In our overview of the livestock industries, it was recommended
 that you read the following chapters in Scientific Farm Animal 
 Production (8th Ed.) by R. E. Taylor and T. G. Field.
    Chap. 2   An Overview of the U.S. Animal Industries
    Chap. 26  Feeding and Managing Beef Cattle
    Chap. 28  Feeding and Managing Dairy Cattle
    Chap. 30  Feeding and Managing Swine
    Chap. 32  Feeding and Managing Sheep
    Chap. 34  Feeding and Managing Horses
  
 The following review questions are intended to point out and  help you
 understand some of the major points in the reading  material.
 
 CHAPTER 26:
 
 23-1.  What are the *three* main criteria for assessing the profitability
        of a commercial cow/calf operation?
 
        The first part of the chapter (up to "Stocker-Yearling Production)
        focuses on management practices to maximize (or minimize) these 
        three factors.  Read these pages and note the following information.
        Use of ALL CAPS is meant for emphasis.  Further specific questions 
        are meant to help you note some specific points.
 
 1) Percent Calf Crop
    *  Heifers need to be managed (proper feed) to reach a desired WEIGHT to
       reach puberty at 14-15 months so they can calve as two-year-olds.
    *  Heifers should be bred to calve early in the calving season (starting
       one month before the cows) because they have a longer POSTPARTUM
       INTERVAL than cows.
    *  Manage cows and heifers (even after the first calf is born) in separate
       herds.
    *  Nutrition programs (pastures plus supplemental feed when needed) should
       be designed to keep all cattle in moderate BODY CONDITION.  A system of
       body condition scoring (BCS) has been developed.  (See Table 23.3).
    *  Observe cattle, especially heifers, closely during calving for DYSTOCIA.
    *  Management decisions should be made to minimize calving difficulty. 
       This is done primarily through sire selection to keep calf birth weights
       moderate.
    *  Evaluate bulls for breeding soundness
    *  Consider crossbreeding
    *  The primary nutritional factor affecting calf crop percentage is ENERGY.
    *  Work with you veterinarian for a vaccination program against
       reproductive diseases.
    *  Newborn calves are susceptible to scours, pneumonia, and other health
       problems affected by inclement weather.  Be observant.
 
 2) Heavy weaning weights
    *  Have a controlled breeding season.  Calves born early in the calving
       season are heavier than calves born later (because they are older).
    *  Have enough available forage for adequate milk production by the cows.
    *  Use approved growth stimulants for nursing calves where appropriate. 
       Read the label!!  Use only approved products under conditions specified
       on the label for heifers that will be used for breeding purposes.  Some
       say, play it safe, do not implant replacement heifers.
    *  Creep feeding calves may be appropriate during times of grass shortages
       or when forages become mature during late summer.  Creep feeding may not
       be economical at other times.
    *  Genetic selection for milk production and calf growth rate will increase
       calf weaning weight (unless the cow herd already is producing adequate
       milk).
    *  Consider crossbreeding.
 
 3) Management for low annual cow costs
    *  Establish an enterprise budget to identify and assess cow costs
    *  Feed costs make up the greatest portion (50-70%) of annual cow costs. 
       Take advantage of lower quality forages (crop stubble, corn stalks,
       etc.) during the time between weaning and last 60 days prior to calving. 
    *  Match the type of cow you raise (size, breed) with the available feed
       resources.  Big cows need more feed and have to wean a heavier calf to
       pay for the extra feed.  Extra supplemental feed increases production
       costs.
    *  Keep labor costs low.
    *  Keep interest cost down (from loans).  Do you really need that new
       pickup or tractor?
 
 23-2.  What do we mean by "body condition"?
 
 23-3.  What is dystocia?
 
 23-4.  What is the primary cause of calving difficulties?
        (Breed of calf?  Gestation length?  Sex of calf?  Calf birth weight? 
        Over-feeding the cow?  Under-feeding the cow?)
 
 23-5.  Why do calves born early in the calving season have heavier weaning
        weights than those born later in the calving season?
 
 23-6.  Calves with heavy weaning weights generally have heavy birth
        weights.  (True or False)
 
 23-7.  How does crossbreeding improve calf crop percentage?
 
 23-8.  What is creep feeding?
 
 23.9.  Should implants be given to bulls and heifers saved for breeding
        purposes?
 
 23-10. How does crossbreeding improve calf weaning weights?
 
 23-11. What item makes up the largest part of annual cow costs?
 
 23-12. When should cows and heifers be pregnancy checked?
 
 23-13. Should cows and heifers that are open at the time of being pregnancy
        checked be given "one more chance" to get pregnant?
 
 STOCKER-YEARLING PRODUCTION
 
 23-14. Look at Fig. 2.5 (Chapter 2) to review alternative stocker-yearling
        production programs.
 
 23-15. What are the major factors affecting the profitability of a stocker-
        yearling operation?  (Table 26.7 also will help.)
 
 23-16. What is shrink?  How does it affect profitability of a stocker-yearling
        operation?
 
 FEEDLOTS

 23-17. Compare a commercial feedlot to a farmer-feeder feedlot with respect
        to facilities.
 
 23-18. What is "fill?"  How does it affect the cost of feedlot cattle?  How
        is it related to "shrink?"
 
 23-19. What is meant by compensatory gain?
 
 23-20. What is the major cost of putting gain on feedlot cattle?  What
        portion of the costs of gain does this item make up?
 
 23-21. Cattle feeders often talk about "yardage" cost.  What is this?
 
 23-22. What is "pencil shrink?"  (Look under the section on Gross
        Receipts.)