Beef cattle

Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production (as distinguished from
dairy cattle, used for milk production). The meat of mature or almost
mature cattle is mostly known as beef. In beef production there are
three main stages: cow-calf operations, backgrounding, and feedlot
operations. The production cycle of the animals start at cow-calf
operations; this operation is designed specifically to breed cows for
their offspring. From here the calves are backgrounded for a feedlot.
Animals grown specifically for the feedlot are known as feeder cattle,
the goal of these animals is fattening. Animals not grown for a feedlot
A young bull of the Blonde
are typically female and are commonly known as replacement heifers.
d'Aquitaine breed.
While the principal use of beef cattle is meat production, other uses
include leather, and beef by-products used in candy, shampoo,
cosmetics, insulin and inhalers.

Contents
Calving and breeding
Cattle maintenance
Cattle processing Japanese wagyu bull on a farm north
Breeds of Kobe

See also
References
External links

Calving and breeding

Besides breeding to meet the demand for beef production, owners also use selective breeding to attain specific
traits in their beef cattle. An example of a desired trait could be leaner meat[1] or resistance to illness.[2] Breeds
known as dual-purpose are also used for beef production. These breeds have been selected for two purposes at
once, such as both beef and dairy production, or both beef and draught. Dual-purpose breeds include many of
the Zebu breeds of India such as Tharparkar and Ongole Cattle. There are multiple continental breeds that
were bred for this purpose as well. The original Simmental/Fleckvieh from Switzerland is a prime example.
Not only are they a dual-purpose breed for beef and dairy, but in the past they were also used for draught.
However, throughout the generations, the breed has diverged into two groups through selective breeding.[3]

Most beef cattle are mated naturally, whereby a bull is released into a cowherd approximately 55 days after the
calving period, depending on the cows' body condition score (BCS). If it was a cow's first time calving, she
will take longer to re-breed by at least 10 days.[4] However, beef cattle can also be bred through artificial
insemination,[1] depending on the cow and the size of the herd. Cattle are normally bred during the summer so
that calving may occur the following spring.[1] However, cattle breeding can occur at other times of year.
Depending on the operation, calving may occur all year round. Owners can select the breeding time based on
a number of factors, including reproductive performance, seasonal cattle pricing and handling facilities.[1]
There are many factors that come into play when selecting for a bull. Some of the most important factors are
disease prevention/spread. Buying a bull who hasn't been tested for common diseases is a risk, it would more
than likely transmit to a whole herd. Purchasing genetics that will improve the original herd rather than
remaining the same or decreasing. Some breed for mothering (https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/features/mate
rnal-behaviour-in-cows/) abilities, some for size, some for meat properties, etc. Breeding Soundness
Examination or BSE are essential to the quality of any bull, a general physical exam and inspection of both the
genital organs and their productivity.[5] Knowing more information about the animal will help make an
educated decision.

Cattle maintenance
Cattle handlers are expected to maintain a low stress environment for their herds, involving constant safety,
health, comfort, nourishment and humane handling. According to the Canadian National Farm Animal Care
Council, beef cattle must have access to shelter from extreme weather, safe handling and equipment, veterinary
care and humane slaughter.[6] If an animal is infected or suspected to have an illness, it is the responsibility of
the owners to report it immediately to a practicing veterinarian for either treatment or euthanasia.[7] Depending
on a multitude of factors (season, type of production system, stocking density, etc.), illness and disease can
spread quickly through the herd from animal to animal.[8] Owners are expected to monitor their cattle's
condition regularly for early detection and treatment, as some cattle illnesses can threaten both cattle and
human health (known as zoonotic)[6] as witnessed with Mad cow disease and Tuberculosis.

On average, cattle will consume 1.4 to 4% of their body weight daily.[9] There are a range of types of feed
available for these animals. The standard text in the United States, Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle, has
been through eight editions over at least seventy years.[10] The 1996 seventh edition substituted the concept of
metabolizeable protein for the sixth edition's crude protein.[11][12] In the 20th century, Canadian practice
followed the American guidance.[13] Already in 1970, the Food and Drug Administration was regulating
pharmaceutical supplements in beef cattle feed such as hormones and prophylactic antibiotics.[14]

Some animals live on pasture their entire lives and therefore only experience fresh grass, these are typically
cow-calf operations in more tropical climates. Backgrounded calves and feedlot animals tend to have different
diets that contain more grain than the pasture type. Grain is more expensive than pasture but the animals grow
faster with the higher protein levels. Since cattle are herbivores and need roughage in their diet, silage, hay
and/or haylage are all viable feed options.[15] Despite this 3/4th of the 32 pounds (14.52 kg) of feed cattle
consume each day will be corn.[16] Cattle weighing 1000 lbs. will drink an average of 41 L a day, and
approximately 82 L in hot weather.[17] They need a constant supply of good quality feed and potable water
according to the 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare.[18]

Most Beef cattle are finished in feedlots. The first feedlots were constructed in the early 1950s. Some of these
feedlots grew so large they warranted a new designation, "Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation" (CAFO).
Most American beef cattle spend the last half of their lives in a CAFO.[16]

Cattle processing
A steer that weighs 1,000 lb (450 kg) when alive makes a carcass weighing approximately 615 lb (280 kg),
once the blood, head, feet, skin, offal and guts are removed. The carcass is then hung in a cold room for
between one and four weeks, during which time it loses some weight as water dries from the meat. It is then
deboned and cut by a butcher or packing house, the carcass would make about 430 lb (200 kg) of beef.[19]
Depending on what cuts of meat are desired, there is a scale of marbled meat used to determine the quality.
Marbling is the fat that is within the muscle, not around it. The more marbled a cut is, the higher it will grade
and be worth more.[20]
Slaughtering of livestock has three distinct stages: preslaughter handling, stunning and slaughtering. The
biggest concern is preslaughter handling, how the animal is treated before it is stunned and slaughtered. Stress
at this time can cause adverse effects on the meat, water access and lower stocking densities have been
allowed to minimize this. However, access to feed is restricted for 12–24 hours prior to slaughtering for ease of
evisceration. Stunning is done when the animal is restrained in a chute so movement is limited. Once restrained
the animal can be stunned in one of three methods: penetrating captive bolt, non-penetrating captive bolt and
gunshot. Most abattoirs use captive bolts over guns. Stunning ensures the animal feels no pain during
slaughtering and reduces the animals stress, therefore increasing the quality of meat. The final step is
slaughtering, typically the animal will be hung by its back leg and its throat will be slit to allow
exsanguination. The hide will be removed for further processing at this point and the animal will be broken
down with evisceration and decapitation. The carcass will be placed in a cooler for 24–48 hours prior to meat
cutting.[21]

Breeds
 Breed Origin Description
A tropically adapted Bos taurus breed, developed from crosses between
Adaptaur Australia
Herefords and Shorthorns.
Afrikaners are usually deep red or black with long spreading horns. They have
Afrikaner cattle South Africa
the small cervico-thoracic hump typical of Sanga cattle.
Aberdeen
Scotland Pure black, sometimes with white at udder. Polled. Hardy and thrifty.
Angus
Australian Developed for resistance to ticks and for heat tolerance by crossing Brahmans
Australia
Braford and Herefords.
Australian
Australia Polled breed developed by crossing Angus and Brahman
Brangus
Australian Developed by crossing Charolais and Brahman and selected for resistance to
Australia
Charbray heat, humidity, parasites and diseases.
United States
Barzona Developed in the high desert, inter-mountain region of Arizona.
(Arizona)
Beefalo United States Hybrid between a cow and an American bison.
England and
Beef Shorthorn Suitable for both dairy and beef.
Scotland
United States
Beefmaster Developed by breeding the Brahman, Shorthorn, and Hereford.
(Texas)
Grey roan, or white with grey on head. Extremely muscular (double muscled).
Belgian Blue Belgium
Fast-growing if well-fed.
Belmont Red Australia A composite breed using Africander (African Sanga) and Hereford-Shorthorn
Belted Black with white band around middle, stocky, fairly long hair, polled. Very
Scotland
Galloway hardy and thrifty.
A crossbreed produced by crossing a Hereford bull with Holstein or Friesian
cows; used to obtain beef offspring from dairy cows. Not maintained as a
Black Hereford Great Britain
separate breed, although females may be used for further breeding with other
beef bulls.
Blonde
France Pale brown, paler round eyes and nose. Muscular. Fast-growing if well-fed.
d'Aquitaine
Bonsmara South Africa Developed from 10/16 Afrikaner, 3/16 Hereford and 3/16 Shorthorn cattle.
East Africa
Boran Usually white, with the bulls being darker (sometimes almost black).
(Ethiopia-Kenya)
Brahman India Large, pendulous ears and dewlaps, hump over the shoulders.
Brangus United States Developed by crossing Angus and Brahman.
White body, with black (or sometimes red) ears, nose and feet; polled
British White Great Britain
(hornless). Hardy and thrifty.
Caracu Brazil
Wholly white or cream, lyre-shaped pale horns, or polled. Fast-growing if well-
Charolais France
fed.
Chianina Italy Dual-purpose, originally large draft breed, later selected for beef.
Hardy, small, athletic, criollo-type, descended from Iberian cattle. Used in
Corriente Mexico rodeo sports, noted for lean meat. Short horns, various colors, often spotted.
Also called Criollo or Chinampo.
Crioulo Iberian 400-year-old longhorn breed with around 700 individuals that live close to the
Lageano Peninsula plateau of Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
 Dairy United Kingdom Suitable for both dairy and beef.
Shorthorn
Very small, black or dun, dark horns. Sometimes has a dwarfing gene, leading
Dexter Ireland
to very short legs. Hardy and thrifty.
Developed by crossing Brahman cattle with taurine breeds, especially the
Droughtmaster Australia
Beef Shorthorn. Tolerant of heat and ticks.
Red or brindle, with white back and belly. Very long cylindrical horns usually
English
England spreading sideways or downwards, often curving and even eventually making
Longhorn
a circle. Medium size, hardy.
Red pied or solid red, polled or horned. Sturdy dual-purpose for beef and dairy.
Fleckvieh Switzerland
Formerly triple-purpose (beef, dairy and draught). Fast-growing if well-fed.
Small, criollo-type descended from cattle brought to the Southern U.S. by the
Florida
United States Spanish conquistadors. Adapted to subtropical climate, parasite-resistant. An
Cracker cattle
endangered breed.
Galloway Scotland Black, stocky, fairly long hair, polled. Very hardy and thrifty.
Grey, hardy, maternal breed. Good growth and conformation of calves.
Gascon cattle France
Suitable for all farming systems, bred pure or crossed with a terminal sire.
Red, strong skin pigmentation, polled. Superior fertility, calving ease,
Gelbvieh Germany
mothering ability, and growth rate of calves.[22]
Hanwoo Korea
Hérens Switzerland
Hereford England Red, white head, white finching on neck, and white switch.
Small, stocky; black, red, dun or white. Very long coat and very long pale
Highland Scotland
horns, upswept in cows and steers. Very hardy and thrifty.
Hungarian Robust, easy-calving and long-lived. Horns long, curved and directed upward.
Hungary
Grey Slender and tall. Well-adapted to extensive pasture systems.
Red with white back and belly, or white with red ears, nose and feet. Polled.
Irish Moiled Ireland
Hardy and thrifty.
Central Java, Colors varied from light brown to dark brown with a black stripe spans from
Jabres
Indonesia back to tail.
Japanese
Japan A breed of small beef cattle.
Shorthorn
Limousin and
Limousin Marche regions Mid-brown, paler round eyes and nose. Fast-growing if well-fed.
of France
Lincoln Red England
Lowline Australia Developed by selectively breeding small Angus cattle.
Luing and
surrounding Rough coat, red-brown, polled. Bred by crossing Beef Shorthorn with Highland.
Luing
Inner Hebrides, Very hardy and thrifty.
Scotland
East Java,
Madurese Small body, short legs, reddish yellow hair.
Indonesia
Anjou region in
Maine-Anjou Red-and-white pied, polled, fast-growing if well-fed.
France
Mocho
Brazil Polled
Nacional
Murray Grey South Eastern Grey or silver polled cattle developed from a roan Shorthorn cow and an
Australia Angus bull. Easy-care versatile cattle that have been exported to many
 countries.
Nelore India Exported to Brazil, where it has become a dominant breed.
Extremely hardy breed developed by the Nguni tribes for harsh African
Nguni South Africa conditions. Originally derived from the African Sanga cattle, although quite
distinct. Three subgroups are recognized: Makhatini, Swazi and Pedi.
Devon, Cornwall
North Devon and Somerset, Ruby-red, white tail switch, white horns.
England
Bred both for beef and dairy production; double-muscled. White-coloured and
Piedmontese Piedmont, Italy
possessing myostatin genes.
Landrace heritage endangered breed, lean, small, adapted to climate of the
Pineywoods Gulf Coast, US
Deep South, disease-resistant. Short horns, various colors, often spotted.
Indigenous to the Pinz Valley. Dairy cattle in Europe, but well-adapted to drier
landscapes of the US, Australia and South Africa, where they are kept for beef
Pinzgauer Austria
production. Solid red with very distinctive white blaze from wither, down to tail
tip and underside.
Red Angus Scotland Colour variety of Angus: solid red. Polled.
East Anglia in
Red Poll Red with white switch, polled (hornless), dual-purpose.
England
Sindh in Red Sindhi cattle are the most popular of all zebu dairy breeds. In Pakistan,
Red Sindhi
Pakistan they are kept for beef production or dairy farming.
Bred primarily for beef production; often used as draught beasts in the past.
Romagnola Italy
White or grey with black pigmented skin and upward curving horns.
Romosinuano Colombia
A breed of cattle native to the autonomous community of Galicia in north-
western Spain. It is raised mainly for meat. It is distributed throughout Galicia,
Rubia Gallega Spain
with about 75% of the population concentrated in the province of Lugo. The
coat may be red-blond, wheaten, or cinnamon-coloured.
Salers France Red. Hardy, easy calving.
Santa Southern Texas,
Developed by crossing red Shorthorn and Brahman.
Gertrudis US
Western Yellowish-brown, white head. Fast-growing if well-fed. Triple-purpose (beef,
Simmental
Switzerland dairy and draught).
Shorthorn/Beef Northern
Red, red with white back and belly, or white.
Shorthorn England
New South
Square Meater Small, grey or silver, polled; similar to Murray Grey.
Wales, Australia
South-east Rich chestnut red with white tail switch and white horns. Also used for draught
Sussex
England until the early 20th century. Hardy and thrifty.
Tabapuan Brazil
Black Wagyu bred for internationally renowned beef such as Kobe and
Tajima Japan
Matsuzaka.
Various colours, with very long, tapering, upswept horns – extending as much
Texas
United States as 80 inches (2.0 m) tip to tip. Very hardy in dry climates. Light-muscled, so
Longhorn
bulls often used for first-calf heifers.
Wagyū Japan Black, horned, and noted for heavy marbling (intramuscular fat deposition).
Welsh Black Wales Black, white upswept horns with black tips. Hardy.
White Park Great Britain, White, with black (or sometimes red) ears, nose and feet; white horns with
Ireland dark tips. Hardy and thrifty.
 Żubroń Poland Hybrid between a cow and a European bison.

See also
Conjugated linoleic acid
List of cattle breeds

References
1. "Beef Production" (http://www.aps.uoguelph.ca/~gking/Ag_2350/beef.htm). University of
Guelph, Animal Sciences. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
2. "Beef Research School: What's the Latest Research on Antimicrobial Resistance?" (http://ww
w.realagriculture.com/2013/04/beef-research-school-whats-the-latest-research-on-antimicrobial
-resistance-whats-to-be-done/). RealAgricultureOnline. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
3. "The History of Fleckvieh Dual Purpose Cattle" (http://betterdairycow.com/dairy-cows/history-of-
fleckvieh-dual-purpose-cattle/). Better Dairy Cow. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
4. "Pregnant cows, timing of pregnancy, open cows, pregnancy rate" (https://beef.unl.edu/pregnan
tcows#howlong). University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Institute of Agriculture and Natural
Resources. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
5. "Overview of Breeding Soundness Examination of the Male" (https://www.merckvetmanual.co
m/management-and-nutrition/breeding-soundness-examination-of-the-male/overview-of-breedi
ng-soundness-examination-of-the-male). Merck Manual Veterinary Manual. Retrieved
March 27, 2018.
6. "Recommended code of practice for the care and handling of farm animals: Beef cattle" (http://w
ww.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/Beef%20Code%20of%20Practice.pdf) (PDF). Agriculture Canada.
Retrieved April 6, 2013.
7. Eadie, Jim (2017-05-16). "Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle" (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20200924022843/https://www.beefproducer.ca/code-practice-care-handling
-beef-cattle/). Beef Producer. Archived from the original (http://www.beefproducer.ca/code-practi
ce-care-handling-beef-cattle/) on 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
8. "Code of practice for the care and handling of beef cattle: Review of scientific research on
priority issues" (http://www.nfacc.ca/resources/codes-of-practice/beef-cattle/Beef_Cattle_Revie
w_of_Priority_Welfare_Issues_Nov_2012.pdf) (PDF). Agriculture Canada. Retrieved
February 1, 2018.
9. "How much feed will my cow eat" (http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/fa
q7811). Ministry of Agriculture Alberta. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
10. nap.edu: "Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle Eighth Revised Edition (2016)" (https://www.na
p.edu/catalog/19014/nutrient-requirements-of-beef-cattle-eighth-revised-edition)
11. uaex.edu: "Beef cattle nutrition series - Part 3: Nutrient Requirement Tables" (https://www.uaex.
edu/publications/PDF/MP391.pdf), University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture publication
MP391
12. National Research Council (U.S.). Subcommittee on Beef Cattle Nutrition: "Nutrient
requirements of beef cattle, sixth revised edition 1984" (https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Q2M
rAAAAYAAJ/page/n1)
13. www.carc-crac.ca: "Recommended code of practice for the care and handling of farm animals:
Beef Cattle" (https://web.archive.org/web/20070806192500/http://www.carc-crac.ca/common/F
actsheet%20-%20Beef%20English.PDF), p.2 of the 1991 edition
14. [https://archive.org/details/beefcattlefeedin1025weic/page/8 Weichenthal, B. A; Russell, H. G
(1970): "Beef cattle feeding suggestions : nutrient requirements, balancing rations, protein
supplements, suggested rations" Urbana, IL : University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
College of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service
15. "Feeding Beef Cattle: Tips for a Healthy, Pasture-Based Diet" (https://www.motherearthnews.co
m/homesteading-and-livestock/raising-cattle/feeding-beef-cattle-healthy-diet). Mother Earth
News. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
16. Pollan, Michael (2006). The Omnivores Dilemma. Penguin.
17. "Beef Cattle: The codes of practice" (http://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/factsheets/Beef%20Factsh
eet.pdf) (PDF). Agriculture Canada. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
18. "5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare" (https://www.cfhs.ca/five_freedoms_of_animal_welfare).
Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
19. "1000 lb. steer to 610 lbs. beef" (https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:BOkvfNBpzicJ:
www.oda.state.ok.us/food/fs-cowweight.pdf+1000lb+steer+makes&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid
=ADGEESiNqqoHxT74UYJgsJV8lG0lb38OJ53JHA6GBantjfz0WQ8DhjQCIh5ni_89KlgrESSv
HoNyiysvEYANXniDHESeVDoApp174C3iTwBUbPH2v2w2qKO2zdIU7l6wgwpASvqSGfeI&si
g=AHIEtbT4VS38SQlXWqsruIWqZbA4NgHoew). Oklahoma Food Safety Division. Retrieved
April 6, 2013.
20. "What is Marbling in Meat?" (https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-marbling-in-meat-995777).
The Spruce. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
21. "Meat processing - Livestock slaughter procedures" (https://www.britannica.com/technology/me
at-processing/Livestock-slaughter-procedures). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved March 27,
2018.
22. "Breeds of Livestock" (http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/gelbvieh/). Gelbvieh. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20081104101303/http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/gelbvi
eh/) from the original on 4 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-11.

External links
Oklahoma State University pages about cattle breeds. (http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds)

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