1. Trends in U.S. cattle population
2. State rankings for all cattle, brood cows, fed cattle
3. Overview of U.S. beef industry segments
4. Current issues/goals in the beef industry
   (1995, 2000, and 2005 Beef Quality Audits)....You can go to Google and search for "Beef Quality Audit." (Include the quotation marks.)
   Two documents have been included here:
       An excutive summary of the 2000 Beef Quality Audit
       (This document describes how the beef quality audits were done.)
       "Beef" magazine brief summary of the 2005 Beef Quality Audit
5. Beef cattle alliances
   "Alliance" is a buzzword in the cattle industry and one with growing clout.

   In an article published in the January, 2001, Progressive Farmer quoted Michigan's Harlan Ritchie, "More has happened in the beef industry in the last 24 months than in the last 24 years." He further said, "Branded products [often produced by alliances] held 10 to 12% of beef's market share in 1998. By 2002, these will be 25 to 30% of products."

   The August 22, 2001, issue of Beef Magazine had suggestions for choosing an alliance, and characteristics of a successful alliance. That article has been reprinted here.
   

   The Maverick Ranch is just one example of an alliance.
   Maverick Ranch's website was chosen as an example because it has several links to nutritional information and information on hormones and pesticides.

1. Overview of significant features of ruminant digestion of feeds and metabolism of nutrients
2. Important nutrients for the beef herd
3. Nutrient analysis and feed tags
4. Forage quality
   Note: Discussion of energy and protein supplementation (parts E and F that follow) may be covered in the section on stocker-yearlings (high-quality forages) and managing the cow herd for a high percent calf crop (lower-quality forages)
5. Energy and protein supplementation of cattle grazing lower quality forages
   1. Effects of grain supplementation (high-starch feeds)
   2. Effects of protein supplementation
   3. Rumen fill, digestibility, rate of passage, & effects on forage intake
   4. Efficiency of grain utilization by grazing animals is poor compared to feeding the grain to animals in confinement.
   5. Cost and energy needs - may need to use grain even if forage utilization is reduced
   6. NPN vs true protein
   7. Liquid supplements
      1. Urea not well utilized on forage diets
      2. Molasses can enhance digestibility and intake of low quality roughage
      3. Which ingredients are good (well-utilized) protein sources?
6. Energy and protein supplementation of cattle grazing high quality forages
   1. Animals may be protein deficient even on cool-season annuals
   2. Supplement with grain or protein?
7. Mineral supplementation for grazing animals
8. Energy adjustments for cold weather
9. Formulating diets - a review

To be in the cattle business you must...
learn to work, be a good agronomist, be a handy man, know current technology, be well organized, be profit oriented, set priorities and allocate resources, establish short- and long-term goals, have a written plan.

1. General facts
2. Types of purebred breeders
3. Advantages of purebred business
4. Disadvantages of purebred business
5. Records
6. Sampling of some records kept
7. Composite cattle
8. Highlights for seedstock producers
9. Profit/loss economics

1. Brief overview of a cow-calf operation (More detail later)
2. Prestigious?
3. Trends in beef cow numbers and seasonal price trends
4. The U.S. cow-calf industry
   1. Cow herd size & animal units/acre in various regions of U.S.
   2. Types of operations and profitability
5. Profit/loss economics

1. General description/overview of stockering
2. Alternative marketing pathways for weaned calves
3. Types of forages, crops, and other high-roughage feeds used
4. Reasons for stockering
5. Factors affecting profit
   1. Marketing, both purchasing & selling, is a primary factor.
      Be aware of current prices; know your margin; develop a budget
      Understand shrink
   2. Rate of gain
      Potential gaining ability of purchased cattle & available feeds
      Availability and quality of forage
      Growth promotants and ionophores  (See ACES ref. "Implanting")
   3. Value of added gain
      Heavier cattle sell for less ($/cwt) than lighter cattle
      Economic feasibility of supplementing for faster gains
   4. Length of ownership
      Most costs occur before or shortly after calves are purchased
      Certain amount of gain necessary just to cover costs
   5. Health of cattle
      Number of ownership changes, sale barns, fatigue, shipping fever, etc.
      Good health program

ACES -
* Overview of Alabama
   Forage Crops
   (p. 47-51)
* Grazing Management
   (p. 59-63)



ACES - Implanting
   (p. 106-112)

1. Basic types of cattle-feeding operations
2. Cattle feeding regions of the U.S. & leading states
3. Main factors affecting profits
   1. Facilities investment
      Land, pens, equipment, feedmill, office
   2. Cost of feeder cattle
      Must consider gain potential, weight, sex, fill, skeletal size, thickness, body condition,
      (potential for compensatory gain), shrink
   3. Feed costs (60-75% of the cost of gain)
      Diet used, grain processing, additives and implants, length of time fed
   4. Nonfeed costs ("yardage")
      Death loss, labor, taxes, insurance, utilities, veterinary/medicine, repairs, transportation
   5. Marketing  (See ACES ref. "Economic Considerations...")
      Knowing when to sell, being aware of market prices for different quality grades and yield grades, selling direct to packer vs. terminal market, selling live vs. grade-and-yield

1. Expected seasonal price trends for weaned calves, feeder cattle, and slaughter
   cattle
2. Flexibility in marketing
3. Reduces hauling, auctions to attend, stress sickness
4. Use of performance information to aid breeding program

She must breed, calve, milk, breed back, produce calves in demand, do these on your type of forage, pay for all her groceries and part of yours.

Select one you like, cost and availability, maternal traits, adaptability for crossbreeding program, marketable in your area, adaptable to climate/fleshing ability, meat quality, disposition, frame size and milking ability

Web sites for Studying Beef Breeds:
    Dr. Schmidt's Breed Identification Slides with self-evaluation quiz
    The Oklahoma State Breeds of Livestock

1. Definitions
2. How EPD's are determined
3. Sources of information for EPD's and affect on ACC
4. How to use EPD information

C.  A good educational website:

• The  Alabama BCIA website contains good educational information about EPDs and their use.
  Click on "Alabama BCIA Seedstock Education Program" and then "EPDs & Performance Data."
  Or, click here to go directly to the EPD information.
• In the Alabama BCIA Seedstock Education Program link there are several topics besides EPDs that contain excellent material for other topics covered in this course.

1. Percent calf crop weaned (# calves weaned/100 cows in breeding herd)
2. Average weight of calves at weaning
3. Sources of information for EPD's and affect on ACC
4. Annual cow cost
5. (Selling price.....producer has little control)

1. Heifers must reach desired weight to be bred to calve at 2 years old
   1. Desired weights to have a high percentage cycling at breeding time (generally, at least 65% of expected mature weight)
   2. Crossbred heifers reach puberty earlier and at lighter weights than straightbred
   3. Nutrition programs for replacement heifers
2. Breed heifers to calve early in calving season
   1. Heifers calving early are more likely to be pregnant when 2 and 3 years old
   2. Importance of calving early in calving season on weaning weights
   3. Save more heifers than needed as potential replacements
3. Keep heifers separate from mature cow herd
   1. Heifers have longer postpartum intervals than mature cows
   2. Good nutrition shortens the postpartum interval
   3. Social dominance of older cows
   4. If complete separation is not possible, separate them at least 60 days before calving.
4. Cows/heifers should have proper body condition (see ACES ref. "Body Condition Scores")
   1. General: Have cattle gaining weight going into calving season
   2. "120 Critical Days"
   3. Body condition scores (BCS)
   4. Nutritional management (emphasis on the period beginning 1-2 months before calving until the cow has been re-bred)
5. Nutritional considerations for supplementing the herd (see Neumann & Lusby ref. and ACES - "Hay Production")
   1. Protein supplementation
      Effect on forage digestion and intake; NPN vs. Natural protein
   2. Liquid supplements
      Advantages and controversies; Ingredients used...Which work? Which don't?
   3. Energy (grain) supplements
      Response probably not as good as expected; high-starch feeds and reduced fiber digestibility; economics
   4. Minerals for the cow herd
6. Close observation at calving, particularly heifers (see ACES ref. "Calving Management")
   1. Incidence of dystocia
   2. Nutrition: limit-feeding does not improve dystocia problems but probably will increase the postpartum interval
   3. Control time of calving? (Day time vs night)
7. Select for proper birth weights to minimize dystocia
   1. Relationship of weaning wt. and yearling wt. to birth weight
   2. Cows given assistance at birth have longer postpartum intervals
   3. Birth weight most effectively controlled through sire selection. EPD's more reliable than sire's own birth weight
   4. Pelvic area measurements
8. Bull management
   1. BSE, libido
   2. Factors that can temporarily decrease fertility
   3. Cow-to-bull ratio
   4. Nutrition for the bull (including newly purchased bulls)
9. Herd health management (see ACES ref. "Herd Health Management")
10. Management after day 7 postpartum
11. Other management practices for early return to estrus

ACES -
*  Developing Heifers
    (p. 43-46)
*  Reproductive
    Management
    (p. 71-82)

ACES -
Body Condition Scores
   (p. 39-42)

Field (p. 369-377

Suggested ref: Chap.7 (Forage and Roughage Utilization) in Beef Production by Neumann & Lusby (8th ed.)
Includes energy and protein supplements including liquid supplements
also:
Pp. 482-488; 525-535
in Field
Handout will be given

ACES -
Hay Production
   (p. 66-70)

ACES - Calving Management
   (p. 83-85; 124-128)





ACES - Chap. 6
Herd Health Management
   (p. 89-139)

1. Short calving season (60 days) (see ACES ref. "Get Control of Health by..." and "Calving Season Management Alternatives")
   1. Lose 30-40 lb. in weaning weight per estrous cycle
   2. Calves can be managed as uniform groups; better market price for uniform groups
   3. Estrous synchronization program (for herd with normal estrous cycles)
2. Importance of good forage program
   1. Calving season should match forage supply and nutrient quality with cow's milk production and calf's ability to directly utilize forages.
3. Growth stimulants for calves
   1. Synovex C, Ralgro, Compudose (see ACES ref. "Implants")
   2. For replacement females, use only approved products and strictly adhere to label instructions. Improper use can be disastrous.
4. Creep feeding - pros and cons
5. Selection, primarily through sires
   1. Milk and Weaning Wt EPD's (Use Yearling Wt EPD if possible)
   2. Stay within limits of available grazed forages
      (Negative effect on BCS and reproduction, thus greater need for harvested and purchased feeds)
6. Crossbreed (Well-planned program)
   1. Heterosis increases growth rate of calf & milk production of cow
   2. Crossbreeding results in ~20% increase in lb. of calf weaned per cow exposed
      1) 65-75% of this heterosis is due to increase fertility
      2) 25-35% of heterosis is due to growth rate of calf and increased milk prod.
7. Herd health
   1. Dystocia and inadequate colostrum (first 24 hr.) have negative effects on weaning weight
   2. Follow recommended herd health guidelines for geographic area

ACES - Get Control of Health by Getting Control of Breeding
   (p. 89-93)

ACES - Calving Season Management Alternatives
   (p. 83-84; 86)

ACES - Implants
   (p. 106-112)

1. Keep accurate records so expenses can be analyzed
   1. Must know costs to calculate annual cow costs and net returns
   2. Particularly note feed, machinery, labor, interest, and health costs
   3. Feed costs account for 50-75% of annual costs
      1) From weaning to last third of gestation is time to use cheap roughage such as crop aftermath
      2) Determine most economical feed environment and decide what biological type of cow will match this enviornment
   4. Labor accounts for 15-20% of annual cow costs
   5. Interest charges average 10-15% of annual cow costs
2. Managing feed costs (see ACES ref. "Reducing Stored Feed Requirements")
   1. Calving season -- Normally ~30-45 days prior to grazed green forage to utilize peak of high quality nutrients
      Other considerations -- cool-season grazing; normal weather conditions at calving; normal temperatures during breeding
   2. BCS of cows at start of calving and breeding vs available feed (grazed, harvested, or purchased) Correct biological type of cow?
   3. Palpate cows 45-60 days after breeding season; sell open cows and heifers
3. Increasing cow numbers on same land area
   1. Overhead costs (land payments, insurance, interest, taxes, vehicles) relatively constant
   2. Cow numbers can increase by improving forage programs
   3. Lb. of calf weaned per acre probably more important than calf weaning wt. May need to change biological type of cow.
4. Biological type of cow
   1. Puberty. Should have first calf at 23 mos. of age utilizing available resources.
   2. Calving ease. Affects labor, health costs for the calf, and length of postpartum anestrus period for the cow
   3. Milk production. Match for available feed resources. Low production leads to light calf and "fat" cow. Too much milk results in a heavier calf but decrease BCS of cow.
   4. Mature weight. Moderate weights (1,000-1,250 lb.) generally most profitable. Feed needed for maintenance is proportional to body size.
   5. Rebreeding. Maintain adequate BCS utilizing primarily grazed forages and minimize need for harvested or purchased feed.
   6. Longevity. Produce a calf every 12 mos. An "efficient" cow that remains in the herd helps decrease replacement heifer costs.

ACES - Reducing Stored Feed Requirements
   (p. 89-93)

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