Agricultural Alternatives: Beef Backgrounding ProductionThe term “backgrounding” may be relatively new to some. However, this management system is well known to both cow-calf producers and cattle feeders. Backgrounding is a beef production system that uses pasture and other forages from the time calves are weaned until they are placed in a feedlot. Calves generally gain from 100 to 400 pounds, depending on the available forages, ration fed, and length of time involved. The weight gain comes primarily from muscle and frame development, with little from fattening. These gains are accomplished as economically as possible by making maximum use of forages such as pasture, hay, and silage. Little, if any, grain is used in most backgrounding programs.
Copyright © 2001
Code Number: UA299
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Agricultural Alternatives: Beef cow-calf productionThe United States is the leading beef producer in the world. Almost 26.9 billion pounds of beef were produced in the United States in 2000 and per capita consumption totaled 78 pounds. The cattle cycle currently is in a declining phase. A smaller calf crop, a slight decline in cattle feeding, small decline in slaughter rates, and stable consumption rates will be evident for several years. Profitability in the cattle business usually increases as production declines.
Copyright © 2001
Code Number: UA304
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Agricultural Alternatives: Dairy-Beef ProductionHeifers are the foundation of any dairy enterprise. Farmers can improve their herds by replacing culled cows with wellfed, healthy, genetically superior 2-year-old heifers. In most herds, dairy farmers replace 25 to 30 percent of the herd each year. These replacements represent a significant financial investment. Dairy heifer production in the Northeast and the Midwest has typically been the responsibility of dairy farmers. However, milk producers in other parts of the country often buy bred replacement heifers or contract their own heifers out to other growers.
Copyright © 1996
Code Number: UA296
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Agricultural Alternatives: Feeding Beef CattleThe United States is the leading beef producer in the world. Almost 26.9 billion pounds of beef were produced in the United States in 2000 and per capita consumption totaled 78 pounds. The cattle cycle currently is in a declining phase, and several more years are expected of smaller calf crops, a slight decline in cattle feeding, small decline in slaughter rates, and stable consumption rates. Profitability in the cattle business usually increases as production declines.
Copyright © 2001
Code Number: UA298
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Blueprint for Success for Feeding Cattle in PennsylvaniaA joint initiative of: Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences The Pennsylvania Beef Council This manual provides a summary of the management and animal factors that can increase the competitiveness, predictability, quality, and value to consumers of fed cattle in Pennsylvania. Recognizing that quality beef cattle may come in many forms and that market forces may not allow even the "best" animal to be profitable, the practices outlined here are intended to help reduce the cost of production, increase the value of the product to consumers, and reduce carcass discounts affecting meat quality.
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Interactive Beef CalendarThis web site is a tool to schedule your beef management activities relative to your desired calving dates. It will also give timely tips appropriate to your climate on a monthly basis, and information about scheduled beef-related activities and events. The viewer will also have the ability to promote beef-related activities and events to other calendar participants,and find links to other beef related experts and sites within your region and throughout the country.
Copyright © 2003
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Livestock Judging Using Live Animal and Carcass Data: Beef 1.................................................................................................................................................................. |
Manure Storage Hazards
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Pennsylvania 4-H Livestock Project RecordThis site contains a Pennsylvania 4-H livestock project record document, which a person can use to construct their own project record book.
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PDF - /pdf/livestockrecord.pdf
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Podcast: An Interview With Trent Loos
Copyright © 2007
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Dairy and Animal Science Web Site at das.psu.edu