Term
| How does beef generally move from conception to table? |
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Definition
Breeders
Commercial Cow-Calf
Backgrounders
Stockers
Feedlot
Packer
Retailer
Consumer |
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Term
| Why is there sometimes a disconnect between consumer perception of quality of beef, and actual quality? |
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Definition
-consumers don't understand marbling, fat etc properly
-don't always know how to properly cook the cut they have |
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Term
| What factors contribute to grading of beef? |
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Definition
-carcass size (500-1000lbs)
-marbling
-colouring
-age |
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Term
| What are the two big quality factors that will result in producers receiving less $ for a carcass? |
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Definition
dark cutters
older animals |
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Term
| How does marbling vary from prime to grade A? |
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Definition
Prime - Abundant
AAA - Moderate
AA - slight
A 0 trace |
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Term
| Are ontario beef cattle processed in Canada or exported |
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Definition
primarily exported to PA
-not enough packing capacity in Ontario to process all the cattle we produce |
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Term
| Are cattle primarily sold on a live weight or fresh weight basis or on the rail? |
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Definition
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Term
True or False
Cattle are most feed efficient during the finishing phase |
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Definition
false
feed efficiency decreases when you're putting fat on the animal (most efficient during the growing phase, when you're developing frame) |
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Term
| Cattle are typically on feed for ____ days |
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Definition
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Term
| Target live weight for cattle |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the "chronic" pen in a feedlot? |
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Definition
| cattle fed at a lower ration/energy rate. producer knows these animals have some kind of illness/inhibiting factor to their growth which will prevent them from gaining weight as well, so just provides enough to keep them relatively healthy until they can be culled |
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Term
| What procedures does processing include? |
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Definition
-identification (eartag)
-vaccination
-paractiticide
-implants
-metaphylactic treatment
-castration/dehorning (sometimes) |
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Term
| Cattle can be kept on slatted floors for a maximum of ____ months |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the major drawback to open lots? |
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Definition
| mud & manure -> dag -> reduced carcass value |
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Term
True or False
Treating far fewer animals than the number you pull is a sign of good management |
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Definition
false
pulling animals is in itself a stressful activity. want to make sure you're only pulling those who are actually sick, so there's a balance between identifying for early treatment, and reducing stress |
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Term
| What is the role of the stocker industry? |
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Definition
| supply cattle to feedlots to provide beef to consumers year-round |
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Term
| Calves are weaned at ___ months |
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Definition
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Term
| Heifers are bred at ____ months |
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Definition
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Term
| Heifers have their first calf at ___ months |
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Definition
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Term
| Gestation length of a cow |
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Definition
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Term
| Target # of days open for a heiffer |
|
Definition
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Term
True or False
The end-goal of cow-calf production is to maximize the 'pounds' of calf sold per cow |
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Definition
False
Optimize! Optimal weight for a calf is different from maximum weight. You should only be feeding to peak feed efficiency |
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Term
True or False
In the cow-calf industry, production and profit are directly linked |
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Definition
false
Maximizing production will not bring an increase in return so great that it outweighs the increase in expenses |
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Term
| When are cows & heifers typically bred for a spring calving target? |
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Definition
Heifers - June 1st
Cows - July 1st |
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Term
| Target length for a heiffer breeding season |
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Definition
| 45-60 day (longer than this and your calving season will be spread out and difficult to manage) |
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Term
| Target length for a cow breeding season |
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Definition
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Term
| What type of year do you feed the most low-cost / low-quality diet? |
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Definition
Fall (october/november)
Calves are weaned, heiffers should be in good weight. |
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Term
| A long pregnant cow is most likely to calve at the (beginning/end) of the breeding season |
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Definition
| beginning (she's been pregnant a long time) |
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Term
| What should you do if a cow is open at time of preg check? |
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Definition
| cull - not worth feeding her for another year |
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Term
| The cow-calf industry is (expansive/consolidated) |
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Definition
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Term
| The feedlot industry is (expansive/consolidated) |
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Definition
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