肉牛生产和生命周期

肉牛生产和生命周期

肉牛从出生到上盘子的过程可能很复杂.  This is due to the changing needs of the animal as it progresses through its lifecycle.  Because of these changing needs and depending on where the animal is in its lifecycle, it will be moved to farms that specialize in the different stages of the production system.  The farmers and ranchers that make up the cattle industry consist of a community of farms working consistently to provide humane, safe and environmentally sustainable care throughout the cattle’s lifecycle.  The result is a safe, delicious and nutritious food the whole family can enjoy.

肉牛生产系统

The beef cattle production system can be divided into three general categories.  Beef cattle will move through different stages within the system depending on where they are in their lifecycle. 

Beef cattle production can be divided into three general categories:

1. The cow-calf segment which produces feeder calves for further feeding/grazing.
2. The backgrounding or stocker phase of production adds body weight to recently weaned calves, 导致一岁的幼崽准备好了饲养场.
3. The finishing stage of production is where cattle are fed until they reach market weight.

肉牛的生命周期

The beef cattle production system can be grouped into three categories.  然而，肉牛的生命周期更广泛一些.  Not all cattle are raised through the stages with the end goal of being market ready.  Beef cattle are bred and raised to withhold different roles within the system to help maintain the industry.

牛/小腿阶段

It begins when a cow calves either a heifer (female) or bull calf (male) after 285 days of gestation.  注:牛能生双胞胎.  When one is a bull calf and the other is a heifer calf, the female is more than likely infertile.  不能生育的雌性被称为自由生殖. 

Calves are weaned from their mother’s milk around the age of six to nine months of age and when they weigh between 500 and 700 pounds.  在断奶期间，它们继续在牧场上吃草.

小母牛s may enter the beef production cycle or be kept on the farm as part of the breeding system.  In this case the heifer is raised and prepared to be bred the following year.

牛 calves may enter the beef production cycle as a steer or be kept as a bull for future breeding purposes.  小公牛长大了，到了成年的时候, the bull will breed naturally or give semen for artificial insemination.

背景或装料工阶段

After weaning, cattle are sent to farms and/or ranches as backgrounders or stockers.  生命周期的这一阶段包括持续的放牧, supplemental feed and vitamins and minerals to ensure nutritional needs are met for optimal growth. 

完成阶段

When cattle are ready to be finished, they may be sent to a feedyard or they may stay on the farm. Cattle will spend around four to six months feeding from a well-balanced diet made up of roughage, 粮食和其他可再生饲料来源. 有些牛吃谷物，有些吃草. 了解更多谷物成品牛肉和草成品牛肉. Cattlemen work closely with veterinarians to provide proper and individualistic care. 

Cattle are market ready when they meet market weight (usually 1,200 to 1,300 pounds).  市场重量在14-15月龄时达到.  一旦达到重量，它们就被送到包装工厂.  Packing plants are also called processing facilities and are fully monitored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The USDA has inspectors stationed in all federally-inspected packing plants.  The inspectors oversee all aspects of the process to include safety, 动物福利和质量标准.  The entire process from animal arrival to product shipment is monitored. 

Beef products are shipped across the United States and abroad to meet the needs of grocery suppliers, 零售场所及食肆.  The foodservice and retail phase works to provide this wholesome and nutritious product to consumers.

肉牛行业术语

Following are definitions of some common terms used in the cattle industry.

人工授精.I.) - The procedure for impregnating cows by manually placing semen in the reproductive tract of the female.

平均日增重(ADG) - Calculation of post-weaning gain, figured by dividing the weight gain by the days on feed.

背景资料 – Cattle that have been weaned and are growing and maturing until they meet the requirements for feedlot finishing.

培育 -适用于绝对安全的雌性小牛, or pregnant; also used to refer to the mating process.

牛 -任何年龄的未阉割的公牛.

小牛或小牛 -未满一岁的雌雄幼牛.

产犊 -分娩，也叫“扔下小牛”或分娩.

阉割 -切除雄性牛的睾丸.

杂交 - An animal that has purebred parents or grade parents of different breeds.

牛 -生过一头或多头小牛的母牛.

馈线小腿 – A steer or heifer that is mature enough for backgrounding or to enter the finishing stage.

完成 -肥胖程度

完成 -喂牛准备收割的阶段. 

Freemartin -牛中不同双胞胎的雌性成员, 表现出许多男性特征，不能生产.

热 -成熟奶牛的性接受期, when the cow will stand for the bull to breed her; estrus.

小母牛 -没有生过小牛的母牛.

开放 -指未怀孕的女性.

调查 生下来就没有角的牛.

纯种 - A beef animal whose parents are of the same breed and are recorded with the registry association.

体育彩票正规app下载 -繁殖的行为或能力.

引导 - Male cattle that were castrated at an early age before any sex characteristics developed.

装料工 – Weaned cattle between six to nine months old and weighing between 400 and 700 pounds.

补充 - Nutritional additive intended to remedy deficiencies of the diet, such as salt, minerals, protein.

刚断奶的 刚断奶的牛.

 

来源:阿肯色大学推广部，Beefitswhatsfordinner.com, beef2live.com, wvbeef.com