nourishment and humane handling. Owners can select the breeding time based on a number of factors, including reproductive performance, seasonal cattle pricing and handling facilities. Depending on the operation, calving may occur all year round. However, cattle breeding can occur at other times of year. Cattle are normally bred during the summer so that calving may occur the following spring. However, beef cattle can also be bred through artificial insemination, depending on the cow and the size of the herd. If it was a cow's first time calving, she will take longer to re-breed by at least 10 days. Most beef cattle are mated naturally, whereby a bull is released into a herd of cows approximately 55 days after the calving period, depending on the cows' body condition score (BCS). However, throughout the generations, the breed has diverged into two groups through selective breeding. Not only are they a dual-purpose breed for beef and dairy, but in the past they were also used for draught. The original Simmental/ Fleckvieh from Switzerland is a prime example. There are multiple continental breeds that were bred for this purpose as well. Dual-purpose breeds include many of the Zebu breeds of India such as Tharparkar and Ongole Cattle. ![]() These breeds have been selected for two purposes at once, such as both beef and dairy production, or both beef and draught. Breeds known as dual-purpose are also used for beef production. An example of a desired trait could be leaner meat or resistance to illness. While the principal use of beef cattle is meat production, other uses include leather, and beef by-products used in candy, shampoo, cosmetics, and insulin.īesides breeding to meet the demand for beef production, owners also use selective breeding to attain specific traits in their beef cattle. Animals not grown for a feedlot are typically female and are commonly known as replacement heifers. Animals grown specifically for the feedlot are known as feeder cattle, the goal of these animals is fattening. ![]() From here the calves are backgrounded for a feedlot. The production cycle of the animals starts at cow-calf operations this operation is designed specifically to breed cows for their offspring. In beef production there are three main stages: cow-calf operations, backgrounding, and feedlot operations. The meat of mature or almost mature cattle is mostly known as beef. Japanese wagyu bull on a farm north of Kobeīeef cattle are cattle raised for meat production (as distinguished from dairy cattle, used for milk production). Breed of cattle A young bull of the Blonde d'Aquitaine breed. ![]()
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