AGAH 1453

 

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

I.       TRINITY VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

 

ATHENS, TEXAS

 

 

 

PREPARED BY

 

Steve Keith

 

AGRICULTURE AND RANCH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

 

 

 

AGAH 1453

 

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

This course is designed to acquaint you the fundamental concepts employed in the management of feeding, breeding, and herd health practices of beef cattle.  The scope, potential, and importance of the livestock industry to the agricultural economy are explored.

 

OBJECTIVES AND COMPETENCIES:

 

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

 

  1. Analyze the role of beef cattle in the production of food and fiber for mankind.
  2. Recognize select beef cattle types and breeds.
  3. Select and implement the beef cattle operation best suited to your needs.
  4. Perform all necessary tasks to insure successful feeding, breeding, and marketing of beef cattle.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:

 

Required Text:

 

1.      Beef Production and Management Decisions,

 

References:

 

1.      Beef Production and the Beef Industry  “A Beef Producers Prospective”, by Robert E. Taylor

2.      Beef Production and Management, by Minish and Fox

3.      Beef Cattle, by A.L. Neuman and Keith Lusby

4.      Beef Production in the South, by Stuart H. Fowler

5.      Scientific Farm Animal Production, by Ralph Bogart

 

A large three-ringed notebook is recommended to keep all handouts organized.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

 

1.      Attend class and lab sessions regularly and participate in discussions.

2.      Take four (4) major exams and turn in two (2) industry related abstracts, final exam.

3.      Complete a beef cattle five year ranch plan.

 

SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATION:

 

Semester grades will be determined on the following basis:

 

1.      Your attendance and participation in class and labs will count 10% of your grade. 

2.      Each major exam will count 10%.

3.      Two technical abstracts will count 15%.

4.      Beef cattle five year ranch plan will count 15%.

5.      The final exam will count 20%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE OUTLINE

 

AGAH 1453

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION

 

                        SECTION       I.

 

A.     Ranch Plan

B.     Breeds of Cattle

C.     Crossbreeding Programs

D.     Cattle Selection

 

SECTION       II.

 

A.     Cattle Supplements

B.     Mineral Supplements

C.     Cow-Calf Nutrition

 

SECTION      III.

 

A.     Internal & External Parasites

B.     Cattle Diseases

 

SECTION       IV.

 

A.     Cow-Calf Programs

B.     Yearling Programs (Backgrounding)

C.     Pasture Management

D.     Cattle Economy

 

SECTION       V.

 

A.     Bull Reproduction

B.     Cow Reproduction

C.     Fertility Problems

 

SECTION       VI.

 

A.     Cattle Identification

B.     Cattle Records of Performance

C.     Feeder Cattle Grading & Type

D.     Slaughter Cattle Grading

 

SECTION      VII.

 

A.     Beef Cattle Five Year Ranch Plan

FIVE YEAR RANCH PLAN OUTLINE

 

I.                   RANCH DESCRIPTION – CHOOSE OWN

A.     LOCATION & CLIMATE

B.     SIZE & ACRES

C.     MAP

D.     CARRYING CAPACITY

E.      IRRIGATED OR NOT

F.      GRASSES, SOILS, AND RAINFALL

G.     BREEDS OF CATTLE

H.     REGISTERED OR COMMERCIAL

II.                CAPITAL INVESTMENTS

A.     CATTLE PURCHASED – NUMBER, AGE, PAIRS, BRED,      OPEN, COST, ETC. (COWS AND BULLS)

B.     LIST OF EQUIPMENT NEEDED AND VALUE – NEW OR USED (DISCUSS NEEDS)

C.     SADDLES AND HORSES

III.             HERD MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

A.     COW-CALF CALENDAR:  PROGRAM OF PRACTICES FOR EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR.  (BREEDING & CALVING SEASONS, VACCINATIONS, WEANING, PASTURES, ETC.)

IV.              FEEDING PROGRAMS

A.     CREEP FEED OR NOT

B.     COW SUPPLEMENTS

C.     ROUGHAGE PROGRAM

D.     MINERALS

E.      BULL FEEDING

V.                 PASTURE PROGRAM

A.     ROTATION SYSTEM IF ANY

B.     WINTER GRAZING – FERTILIZER AND SEEDS

VI.              INCOME AND EXPENSE SHEETS

A.     COST PER COW PER YEAR

B.     COST PER BULL PER YEAR

C.     INCOME STATEMENT EACH YEAR – CAN INCLUDE HUNTING, CROPS, PECANS, HAY, ETC. (GIVE DETAILS)

D.     EXPENSE STATEMENT EACH YEAR – (INTEREST RATE)

E.      NET PROFIT OR LOSS

F.      LOAN REPAYMENT SCHEDULE – ON CAPITAL INVESTMENTS & OPERATING EXPENSES

G.     CALF & YEARLING PRICES – INCREASE 2 CENTS PER POUND PER YEAR

H.     NO DEPRECIATION SCHEDULE

VII.           SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS – YOUR COMMENTS

VIII.        MUST BE WORD PROCESSED AND BOUND – DUE AT THE LAST REGULAR CLASS MEETING OF THE SEMESTER