BEEF CATTLE AND DAIRY CATTLE

 Feeding

Good pasture is the necessary basis of successful cattle production. Whenever the pasture is insufficient to provide adequate nutrients to meet the needs of the cattle, it will be necessary to supplement the pasture with additional feed for best results. Ten pounds of good legume hay, 30 pounds of legume silage, or 20 to 25 pounds of sorghum or corn silage will replace about one half of the pasture requirements for mature cattle. If available, silage is an excellent supplement when the grasses are dry or mature. Grain may be also used to replace part of the pasture requirements of cattle.

Concentrates are used extensively in cattle rations. They consist primarily of the grains and by-products of grain of oil seeds. Different grains are used in feeding cattle. Corn is palatable and very nutritious. Grain sorghums, wheat, oats, and barley may be substituted for corn. Soybean oil meal, linseed oil meal and cottonseed oil meal are excellent sources of protein for dairy cattle.

Roughages should make up a large part of the cattle ration. High-quality legume hay is considered to be the best roughage from a nutritional standpoint. It is high in proteins, minerals and vitamins.

Grass hays are excellent roughages but low in proteins and minerals compared to legume hay. Silage may be made from legumes and grasses. Silage made from legumes will contain more protein than that made from grasses. Corn and sorghums make excellent silage. The silage made from these crops will be lower in protein than legume or legume and grass silage but higher in carbohydrates.

Vitamins and minerals must be included in cattle ration. B-complex or water-soluble vitamins are manufactured in the cow’s digestive system. Vitamin A is found in yellow corn, good-quality cured roughage, pasture, and many other feeds. Vitamin D is supplied to animals coming into contact with sunshine and is contained in sun-cured forages.

Concerning minerals, many dairymen feed a pound of mineralized salt and a pound of steamed bone meal for each 100 pounds of concentrated mixture. Bone meal is high in calcium and phosphorus, and the mineralized salt provides the salt and trace elements.

EXERCISES

1.    Translate the following words and word combinations:

Cattle production, sufficient (insufficient), nutrients, needs, legume, silage, sorghum, wheat, oats, barley, soybean oil, linseed oil, cottonseed, roughage.

2.  Practice back translation:

3. What are the peculiarities of feeding dairy and beef cattle? What vitamins and minerals should be included in cattle ration? Sun up the main information from the text, formulate the basic rules for a cattle breeder.

BEEF CATTLE

Selecting and Housing Beef Cattle

Rapidity of growth is the most important factor in selecting beef cattle. Females should weigh about 400 lb or more at 6 months of age and about 700 lb or more as yearlings. Bull should weigh about 500 lb or more and about 850 lb or more respectively.

A desirable beef animal is low-set and blocky. The head is wide and short and the muzzle is broad. The legs are straight and fairly short. If a mature cow is to be selected, it is possible to see some of her offspring and note whether she has consistently transmitted good qualities to them. If possible, inspect the sire and the dam, as well as sisters and brothers. If they are good, the strain of family is prepotent for the desired qualities.

Beef cattle have a thick covering of flesh, a fairly thick skin, and a dense coat of hair, which give the cattle considerable natural protection against low temperatures. Consequently, they can be housed in buildings which are quite cold. In warm climates no shelter is needed for beef breeding herds. In cold climates the shelter should be dry and protect the animals from exposure to cold winds and severe storms. If calves are born in winter, provide one or two box stalls for confining the cows at calving time.

Principal types of equipment for beef cattle are yards or corrals, a water supply, mangers and hayracks. Provide a salt box that protects the salt from the weather. A central water tank is used for watering beef cattle.

Beef cattle may be pastured in large numbers in one large field and may be housed in groups up to several hundred if ample space is provided.

EXERCISES

2. Translate the following words and word combinations:

A muzzle, a sire, a dam, a strain, prepotent, flesh, dense, protection, shelter, to supply.

3. True or false:

a) It will be better if the owner manages to learn as much as he can about the sire and the dam of the cow or heifer.

b) In warm climates shelter is necessary for beef herds.

c) Beef cattle need no equipment.

d) Beef cattle can be pastured in large numbers in one large field.

e) In selecting beef cattle the quantity of offspring is most important.

f)There are special features according to which the owner can choose a good producing animal.

4. Read and learn the dialogue:

- I’ve read a lot of books about breeding dairy cattle, but I know very little about beef cattle. Can you give me some advice?

- Of course. What are you interested in in particular?

- Oh, I don’t know. Are there any peculiarities in breeding beef stock?

- Each breed has its own typical features. Selecting good producing animals is the first step. It’s extremely important.

- What is most important in selecting beef cattle?

- Rapidity of growth is most important. Females should weigh about 400 lb or more at 6 months of age and about 700 lb or more as yearlings. Bull should weigh about 500 lb or more and about 850 lb or more respectively.

- What about special equipment?

- You know, beef cattle have a thick covering of flesh and a thick skin. So, they can be housed in buildings which are quite cold.

- That’s good. And what about feeding?

- The main rules of feeding are very similar to those of breeding dairy cattle. You won’t have problems.