What Is BEEF?

shampoo, hamburger, cosmetics, shoes, brisket, footballs, steaks, paint brushes, medicines, bandages, shaving cream, piano keys, BEEF USES: perfume What is BEEF? Beef is meat from full-grown cattle about 2 years old. This and protein. These help keep our body healthy and growing. includes steaks, roasts, brisket, hamburger and others. A live We get more than meat from beef cattle. The rest of the steer steer weighs about 1,000 pounds and yields about 450 pounds is used for by-products such as candles, crayons, paint and of edible meat. There are at least 50 breeds of beef cattle, luggage. Because of these by-products, we are able to use but fewer than 10 make up most cattle produced. Beef is an 99% of every steer. important part of our diet. It is a good source of ZIP: zinc, iron Sirloin Tenderloin Chuck Rib Top Sirloin Short Round Loin Bottom Sirloin Brisket Plate Flank Shank Shank VOCABULARY Beef: the meat that comes from beef cattle. Hamburger, Iron: a mineral needed by our bodies to carry oxygen from steak and brisket are some examples of beef. our lungs throughout our bodies. Beef is a great source of iron. Bovine: cattle. Protein: supplies energy, builds cells and blood and aids in the growth of healthy muscles, organs, skin and hair. Bull: a male cow used for breeding. Ruminant: animals, such as cattle, that have multiple Branding: process used to identify cattle. compartments in their stomach. They first chew their food By-Products: all products, except for beef, that come to soften it, swallow it and then return it to their mouth for from beef cattle. continued chewing. This is called chewing the cud. Calf: cattle less than one year old. Silage: fermented corn, wheat or hay, with the stalks and leaves, Cow: a female cow that has given birth to a calf. that is chopped and fed to cattle. Heifer: a female cow that has not produced a calf. Steer: a male cow not used for breeding. Hide: animal skin treated for human use such as leather Zinc: a mineral used for growth and fighting off illnesses. from cattle. Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Charolais, U.S. BEEF Simmental, Red Angus, Beefmaster, Shorthorn, Brahman, Maine-Anjou, COWS BREEDS: Salers, Chianina, Texas Longhorn United States Beef Production Top Beef Producing States Texas Kansas Nebraska California Oklahoma Missouri Iowa South Dakota Wisconsin Colorado Beef Capital of the World Hereford, Texas History of Beef Cattle 6500 B.C. — Cattle were first 1884 — The Bureau of Animal million cows to slaughter. By 1941, 1946 — Invention of the domesticated. Industry was established to every county in the United States “Gooseneck Trailer” for transporting was officially recognized free of 1493 — conduct scientific investigations, livestock. Christopher Columbus administer rules and regulations bovine tuberculosis. took cattle to Hispaniola (now Haiti to protect the public from infection 1966 — U.S. declared screwworm and the Dominican Republic) on 1921 — The Packers and or disease contaminated meat free. his second voyage to the New Stockyards Act was passed, products, eradicate animal World. which we still use today. It 1973 — First price freeze, diseases and improve livestock regulated national and foreign imposed by Nixon, lead to market quality. It was eliminated in 1953 1519 — Hernando Cortez took trade in livestock and livestock “drought.” Lifting of the price and replaced with the Agricultural offspring of these cattle to Mexico products, and prohibited packers freeze lead to market “flood.” Research Service. to establish ranches. Many of these from engaging in unfair and Grain exports to the Soviet Union cows ran wild and later came to 1884 — The National Cattle deceptive practices, manipulating increased feedyard costs in the the United States through Texas or Growers Association of America prices, creating a monopoly or U.S. and there was a $200 per California. was formed. This was the conspiring to aid in unlawful head loss. This is known as 1529 — The town council of first known attempt to form a acts. Today, the Act’s scope has “The Wreck of 1973.” Mexico City ordered the formation national group of cattle producer expanded to regulate the activity 1979 — The Meat Import Act of of a cattlemen’s association to organizations. of livestock dealers, market 1979 was signed into law. This control theft and preserve their agencies, live poultry dealers meant that as U.S. production monopoly. Mesta became the first 1890 — The first Meat Inspection and swine contractors as well as increased, foreign imports known livestock association in the Act became effective. meatpackers. decreased, and vice versa. Americas. 1898 — The National Live Stock 1934 — The Agricultural 1611 — The English were the first Association became the first Adjustment Act was the first 1988 — The third referendum by to bring large numbers of cattle successful national organization attempt by government at supply the American National Cattlemen’s to the United States when they and is known today as the National management. It paid farmers to Association passed to approve founded Jamestown Colony. Cattlemen’s Beef Association. reduce acreage or supplies of basic a $1 per head check-off. Since commodities. Congress approved then, the industry has had almost 1904 — The first public livestock 1867 — The Colorado Stock $63 million for a purchase-and- $80 million a year for research, auction opened in Union, Iowa. Growers (now Colorado slaughter program. education, promotion and producer Cattlemen’s Association) was the 1911 — The first motor truck information. first state association to organize. 1934 — Cooperative Federal- delivery of livestock occurred in State Brucellosis Eradication 2011 — Total beef production in 1880 — Mechanical refrigeration Indianapolis, Indiana. Program begins. the United States is over 26 billion was first used making a lasting 1916 — The USDA began a pounds. Each person consumes impact on the cattle and beef 1943 — Cattle tick fever was about 58 pounds of beef each year. industry. campaign to eradicate Bovine Tuberculosis. Agents inspected eradicated from the U.S. 1883 — The first national nearly every cattle farm in the gathering of cattlemen in Chicago. country and condemned roughly 4 Beef path The gestation (pregnancy) period for cows is 9 months. Beef production begins with a cow-calf farmer who maintains a breeding herd of cows that raise calves every year. When a calf is boVine born, it weighs 60-100 pounds. Beef calves are weaned at 6 to 10 months of age when they weigh 450-700 pounds. After the calves are weaned, some are sold at an animal nutritionist, marketer, auction market. A cow-calf farmer may also choose to keep the best females to add to the breeding herd. Younger or lighter weight calves agricultural economist, animal may be sent to a backgrounder or stocker who continues to graze them on grass or other forages until they are 12 to 16 months old. They may also go directly from the cow-calf farmer to the feedlot geneticist, food scientist, or from the backgrounder/stocker to the feedlot. processor, dietitian, truck Most beef cattle spend approximately four to six months driver, food process engineer, in a feedlot, just prior to harvest, where they are fed a grain-based diet. At the feedlot (also called animal well-being specialist, feedyard), cattle are grouped toxicologist, food safety specialist into pens that provide space careers: for socializing and exercise. They receive feed rations that are balanced by a professional nutritionist. Feedlots are efficient and provide consistent, wholesome and affordable beef using fewer resources. The time cattle spend in a feedlot is often called the “finishing phase.” All cattle spend the Spotlight on Careers: majority of their lives grazing on grass pasture. Animal health and well-being are top priorities Agricultural Economists Agricultural Economist — for livestock farmers across the country. That’s use communication and business skills to find success why they work hard to use the most recent in sales, marketing, management and finance careers. science-based advancements that keep cattle Many agricultural economists start their careers as sales healthy and the beef supply safe. These representatives to gain knowledge about a firm’s products advancements mean cattle can be raised much more efficiently than in the past. Feedlot and customers before moving into management positions. employees, farmers and ranchers work closely Agricultural economists are hired by food and agribusiness with veterinarians to monitor the health and firms, financial institutions, government agencies and well-being of the animals. Regular check ups a variety of industries. These include food retailers and are done on the herd to prevent illness. If any of the animals are manufacturers, banks, financial planning firms and ill, they are evaluated before deciding what the next step is to take care of the animal. Farmers utilize important tools like vaccines agribusiness firms that provide such things as animal along with good management practices to prevent, control and health, chemicals, equipment, seed or fertilizer. treat disease. By focusing on good animal care, proper nutrition and disease prevention, livestock farmers and their veterinarians reduce antibiotic use – and save money in the process. Food Safety Specialist — Food Safety Specialists preserve our food supply by assuring that it is wholesome, Once cattle reach market weight, (typically 1,200-1,400 pounds sound and safe. They understand and apply federal, and 18-22 months of age) they are taken to the processor by semi state, and local laws, rules and regulations governing trucks. The special trailers have holes along both sides to keep the food protection. Food safety specialists work for food animals cool and comfortable. Once the meat has been processed, it is inspected to ensure it is safe, wholesome and correctly labeled services, hotels, resorts, restaurants and government and packaged.

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