MP184 Beef Cattle Production DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE R E S E A R C H & E X T E N S I O N University of Arkansas System University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating BLANK - inside front cover ­ Table of Contents Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION . 5 Chapter 9: KEYS TO SUCCESS IN STOCKER PROGRAMS . 56 Chapter 2: SYSTEMS OF BEEF CATTLE Economics of Stocker Enterprises . 56 PRODUCTION . 8 Effects of Health on Performance and Cow­Calf Phase. 8 Profitability . 57 Backgrounding Phase . 9 Types of Stocker/Backgrounding Programs . 58 Finishing/Feedlot Phase . 10 Summary and Conclusions . 60 The Purebred Herd. 10 Chapter 10: HERD HEALTH . 61 Chapter 3: BEEF CATTLE SELECTION . 11 The Beginning Herd. 61 Major Performance Traits . 11 Herd Health Program . 61 Selection Methods . 13 Performance Records . 16 Suggested Herd Health Practices. 61 Treatment of Stocker Calves . 62 Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs). 17 Genetic Testing . 24 Common Diseases . 63 Cattle Vaccinations . 64 Health Calendar and Cattle Vaccinations . 66 Chapter 4: ANIMAL BREEDING. 25 Basis for Genetic Improvement . 25 Chapter 11: WORKING AND FEEDING Mating Systems. 26 Crossbreeding Systems . 27 FACILITIES . 68 Genetics and the Environment . 30 Working Facilities. 68 Feeding Equipment . 72 Chapter 5: BEEF CATTLE NUTRITION . 31 Essential Nutrients . 31 Chapter 12: MARKETING. 73 Water . 31 Marketing Alternatives . 73 Protein . 31 Future Price Outlook . 74 Carbohydrates and Fats. 31 Current Market Information. 75 Minerals for Beef Cattle . 31 Market Value. 75 Vitamins for Beef Cattle. 32 Management Factors Affecting Market Price. 77 Balancing Rations . 33 Marketing Purebred Cattle . 78 Market Regulations . 78 Chapter 6: BEEF CATTLE FEEDING. 36 Feeding the Cow Herd. 36 Chapter 13: FARM MANAGEMENT FACTORS . 79 Special Nutrient Deficiencies . 39 Feeds Produced in Arkansas. 39 Finance . 79 Income Taxes. 79 Chapter 7: FORAGES FOR BEEF CATTLE . 40 Budgeting . 80 Feeder Cattle Budgeting . 80 Matching Pastures With Seasonal Forage Requirements of Cattle . 40 APPENDIX . 84 Planning the Grazing Season . 42 Grazing System Planning Calendar. 46 Pasture and Hay Forage Inventory Sheet . 47 Chapter 8: BEEF CATTLE MANAGEMENT The information given herein is for educational purposes PRACTICES . 48 only. Reference to commercial products or trade names Management of Breeding Animals . 48 is made with the understanding that no discrimination is Artificial Insemination of Beef Cows. 49 intended and no endorsement by the University of Estrous Synchronization in Cattle . 49 Arkansas System Division of Agriculture – Cooperative Embryo Transplantation . 50 Extension Service is implied. Body Condition Scoring . 50 Management at Calving . 51 Managing the Calf Crop . 52 Feed Additives . 54 Editors • Shane Gadberry, PhD Associate Professor ­ Nutrition and Management Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Little Rock • John Jennings, PhD Professor ­ Forages Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Little Rock • Heidi Ward, DVM, PhD Assistant Professor ­ Veterinarian Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Little Rock • Paul Beck, PhD Professor ­ Stocker Cattle Management Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Southwest Research and Extension Center Hope • Bryan Kutz Instructor ­ Cattle Breeding and Selection Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Fayetteville • Tom Troxel, PhD Professor ­ Beef Cattle Department of Animal Science University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Little Rock Chapter 1 Introduction All Cattle and Calves production is a good way to use land not suited for crop production. Arkansas cattle are of the quality and As of January 1, 2015, Arkansas’ inventory of type that have a ready market. cattle and calves was 1.6 million head (Table 1­1). TABLE 1­1. Beef Cattle Numbers in Arkansas The record for herd size in the state was recorded on January 1, 1975, with a total of 2.68 million head. Total Beef Calf Year Cattle production ranks as the fourth highest income­ Inventory1 Cows2 Crop3 producing commodity in Arkansas (Figure 1­1). Cash 4 4 2015 1,640 863 receipts from the marketing of cattle and calves in the 2014 1,650 862 7504 state in 2014 were $766 million. 2013 1,600 851 760 Arkansas is a cow­calf state. Most cattle producers 2012 1,670 909 760 2011 1,720 928 800 are in the business of selling calves from their herd for further growth and finishing in feedlots. A certain 2010 1,910 937 800 portion, about 20 percent, of the calves are kept to 2009 1,800 905 820 replenish the breeding herd, with the remainder 2008 1,810 960 770 shipped to other states for finishing and slaughter. Arkansas’ climate and most of its soil and terrain are 2007 1,750 940 820 suited for the production of grass and other forage 2006 1,710 920 800 necessary for this type of cattle production. Many 2005 1,860 990 850 areas in Arkansas are suited for grazing stocker calves 1All cattle and calves on winter pastures of wheat and other cool­season 2Cows and heifers that have calved 3 grasses. Stocker cattle are put on pasture to increase During previous year 4Thousands head size before placement in feedlots. The stocker calves will eventually go to feedlots in the Plains. Cattle Source: Arkansas Agricultural Statistics Service Poultry and Eggs 4 7 Rice 1 5 Soybeans 20 Catle and Calves Coton 5 2 Other Livestock 0 Wheat 1 Hogs 0 5 0 10 20 30 40 50 Percent of Total Receipts Percent of Total Receipts FIGURE 1­1. Cash receipts in Arkansas – 2014 (as a percent of total receipts).Figure 1. Cash Receipts in Arkansas – 2014 (as a percent of total receipts). Source: Source:ArkansasArkansas Agricultural Statistics Service Agricultural Statistics Service 5 Although cattle herds can be found in every requirements. Labor is not intensive on a continual county in the state, the greatest concentration of beef basis for each enterprise. cattle production is in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas (Figure 1­2). This region accounts Arkansas produces a wide diversity of breeds of for roughly 54 percent of the total beef cow numbers. cattle. These include traditional European breeds: Benton and Washington Counties are the two largest Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn; the Indian breed: counties in terms of all cattle and calves numbers, Brahman; the Exotic: Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, 120,000 and 86,000 head, respectively. The Ouachita etc.; and the U.S. breeds: Brangus, Beefmaster, etc. Mountain region, in west central and southwest There is no perfect breed for the state. Selection of Arkansas, accounts for over 30 percent of the beef cow breed is based on personal preference, environmental numbers (Figure 1­3). These areas provide good conditions, adaptability, longevity, reproductive pasture growth for native and improved grasses, efficiency, milking ability, size, ability to gain weight thanks to the combination of timely rainfall and soil and other traits that fit personal preferences. All of type. Also, these areas produce the hay needed for these breeds, as well as commercial­type cattle, thrive feeding cattle during the winter months when in the hospitable climate of Arkansas. Commercial pastures are dormant. cattle are mixtures of two or more pure breeds. Each breed in the combination is selected for certain traits, Raising cattle lends itself well to other agricultural e.g., a Hereford and Brahman cross is used in the enterprises. Poultry production and beef cattle fit more humid areas of the state. Brahman adapts well well together on the same operation. Poultry produc­ to heat, and Hereford is used to maintain carcass tion, especially broilers, requires small amounts of quality and feed conversion. land for production facilities but requires a method of waste product disposal. Cattle production requires Cattle production continues to be a flourishing land, which can be around and among poultry facili­ enterprise in Arkansas. Improve ments in the ties, and the land benefits from waste products of pr oduction of cattle, pastures and marketing ensure the poultry enterprise as pasture fertilizer. These that this enterprise continues to be a major part of enterprises complement each other in labor Arkansas agriculture. No. of Head FIGURE 1­2. All cattle and calves on Arkansas farms. January 1, 2015 6 FIGURE 1­3. Geological regions of Arkansas. FIGURE 1­4. Mean annual precipitation (inches). FIGURE 1­5. Annual mean temperature (˚F). 7 Chapter 2 Systems of Beef Cattle Production Systems of commercial beef cattle production may factors represent the reproductive efficiency of a herd, be divided into three general categories: (1) the cow­ which is defined as the total number of pounds of calf calf segment which produces weaned feeder calves for weaned divided by the number of cows exposed further grazing and/or feeding, (2) the backgrounding during the breeding season. Table 2­1 illustrates the or stocker phase of production in which body weight influence of calf crop percentage and weaning weight is added to recently weaned calves, resulting in on productivity of any given herd. feedlot­ready yearlings and (3) the finishing phase of production in which cattle are fattened for slaughter. TABLE 2­1. Total Pounds of Calf Produced Per Cow Calf Crop Weaning Weight The cow­calf and backgrounding categories are Percentage 600 500 400 best suited for Arkansas conditions. Both calf and 100 600 500 400 yearling production utilize forages as the primary feed. The climate, soil and terrain in Arkansas are well 95 570 475 380 suited for forage production. Many cattle producers 90 540 450 360 view their cattle enterprise as a way to market forage, 85 510 425 340 their greatest resource. Calf crop percentage varies widely throughout In contrast to feeder calf and stocker production, Arkansas. Overall, calf weaning weights have finishing cattle for slaughter requires large amounts of increased over the last several years; however, feed grains and a relatively dry climate.