Lesson Structure: Beef Cattle

There are 10 lessons in this course

1  Introduction to Beef Production and Beef Cattle Breeds

• The role of beef cattle in agriculture
• Scientific classification
• Examples of breeds worldwide
• British Beef breeds – Angus, Hereford, South Devon, Sussex, Red Poll
• U.S. Developed Beef breeds – Santa Gertrudis, American Brahman, Amerifax, Beefmaster
• Eurpean Beef breeds – Salers, Charolais, Simmental, Gelbvieh
• Australian Beef breeds – Braford, Beefmaster, Droughtmaster, Murray Grey, Australian Lowline
• South African Beef Breeds – Salorn, Tswana, Tuli, Africkander,
• Breed selection considerations – horned vs poll, colour, gestation length, birth weight, mothering ability, post weaning growth, meat quality etc

2  Beef Cattle Production Systems

• Various systems of production – extensive, intensive, semi-intensive
• Choosing a suitable system – considerations include size, climate, soils, transport, markets etc
• Cattle handling facilities
• Materials used in cattle handling
• Cattle identification – branding, ear marking, tattooing, ear tags
• De-horning – chemical and mechanical methods
• Castration, dips and dipping, and injecting cattle

3  Beef Cattle Breeding

• Heritability, performance testing, progeny testing, selection
• Pure versus cross breeding – advantages and disadvantages
• Calving percentage
• Management factors to improve calving percentage
• Weaning calves
• Factors affecting calf weaning
• The anatomy of the male reproductive system
• The physiology of the male reproductive system
• Fertility problems in the male
• The anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system
• Fertility problems
• Pregnancy and partition
• The structure of the mammary glands
• Secretion of milk
• Growth and development
• Post natal growth
• Compensatory growth

4  Diseases in Beef Cattle (Viral and Bacterial)

• Determining health status of the animal
• Signs of a healthy animal
• Causes of ill-health
• Injury, poor nutrition, poisoning, parasites, hereditary conditions etc
• Preventing ill-health
• Correct feed and nutrition, insect control, parasite control, vaccinations, control stress etc

5  Parasitic and Other Diseases in Beef Cattle

• Some parasitic diseases
• Other ailments of cattle – actinobacillosis, anaplasmosis, arthritis, beef measles
• poisoning, pink eye, milk fever, bloat etc

6  Nutrition for Beef Cattle

• Feed type – roughages and concentrates
• Carbohydrates, protein, fats
• Grass or grain feeding
• Rations for beef cattle – maintenance or production rations
• Maintenance rations
• Procedure for calculating a ration
• Supplementary feeding of protein
• Lot Feeding
• Minerals
• Common macromineral deficiencies
• Common trace mineral deficiencies
• Diagnosis of trace mineral deficiencies
• Vitamins
• Water for farm animals
• Protein

7  Commercial Herd Management

• The breeding herd
• Production systems
• Cow-calf herd
• Beef production systems using dairy stock

8  Feed Lot Management

• Lot feeding – types of feedlot
• Managing cattle in a feedlot
• Feedlot Records
• Article on pen feeding in South Africa

9  Stud Herd Management 

• Time of calving
• Feeding
• Fertility
• Indicators of fertility in bulls
• Indicators of fertility in cows

10 Management, Economics and Marketing

• Profitability
• Factors affecting gross output
• Factors affecting variable costs

Learning Goals: Beef Cattle

• Describe the nature and scope of Beef Cattle Production
• Compare different beef production systems
• Discuss beef cattle breeding and its significance to production
• Develop a sound, but general introduction to animal health
• Describe significant parasites that infect cattle and determine appropriate management of these and related problems
• Recommend appropriate provision of feed for commercial beef production
• Develop a management strategy for a commercial beef herd
• Explain feed lot management for beef production
• Explain Stud herd management for beef production
• Determine significant management requirements for a beef production enterprise, in order to attain and sustain a viable economic performance

Practicals ( Set Tasks): Beef Cattle
The Set Tasks you will do in this course in addition to the lessons include:

Visit a range of enterprises which may include farms, agricultural shows, and suppliers of farm products in order to research, photograph, describe and specify facilities in the places visited as a basis, or part basis, of assignment questions;

• Identify beef cuts on a labelled diagram of a steer’s body;
• Judge a beef animal according to commonly recognised commercial standards;
• Choose two breeds suitable for beef production in specified climates;
• Observe and report on common cattle husbandry tasks, including dehorning, castration, dipping, vaccination, and drenching;
• Explain methods that are used to control beef cattle movements;
• Prepare a production schedule or timetable of husbandry practices for a typical beef cattle property in your locality for a period of 12 months;
• Attempt to determine the nature and scope of beef cattle breeding in your state or country;
• Explain the differences between and advantages of pure breeding and cross breeding;
• Describe and explain management and other factors that can affect calving percentage and calf weaning;
• Visit a supplier of health care treatments for cattle to determine what products (eg. dips, medicines etc) are available;
• Describe a significant viral disease, including its identification, symptoms and control;
• Interview someone working in the industry to determine the significance and nature of disease problems in beef cattle;
• List parasites and related organisms that are significant to beef cattle in your region;
• Report on the preferred food requirements for beef cattle on a beef property you have visited;
• Explain common health problems affecting animals, including the circumstances under which animals contract health problems, and methods used to prevent the development of ill health.
• Analyse physical indicator symptoms of ill health in animals.
• Explain the diagnostic characteristics of the main types of animal pathogenic microorganisms.
• Explain the methods used in the treatment of pests and diseases in farm animals.
• Explain the role of inflammation, including it’s symptoms and causes, in animals.
• Determine the taxonomic class of animal pests and diseases.
• Explain the biological processes which affect and control the immune system in animals.
• Explain the biological processes which affect and control tissue repair in animals.
• Determine procedures for the management of wounds to animals, on a farm.
• Explain the processes involved in cellular change in animals.
• Diagnose simple health problems in farm animals.
• Develop guidelines for assessing general signs of ill health in beef cattle. These guidelines should consider diseases and nutritional factors;
• List minimum equipment required to run a commercial beef cattle property. Equipment will include suitable machinery and tools;
• In table form (or chart), distinguish between bulls, heifers and calves;
• Describe three diseases affecting feedlot cattle;
• List criteria for selecting cattle for a feedlot and state what characteristics of the cattle should be considered;
• In table format with two columns, compare the management of beef cattle in feedlot with the management in a paddock;
• Explain in 500 words the management of a stud beef herd on a property you visited;
• Explain in 200 words the legal requirements and regulations concerning beef cattle;
• Distinguish the following terms of grades of beef: prime, choice, good, standard, utility.

PREVENTING ILL HEALTH

It is better to prevent ill health ever occurring. To minimise the chances of ill health the farmer should do the following:

Feed Animals an Adequate and Well-Balanced Diet
The importance of nutrition to wellbeing cannot be over stressed. A well-nourished animal will have an effective natural immune system. A badly fed animal is much more susceptible to disease.

It is not enough that stock is given sufficient bulk to satisfy their appetites. The food given must supply all needs for fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals. The food fed must also be of good quality. Poor quality food can in itself, cause disease such as fungal spores in mouldy maize cobs.

There is increasing evidence that some foods can protect animals against disease. Garlic, for example has well researched medicinal properties, and is used in some countries as a feed supplement (in powdered form). Another supplement that has proved beneficial is powdered seaweed (supplies many essential minerals and vitamins).

Control Insects
Many diseases are spread by insects such as flies and midges. These insects are attracted to the farm by warmth of the animals, and smell of the manure. Where animals are penned, regular removal of the manure can reduce the insect population. Manure should be stored well away from animal pens and removed regularly to minimise the threat from insects. Some insects lay their eggs in manure. Still water can also attract insects. Avoid leaving buckets or other containers around which can collect rainwater. A slow burning smoky fire will deter many insects (as a short-term measure only!).

Having a regular dip program
Dipping prevents parasites from biting their hosts. Dipping should be done regularly to break the lifecycle and with the correct mixture to be effective.

Vaccinate
Vaccination involves injecting a small amount of the disease organism into the animal, which in turn, will produce anti bodies to overcome the disease. The animal is then protected from future infections by these anti bodies.

Avoid Stressing Livestock
Stress is any stimulation that puts strain on the animals’ body. A stressed animal is much more susceptible to disease. Pigs, for example, are highly stressed if exposed to very hot or cold conditions.

Animals grown in an artificial environment may produce more but may also be more susceptible to disease. Routine tasks like dipping might also cause stress, but this needs to be balanced against the benefits.

The farmer should generally try to keep animals in the most natural environment as is possible. This is not always easy as some types of livestock do not produce their full potential under “free range” conditions.

The farmer needs to balance stresses caused by nature with stresses caused by an artificial environment, then develop an appropriate environment for the livestock.

DISEASE TYPES IN BEEF CATTLE

Before a farmer can recognise a sick animal, he/she must be familiar with the signs of health so that he/she is able to notice subtle differences in the appearance and behaviour of his animals. The ability to spot an animal that looks “a bit off colour” can give the farmer a head start in combating disease. The earlier a sick animal is recognised and treated, the better the chances of a quick recovery without permanent damage, and if in the case of contagious conditions, the more likely the spread of the disease will be contained.

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TUTOR

Vicky  Protopapadaki
MSc (Distinction) Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare (University of Edinburgh), BSc Business Administration (University of the Aegean), Cert. Companion Animal Behaviour (University of Edinburgh ), Cert. Animal Use and Care (University of Prince Edward Island).

Vicky’s passion for animals led her to obtain her MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare, despite her having a background in business and management. Apart from her personal experience with animals, she volunteers at various animal shelters around Greece and has done research on feline behaviour at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada and on primate behaviour at Edinburgh Zoo. She is currently researching PhD opportunities in the field of animal ethics and studying entrepreneurship for the purpose of creating her own charity for animal protection in Greece.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

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Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

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Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

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Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
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Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.