4-H Beef Project

61 Pages·2011·4.57 MB·English

Au^- 3/60 - y

.
4-H Beef Project E
T
A
D g
A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication
o
F
l
Oregon • Washington • Idaho a
O
t
a
T
c
U /
u
:
O
n d
o e
S
i .
t e
I a
t
N m a
O t
r s
o
I n
T f
n o
A
i g

C t e
n
I r
L e o
B r .
r n
u
U
o
c
P i
s
t
s n
S
o e
I
H m t
x
T e
r
/
o
/
:
F
p
t
t
h
PNW448 • April 1993
.
E
T
A
D g
o
F
l
a
O
t
a
T
c
U /
u
:
O
n d
o e
S
i .
t e
I a
t
N m a
O t
r s
o
I n
T f
n o
A
This publication was prepared and written fior use in the Ogregon 4-H Animal Science Program by Bradford J.

Jeffreys, Extension specialist, 4C-H Youth Devtelopment; Bille ZoUinger, Extension beef specialist, and Randall R.
n
Mills, county Extension agent, livestock and 4-H. The nutritional information included in the section "Beef—a
I r
Food Product" was reviewLed by Carolyn eA. Raab, Exteonsion Food and Nutrition specialist.
B r .
This publication is adapted frorm 4-H Beef Prnoject, originally prepared by Dean Frischknecht, Extension
u
U
animal scientist emeritus; Guy Reynolds, Extoension veterinarian emeritus; and Duane P. Johnson, Extension
c
specialist, 4-HP and Youth Development. i
s
t
PortiSo ns of the fittinsg and showingn section are reproduced with the permission of the Angus Joumai, 3201
Frederick, St. Josepho, Missouri, 64e501.
I
H m t
x
Portions of the "Career Opportunity" section and the "Environment and Resource Use" section are adapted
Tfrom the Wy oming 4-H Beeef Manual, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming; Dr. Doug Hixon, author.
r
/
o
/
Portions of "Beef:—a Food Product" are adapted from the Kansas 4-H Beef Curriculum, Cooperative Extension
F
p
Service, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas; Jason K. Apple, author.
t
t
Referenches to the publication. Cattle Producer's Library, can be found in your Extension office under the title
Coiu-Caif Management Guide—Cattle Producer's Library, Moscow: University of Idaho, Cooperative Extension
Service.
Illustrations in the equipment and facilities section are reproduced with permission from Midwest Plan
Service, Ames, Iowa 50011-3080, Beef Housing and Equipment Handbook, MWPS 6, 4th edition. 1987.
To simplify information, trade names of products have been used. No endorsement of named products is
intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned.
Contents
Project Opportunities 1 Animal Health 23
Market Project Common Problems
Breeding Project Insects and Parasites

Basic Instruments and Tools for Mai.ntaining
Additional Opportunities Animal Health E
in the Beef Project 2 Management Practices T
Castrating
A
A History of Cattle 2 Tatooing
Dehorning D g
Breed Type 3 Foot Trimming
o
F
l
Breed Characteristics 3 Fitting and Showing a30
O
Halter Breaking t
Breeds of Cattle 3 a
NutritionT
c
Business and Marketing Aspects Care of the Hair Coat
U /
of a 4-H Beef Project 11 Washing the Hair u
:
HOair Growing Aids
n d
How do I Get Started? Training Hair to Stand Up
Financing Clipping Eossentials e
S
Budget Clippintgi the Body e.
Financial Records I Trimaming the Feet
Marketing N Smhow Day Prepaatration
Putting up a Tail
O t
Selecting Project Animals 12 r s
o
The Modem Beef Type Animal I Equipmennt Supply List 41
T f
Frame Size n o
Muscle Score A i Beefg—A Food Product 42

Feeder Grades/Muscling C t eFood Guide Pyramid
Parts of Greatest Value n Selection Tips for Preparing Your
I r
Parts of the Steer L e o Meat Dish
B r .
Caring for a Newly Purchased Carlf 17n Beef Carcass Information 44
u
U
o
Yield Grade
Feeds and Feeding c 17
P i
s
Finishing Rations t Marketing Your Cattle 45
Feed AddSit ives s n
The Digestive Systemo e Consumer Education 45
I
StomHach Compartmments t
x Shopping at the Retail Counter
MaTnagement o f Cows ande Heifers 21 Barbecuing Beef
r Beef Chart
/
o
Creep Feeding /
:
WeaninFg p Career Opportunities in Animal Science
Records of Performance
t and Related Industries 48
t
h
Equipment and Facilities 22 The Environment and Resource Use 49
Bunks
National Associations and Regional
Shelters
Creep Feeder Organizations 50
Feeding Panel
Hay/Silage Feeder Glossary of Cattle Producers'
Salt Box Language 51
Squeeze Chute
4-H Beef Project
Beef production is an important part of Breeding Project
.
American agriculture and is one of the E
The breeding project is an excellent start toward
largest industries in the world. As a 4-H
building your own herd of breedingT cattle. Many 4-H
member you have an opportunity to be a part of this
members have developed a herd of cattle and have
industry—gaining valuable career experience and A
earned enough from their herd to pay for part of
training in beef cattle production, and having fun
their college education. DevDeloping a herd of breed- g
while you learn.
ing cattle requires much more land than the marketo
project. Be sure you hFave enough land (either owned
Once you have decided to have a beef cattle project, l
or leased) to maintain a breeding herd. a
you then need to decide what type of project you O
t
prefer. Should you have a steer feeding project, a One of the goa ls of owning a beef breeding aherd is to
breeding project, a management project, or should T
breed the females. Usually you can arracnge this with
you participate without an animal? The answer
a neighboUring registered breeder or o/ther beef
depends on your particular interest, your resources, u
breeders in your are:a. Also, you might find a local
and the space you have for raising cattle. You may O n d
artificial insemination organization or representative
wish to take one option when you start the beef
w ho can help yoou breed youer heifers. For further
project and add more as you gain experience. S
informationi on breeding h.eifers in the herd, see the
t e
I "Cattle Paroducer's Library" Series located in your
Project Opportunities N local mExtension offaicet. The publications that will help
you are CL 200, CL 210, CL 400, CL 402 and CL
O 4r15. st
Market Project o
I n
T f It usually is to your advantage to select a breed of
Because the market project involves feeding one or n o
cattle located close to your home so you will be able
more steer calves to market weight, youA must
conduct it on a year-to-year basis. Typically, you w ilil to usge bulls from someone's herd in your immediate
C t aerea. Most established breeders are glad to help
show these animals at your county fair or somen
other show and then sell them.I The market project is ryoung cattle producers get started. If you buy heifers
L e o from a registered breeder, he may be able to rebreed
well suited to club members who have a limited area
to raise cattle. Although thBe market prorjerct does not n. them for you.
require much land, yoUu do need a sheud and lot or
o When developing a breeding herd, decide whether to
corral to keep animals comfortablec and under
P i have registered purebred cattle or commercial cattle.
control. s
t The feeding and management of the breeding herd
s n
The market pSroject is a good beginning beef cattle are generally the same whether they are registered
o e
or commercial. Development of a registered herd
project bIut you must have enough money to buy an
animal Hand the necesmsary feed. If yxotu buy a weaned means both the sire and the dam are within the
same breed association. To develop such a herd you
feeTder calf about 7 to 10 monthes old, you can feed it
need to register the desirable purebred calves.
out and sell it ars a market animal in less than a
/
o
year. This means you get y/our investment back
within a reFlatively shortp t:ime. The market project A commercial program usually involves breeding
grade females to a purebred bull. You may develop a
usually will return the original price of the calf, plus
t
the cost of feed antd sometimes a small return for herd within one breed or you may develop a cross-
h bred herd.
your time and labor. The responsibility of feeding
and caring for a project animal gives you the oppor-
A breeding project is a long-range program; you will
tunity to leam a great deal about the beef cattle
not begin making money for at least two years. Since
business.
the project takes considerable time and money, you
should take great care in selecting your foundation
breeding females.
Additional Opportunities Indies, who used them as work animals. They were
Spanish longhom cattle. Cattle were brought to this
in the Beef Project country by explorers and early settlers. Today there
are more than a billion head of cattle in the world.
Ownership of a 4-H beef project offers you three
options. You may (1) lease and manage one or more
animals from a breeder; (2) develop and manage a
.
small feedlot or production-oriented (cow and calf) E
project; or (3) do a project without animals.
T
If you don't have the facilities and/or finances for a A
market, feeder or breeding project, you might select
D g
the first option, leasing one or more animals. If you
choose this option, you will need to decide with your o
F
parents and the breeder where the animals will be l
a
housed, what your work responsibilities will be, who O
t
will pay for feed, what work you will do with the a
animals, and who will be responsible for the loss of T
c
an animal. You, your parents, and the breeder
U /
should draw up an agreement covering these impor- u
:
tant details. O n d
o e
The second option, developing and managing a small S
i .
feedlot, requires a large amount of money to start t e
I Figurae 1. Christopher Columbus brought the first
tahne epxrcoejlelcetn, t apnrdo jae clto nfogr toimldee rf oyro ucaths,h arse tiut rens.t aTbhliiss hNies s camttle to the Newat World.
a base of economic return and offers experienOce in t
r s
the total management of a project. You should,
o
however, have experience in the feeder oIr breeding n
T f
project before undertaking this project. n Twoo types of cattle were introduced. The Pilgrims
A
i agnd other New England settlers brought cattle from

Some alternatives for a feeder pCroject include:t a eEngland known as British cattle. Explorers and
feedlot for feeding out cattle; raising replacenment missionaries from Spain brought longhom cattle
heifers; raising feeder cattLleI; and small ceow-calf or from Mexico into the southwestern part of this
operations. B r . country. As European settlers came to America,
r n many of them brought their own cattle with them.
u
The third option isU to participate in 4-H withoout an These cattle are known as the European breeds.
animal. If finances and space care a problem, this Is
P i
an excellent option. You ca n learn a lot absout cattle British cattle were big and strong, so they were used
t
and partici pate in manys of the same acntivities mostly as work animals. Spanish longhom cattle,
S
involved with the othoer two optionse. With the advice ancestors of the famous Texas Longhom, were small
andH aIssistance of myour leader, ytou can share respon- compared with British cattle. But they were hardy
sibilities with other members ixn working with their creatures that could stand the hot climate of the
Tanimals. If yo ur local 4-H perogram conducts a 4-H Southwest.
r
Livestock or "Beef Bowl/, you may want to partici-
o
pate in that activity a:s/ well. Cattle numbers in the United States increased as the
F
p human population increased. By 1800, cattle raising
t had spread westward from New England into Ohio.
A Historyt of Cattle
h Sixty years later it had moved as far west as Mis-
souri and across the southeastern part of the
People have used cattle for centuries. Cave dwellers
country. By 1850, Texas was the leading cattle
hunted them thousands of years ago. Cattle used to
producing state in the nation, and Chicago was the
be wild, but as people became more civilized, they
leading packing center.
learned to tame and raise their own cattle.
Christopher Columbus brought the first cattle to the
New World. He delivered them to settlers in the West
Breed Type Breed Characteristics
A breed of livestock can be defined as a group of Cattle have been selected and developed for many
animals sharing a common ancestry within a years with a particular purpose in mind. Breeds
species. Beef breeds have common inherited charac- were selected for beef, milk production and draft or
teristics that distinguish them from other breeds. work purposes. The following list illustrates the
Each breed association has developed a standard many different breeds of beef. It is not mea nt to be a
.
which breeders try to meet when breeding or select- complete listing of all breeds of beef cattEle.
ing animals.
T
The breeds are categorized according to their origin.
A
Beef breeds are known for differences in size,
muscling, milking ability, carcass traits, calf size, D Brahman and g
and weather tolerance. Beef animals also differ in British Breeds European Breeds
o
hair color, markings, and whether they are polled or Angus F Blonde d' Aquitaine
homed. These differences often determine if a beef Devon Brown Swiss al
O
animal can be classified by breed type. Galloway Charolais
t
Hereford Chianinaa
The beef industry has undergone vast changes in the Murray-GTrey Gelbvcich
past several years. Never before has there been such Polled HUereford Lim/ousin
a wide variety of breeds from which to choose. Before Red Angus Mauine-Anjou
:
O
selecting a breed or combination of breeds, you Red Poll n dMarchigiana
should consider the following points: Scotch Highlaond e Normande
S Shorthorn Pinzgauer
i .
• All breeds have strong and weak points. South Dtevon e Romagnola
I a
t Salers
• No one breed is good for all situations. N Brahmman Crossesa Simmental
O American Brahmtan Tarentaise
r s
• There are sometimes vast differences within o Barzona
I n
breeds. T f Beefmaster Other
n Broangus Beefalo
A
When selecting a breed of cattle, you should use the i gCharbray Hays Converter

following guidelines to help you makCe an objectivet eSanta Getrudis Longhom
n
decision.
I r
L e o
Breeds of Cattle
• Survey the area in whichB you live to seer which .
breeds are best adapted to local conditiorns. n
U u Over 60 different breeds of cattle are available to
o
c beef producers in the United States. This section
• Study the local aPnd regional market demandi for
s describes those breeds of cattle that make or have
the calves you will produce.
t
s n made a significant contribution to the beef cattle
S
• Compare the good poinots of a breed oer breed industry in the Pacific Northwest.
cross alrHeIady producedm in your area twith those of
x
apparently useful breeds that are not being raised in
the Tsame area. e
r
/
o
/
Once you have selected a :breed, you should follow
F
breeding practices that plead to genetic improvement
of the herd. t
t
h
Amerifax
In 1971 seven breeders in South Dakota, Nebraska,
Wyoming and Kansas began crossing an imported
Beef Friesian bull with purebred and commercial
Angus cows, with the intent to breed for more
profitable beef production. In 1977, they formed the

Amerifax Cattle Association. The association claims .
E
that maternal traits, good disposition and growth are
the three traits most needed in today's beef cattle T
herds, and Amerifax excel in all three. The Amerifax
A
is black or red, polled or scurred and of medium
size. D g
o
F
l
a
O
Angus t
a
The Angus breed originated in Scotland more than T
c
200 years ago from black polled cattle native to
U /
Aberdeen and Angus-shires. The first herd book was u
:
established in 1862. In the late 1800s Angus cattle O n d
were crossed with native Texas Longhom cattle.
o e
Since then, the breed has become one of the most S
i .
popular in the United States. t e
I a
t
The breed is naturally polled with black skin andN m a
black hair. When Angus cattle are cross-bredO with t
homed breeds of European origin, the cross-bred r s
o
calves are always polled. Calves produceId from n
T f
Angus crosses with Charolais usually are dark or n o
smoky white. In crosses with red-bAodied breedsi, all g
strains are black but may have white marking s
C t e
characteristic of the other breed. Angus catntle
transmit maternal characLtIeristics to theeir offspring or
including fertility, efficiency under minimal manage-
B r .
ment conditions, early age of puberrty, calving eanse,
mothering ability, Uand longevity. uAngus cattle also
o
are known for their ability to ctransmit marbling to
P i
their offspring. s
t
s n
S
o e
I
H m t
Barzona x
TF.N. Bard en listed the helpe of geneticist E.S. Jack
r
Humphreoy to combine t/he genetics of five breeds—
/
Hereford, Shorthorn:, Brahman, Angus and the
F
p
Africander. The Barzona Breed Association was
formed in 1968t to service the breeders involved. The
t
Barzona is ghenerally medium red, but may vary from
dark to light red, and is medium-sized with a longish
head. Barzona are both polled and homed.
Hereford
Hereford cattle originated in 1817 in the county of
Hereford in England. They are characterized by
horns and a white face crest dewlap, underlap and
switch. Their legs are white below the hocks and
knees and their bodies are red. Kentucky statesman

T. Henry Clay imported the first Hereford cattle. The
.
second importation of this breed, in 184E0, provided
for the establishment of Herefords in the United
T
States. In the late 1870s large numbers of Hereford
A
cattle were imported and the breed became popular.
D g
Herefords have superior foraging ability, vigor and
o
hardiness. Under rigorFous conditions they tend to
l
produce more calves than any other breeds. Thease
O
characteristics, along with their docile nature,
t
account for He refords' popularity in the weastern
T
United States. Hereford cattle are very pcopular as a
straight bUreed, but also are successfu/lly crossed
u
with many other breeds of cattle.
:
O
n d
o e
S
i .
I Murray-aGtrey e
t
N Murramy-Grey cattle aoriginated in Australia from a
cross of Angus and Shorthorn. They range in color
O t
frrom silver gresy or grey to dark grey or dun. Some
o
I dun pigmennt may be found on the underbody, and
T fthe breed has a dark muzzle. They are naturally
n o
A polled. Murray-Grey cattle were first imported into
i g
the United States in 1972. The Murray-Grey breed is
C t e
n noted for small birth weight, low calf mortality, and
I rexcellent carcass quality.
L e o
B r .
r n
u
U
o
c
P i
s
t Polled Hereford
s n
S
o e The history of the present-day Polled Hereford cattle
I can be traced to the original parent homed Hereford
H m t
x breed imported from England. The first serious
T e Polled Hereford breeding program began in 1898,
r / after Warren Gammon, a young Iowa Hereford
o
/ breeder, saw polled cattle on exhibition at the
:
F
p World's Fair. Gammon asked members of the
t American Hereford Association for information on
t animals that had any polled characteristics, and
h
subsequently located and bought four bulls and ten
females. A dominant mutation resulted in the polled
trait Mr. Gammon had sought, and in 1900 he
organized the American Polled Hereford Club.
Red Angus
Red Angus are similar genetically to the black
Angus. The red pigment is inherited as a simple
recessive trait of the Angus breed. Red cattle have
occurred in the breed since its earliest development.
Except for their color these cattle are similar to the

black Angus breeds. Red absorbs less of the sun's .
heat, which may be an advantage in hotter climates. E
T
A
D g
o
F
l
a
O
Shorthorn
t
The Shorthorn breed originated in the late 1700s in a
T
northeastern England. Shorthorns were first im- c
ported into the United States between 1820 and U /
u
1850. They are characterized by their variable color O :
n d
pattern which ranges from red to roan to white. As
the name implies, the horns are relatively small. o e
S
There is a polled gene in the breed and polled i .
t e
Shorthorns have become so popular that they rival I a
homed cattle in number. Shorthorns are noted foNr m at
their maternal ability. The Shorthorn cow is an
O t
excellent milker and weans a heavy calf. There is no r s
o
breed of cattle more docile than the ShorIthorn. Its n
disposition is unexcelled and cattlemenT appreciate f
n o
the ease with which it can be handlAed. In
i g
cross-breeding programs, the Shorthorn contri butes
C t e
several maternal traits: milk production, ease of
n
calving, disposition, early mIaturity, and moderate r
L e o
cow size.
B r .
r n
u
U
o
c
Chorolois P si
t
The Charo lais is one of sthe oldest of senveral French
S
breeds. It was develooped in the disterict around
CharIolles in Central France. The King ranch of Texas
H m t
is credited with importing the xfirst Charolais bulls
Tinto the Unit ed States frome Mexico in 1936. In
r
France, the typical Char/olais is slightly thicker,
o
/
heavier muscled, shorter legged, and heavier boned
:
F
than the American pversion. This body type may
cause a greater tincidence of calving difficulty than
t
found in the domestic Charolais.
h
The Charolais' coat is white or a very light straw
color. Most Charolais cattle are naturally homed,
but a growing number of polled animals are being
registered. Charolais cattle are large sized, long
bodied, and heavily muscled. The Charolais breed's
outstanding characteristics are its growth rate and
carcass cutability.
Chianina
The Chianina breed originated in the Chianina
Valley in Italy. Italian Chianina cattle are the oldest
and tallest of all cattle breeds. Mature bulls can
stand 72 inches at the withers and weigh up to
4,000 pounds while females can weigh up to 2,400

pounds and stand 60 to 68 inches at the w.ithers.
E
They have porcelain-white hair, a black tongue and
palate, a black nose and eye-hair, anTd a black
switch. Because Chianina are later maturing, they
A
produce leaner, higher cutability carcasses at a
given age or weight than otheDr exotic breeds. The g
Chianina cattle tend to have a nervous disposition
o
which is objectionable Fto some cattle producers.
l
a
O
Carcass data suggest half-blood Chianina steters
need to weigh o ver 1,300 pounds to safely garade
T
choice. Chianina bulls cross especially wcell with
smaller, thUicker Angus cows. Steers b/red this way
u
have ranked very hig:h in interbreed, on-hoof and
O
carcass competitionns. d
o e
S
i .
t e
I a
Gelbvich t
N m a
The Gelbvich was developed in West Germany. It
O t
cormes from fousr triple-purpose yellow breeds. The
o
I Gelbvich is na reddish-yellow dual-purpose breed and
T f
n is a bit somaller and slightly more refined in bone
A structure than the Simmental. The breed is strong in
i g
growth and maternal traits. Heifers reach puberty at
C t e
n a lighter weight than many of the continental breeds.
LI e orThe Gelbvich has a gentle disposition and can
tolerate cold weather slightly better than hot
B r .
r n weather.
■BHH U u
o
c
P i
s
t
s n
S Limousin
o e
HI m t The Limousin is a reddish-gold colored, strictly beef-
x type breed from Central France. They are light
T e homed cattle with no record of polled mutations.
r
/ Limousin cattle are known for their carcass cutabil-
o
/
: ity. Limousin sired calves weigh less at birth and are
F
p easier to deliver than calves sired by other European
t breeds. Generally, the Limousin is considered a
t
h terminal sire breed that works especially well in
situations requiring rapid muscle improvement and
low calving difficulty.