Unit 2: Beef Cattle

Color: Black
Traits: Always polled, no scurs, most popular single breed in the US
Type: Maternal (English breed)

Color: Red with white face and points
Traits: Distinguished horns, moderate milk production, polled lines available
Type: Maternal (English breed)

Color: White with reddish pigment in skin
Traits: Heavy muscled, white color co-dominant
Type: Paternal (Exotic/Continental breed)

Color: Red or black
Traits: Heavy muscled, fine boned
Type: Paternal (Exotic/Continental breed)

Color: Traditionally red and white spotted, US lines mostly solid black or with some white
Traits: Popular in show cattle, selected for hair length
Type: Paternal

Color: Red, roan, or white
Traits: Noted dairy and beef lines
Type: Maternal

Color: Dark to light grey
Traits: Long ears, hump, strong resistance to parasites and heat
Type: Maternal

Color: Black with slight hump and ears
Traits: Combines heat and parasite tolerance with growth and maternal ability
Type: Maternal

Color: Red, US lines developed black
Traits: Moderate size, known for reproductive performance
Type: Paternal or Maternal

Color: Various levels of white, red, and black mixing
Traits: Large horns, durable in tough conditions, easy to calve
Type: Maternal

Color: Traditionally yellow or red spotted, American lines can be black or grey
Traits: Bred for triple purpose in Europe
Type: Paternal (Exotic/Continental breed)

Color: White with black eyes and switch, American lines small and black
Traits: Crosses with Brahman lines can have striped or brindle pattern
Type: Paternal

Color: Spotted to white with roan pigment
Traits: Double muscled, produces unusually tender meat
Type: Paternal (Exotic/Continental breed)

first stage in the beef industry, responsoble for creating genetic change in performance traits

tool used by seedstock producers, genetic evaluations reported in this form, expresses genotype of animal in terms of how progeny are expected to perform

second stage of beef industry, combine genetic pieces to create a weaned feeder calf

third stage of beef industry, purchase weaned calves and apply concnetrates to produce higher value marker steer/heifer

fourth stage of beef industry, responsible for the harvest/slaughter of cattle, high production efficiency (~5000 head beef cattle per day)

term that refers to calving difficulty

cow gestation length

process of weighing, identifying, and castrating newborn calf

birth weight range of calves

section of a pasture

cow estrous cycle length

when a cow stands for another cow to mount her

average weight of calves at weaning

rate of weight gain per day for cattle in feedlot

harvest cattle weight range

castrated male cattle

intact male cattle

young female cattle

mature female cattle

cattle offspring