Term
| What are the classes of beef operations? (5) |
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Definition
Cow-Calf
Backgrounding/Stocker
Feedlot
Mature Cows
Replacement Heifers |
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Term
| What do backgrounding/stocker producers do? |
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Definition
| grow calf for 3-6 months post-weaning on pasture or dry lot |
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Term
| What differentiates low-cost cow-calf producers from high ones? |
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Definition
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Term
| What factors characterize profitable cow-calf producers? |
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Definition
Control feed costs
-maximize pasture use, minimize need for supplements & feed
Superior genetics
-size, efficiency, milk production
-genetics that complement market desires & available resources
Diverse marketing strategies
Management based on facts & science not tradition and hype |
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Term
| What are the typical objectives of beef cow producers? |
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Definition
-produce a 90%+ healthy calf crop at reasonable cost
-rebred by 80-85d postpartum to produce 1 calf a year |
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Term
| What are some consequences of cow malnutrition? |
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Definition
-puberty
-postpartum estrus
-gametogenesis
-conception rates
-embryonic mortality
-prenatal development
-sexual behaviour |
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Term
| What factors affect net calf crop? |
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Definition
Breeding Season
-restrict mating season so that calves arrive in narrow window, and feed is available for cows
Management of facilities to make work efficient
Records: cow temperament, maternal ability, milk production, calf size etc. to match to suitable bull
Herd health: disease control
Days open: nutrition, early weaning can affect
Calf survival: feeding affects perinatal losses, dystocia
Gestation: Nutrition, condition scoring
Bull fertility: nutrition matters |
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Term
| What are the biological priorities for nutrients by beef cows (e.g if nutrition is lacking, what aspects will be 'hit' first) |
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Definition
1. Maintenance
2. Growth
3. Milk Production
4. Reproduction
repro will take first hit |
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Term
| How old is a heifer at first conception? First calving? How long is gestation? |
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Definition
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Term
| What age are calves weaned? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the target for first postpartum estrus? |
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Definition
| want to conceive by 80d post partum |
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Term
| Why is early onset of puberty important |
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Definition
will have had more estrus cycles before breeding, better conception rates
will produce more calves (as a herd) |
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Term
| Are cows at mature body weight when they first breed? When they first calve? |
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Definition
| no, 70% at first breeding, 80% at first calving |
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Term
| What happens if a cow is too thin? Too fat? |
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Definition
-limited milk production, reduced conception rates
-too fat = excess lipid in mammary gland = less milk produced |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| What is the most crucial time of year for beef production & reproduction? Why? |
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Definition
post-calving period (up to 80-85 days)
-peak lactation
-need to re-breed |
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Term
| Do you need grains during post-calving period? |
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Definition
| not necessarily, can have good forage to meet reqs. If trying to put weight on then maybe |
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Term
What drives nutrient demands when cows are pregnant and lactation?
What is the typical diet fed? |
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Definition
lactation
-good quality pastures if available
-otherwise good quality hay & silage
-no grain, minimal prot supps required as long as forages are good |
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Term
| Mid-gestation is the best time for.... |
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Definition
| put weight and condition on thin cows |
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Term
| How can cow/calf operations decrease winter feeding costs? |
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Definition
straw/corn stalks to use good qual hay for calves, sale etc
limit-feed concentrate based diets or high quality forage
maximize use of pastures/grazing (stock-pile grazing good idea)
minimize supplementation (cost of labour and the supplement)
control feed wastage
strategic use of expensive nutrients only when needed |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| What should be considered when planning winter feeding programs? |
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Definition
-estimate hay requirements
-assess quality of feed available
-cost of purchased feed vs what you can produce
-body condition of cows, separate into groups if practical
-temperature effects |
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Term
| What are things to consider if grazing cows on corn residue? |
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Definition
-quality decrease as the residue weathers
-nutrient requirements as you approach calving
-snow cover, wet weather (limits intake)
-adaptation to grain (maybe) hard to predict what grain intake will be on corn residue |
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Term
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Definition
| allow cattle to graze on swaths in winter that were swathed in the fall. environment affects quality big time |
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Term
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Definition
| providing high quality feed prior to breeding season to maximize reproductive performance |
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Term
| What are the 'staples' of cow nutrition? (4) |
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Definition
pasture
conserved forages
crop residues
byproducts
NO GRAIN
-match forage quality to animal demands |
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Term
| What are the advantages of spring calving? |
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Definition
-means that nutrient requirements in winter are minimal (when harvested forages are fed)
-will be on highest qual pasture at time of highest requirements |
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Term
| What are the advantages of summer & fall calving? con? |
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Definition
-can calve on pasture easily (cheaper, and healthier)
-will be market weight at a time when supply is lower (spring-calving is more common, most would have sold already)
-can put on high-qual pastures shortly after weaning
CON
-need to feed higher quality feeds through fall and winter to meet demands of lactation |
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Term
| What requirement should be satisfied first when feeding cows, protein or energy? |
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Definition
energy
-if lacking, will use protein for energy which is expensive to supplement |
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Term
| Why do you want to avoid over-feeding protein? |
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Definition
expensive ingredient
storing excess AAs as glucose is inefficient |
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Term
| How can energy reserves in cows be assessed? |
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Definition
Use a scale to measure BW change (not always practical)
Visual assessment of BCS (not always accurate) |
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Term
| What effect does poor BCS have on postpartum anestrus? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which is the best strategy, to meet requirements & maintain good BCS throughout the year, or to have cyclic losses and gains? |
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Definition
| economically, cyclic losses and gains if you know how to make use of compensatory gain and providing good nutrition at critical times |
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Term
| most important factor influencing reproductive performance |
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Definition
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Term
| How might you separate cows into groups? |
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Definition
based on BCS
1-4 need higher qual feed
5-7 average feed
8-9 lower qual feed
Based on stage
-replacement heifers
-first calf heifers & older thin heifers
-mature cows in good condition |
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Term
| How does bite size relate to cow nutrition? |
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Definition
| first calf heifers (24 months old) will have immature teeth, wont have the same ability to take in feed that mature cows do. older cows may have lost teeth, same issue |
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Term
| Why are fatty acids important for fertility? |
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Definition
precursors for steroid hormones
energy source |
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Term
| Why is UIP important for fertility? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the effects of undernutrition in growing bulls? |
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Definition
-reduced growth
-delayed puberty
-lower testicular weight
-potentially permanently reduced sperm production
-reduced sperm viability |
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Term
| What are the effects of overnutrition in growing bulls? |
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Definition
reduced long term performance
-fat deposition in sex glands
-joint issues |
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Term
| Effects of undernutrition for the mature bull |
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Definition
reduced libido
impaired endocrine testicular function
impaired spermatogenesis & semen quality |
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