3 Phases of the Beef Industry
Featured Articles
Back to Basics: Beef Production Stages
16 April 2012
The production yr of the moo-cow herd is typically broken down into four physiological stages of production. Amy Radunz, from the Academy of Wisconnsin reviews these stages and offers some key management strategies to consider during these periods.
Stage 1: This is approximately lxxx-90 postal service-calving. The cow has four basic functions during this stage 1) lactation; 2) undergo uterine involution; three) resume estrus; and 4) conceive
These is the fourth dimension when the cow has her highest nutrient requirements because she is lactation and trying to re-breed. In northern climates, cows spend nearly of this fourth dimension on pasture. This is to match the high nutrient content of the pastures during the spring, but it is important to make sure the cow is receiving enough nutrients during this menstruum and at times pasture may non be enough.
Dietary energy and poly peptide intake as well as cow body condition score will determine the length of time required for the animal to showtime cycling once again (otherwise called postpartum anestrus menstruation).
Postpartum anestrus is on average 60 days, but can be up to 100 days. The later a cows a cycles, the younger her next dogie volition be weaned and marketed the next yr, this could mean l-60 fewer pounds of calf in the fall. Another common problem is cows may show up open in the fall and then culled from the herd.
Phase 2: This is from nearly 80 to 205 days postpartum, or from the time of convenance to weaning. The three basic functions of the moo-cow during this period are 1) lactation; 2) maintain pregnancy; and 3) proceeds weight and body status lost during previous wintertime.
Normally this period is during the summer and cows are grazing pasture and try to maximize apply of animal harvested forage. "It is ever cheaper to have an animal harvest its own feed". If pasture becomes express at the end of this period several strategies tin be implemented in order to provide enough diet to both the cow and her calf. Three common solutions are 1)supplement cows with hay and/or concentrates; 2) early on wean the calves; and 3) creep feed the calves.
Stage 3: This is approximately from solar day 206 to 315 days postpartum or from the fourth dimension calves are weaned until the 3rd trimester of gestation. The cow has only 2 bones functions at this stage are 1) maintain herself and 2) maintain her pregnancy.
This is what can be considered the brand or pause period in the production year and when the cow's energy requirements are her everyman. Again during this period, it is important to maximize the employ of cow harvested fodder. This can be done by extending the grazing season through stockpiled forages, cover crops, or crop residues. This is also the fourth dimension to feed the poorest quality harvested forage. However, if you take moo-cow in poor trunk status, this is a cheap time to add the weight lost during the past stages very economically.
Phase 4: From twenty-four hour period 316 to 365 postpartum or the final third of gestation. During this stage the moo-cow has 3 functions: 1) prepare for parturition; 2) prepare for lactation and 3) provide nourishment to allow for the bulk of fetal growth to occur during this stage. The fetus grows about 0.9 lbs/twenty-four hours during the last trimester.
If cows are not provided enough nutrition during this stage this tin cause several issues such equally:
- Reduced nativity weight and thus survival is reduced
- Dystocia
- Reduced immune function of calf primarily due to inadequate colostrum production by the cow
- Increased postpartum anestrus in Stage 1
- Reduced conception rates in Phase 1
- Reduced milk production thus reduced dogie weaning weight
Depression critical temperature is the temperature at which the cows starts to utilise energy to stay warm. It ranges from 5 to 49 degree F. Temperatures below 20-40 caste F can increase feed intake by 3-viii% and below 0 can increase feed intake by 25%. The goal should be for cows to calve at a torso condition score of 5 to 6 and this is highly correlated to reducing the risk of the bug outlined above.
All of these stages are important to the productivity and profitability of the cow herd. Therefore making sure nutrient needs are met but necessarily exceeded at each phase is important to achieve this aim.
April 2012
Source: https://www.thecattlesite.com/articles/3138/back-to-basics-beef-production-stages
0 Response to "3 Phases of the Beef Industry"
Post a Comment