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Beef Production:  The Basics


Herd Structures for Different Systems

Cattle numbers, live mass and AU (animal units) for weaner, tolly and ox beef production systems containing 100 breeding cows each are reflected in Tables 21, 22 & 23 respectively. The QPro-based programme BEEFFLO was used to generate this data. Table 23 represents the calculated monthly and annual feed requirements for the respective production systems. The following is noteworthy:

  1. A standard mean cow live mass of 450 kg, with an 80% calving rate was used throughout.

  2. It was assumed that heifers are bred at the same time as the cow herd.

  3. Weaning mass was taken as 198 kg, which is relatively high (44% of mature cow live mass) compared to most commercial herds, where the 205 day weaning mass averages 42% of mature cow live mass in South African performance tested herds.

  4. With the BEEFFLO program, mortality is not taken into account in the beef stockflow table, but is subtracted from the animals sold.

  5. Breeding seasons were adapted to reflect that in sourveld areas most herds are bred earlier (with the breeding season starting in November) and use a weaner beef production system, whereas in sweetveld areas, ox systems are usually advised and the breeding season starts later. The tolly system was taken as intermediate to the other systems.

  6. For the tolly and ox systems, the age at which the progeny were sold was adjusted so that sales take place during November of each year.

  7. An examination of the data reflected in Table 23 indicates that a weaner system has a higher mid-summer dry matter feedneed compared to ox- or tolly systems, and a lower feedneed during the first two months after weaning. It is noteworthy that, for the specific systems shown, July and especially August and September, are months with a relatively higher feedneed for which provision must be made, and should rains arrive late, feed shortages can be experienced. Late rains can even result in feed shortages during October and November.

 

Table 23.  BEEF STOCKFLOW AND FEEDNEED for: Weaner production system, 80% conception rate, Bulls in 1 Nov.


 

COW MEAN MASS

450

   

REPLACEMENT%

20

             
 

COWS IN HERD

100

   

NO. MATURE COWS

80

             
 

BULLS IN HERD

4

   

NO. 1ST CALVERS

20

             
 

COW CALVING: %

80

   

AGE@WEANING:mths

8

             
 

Mth & % drop

8

60

 

MASS@WEANING: kg

198

             
 

Mth & % drop

9

30

 

AGE-1STCALF: mths

35

             
 

Mth & % drop

10

10

 

HFR SALE AGE:mths

8

             
 

1ST CALVERS: %

90

   

L_MASS@SALE:kg

188.1

             
 

Mth & % drop

8

75

 

STR SALE AGE:mths

8

             
 

Mth & % drop

9

20

 

L_MASS@SALE:kg

207.9

             
 

Mth & % drop

10

5

 

MORTALITY % PA

2

             
 

BIRTH MASS KG

32

   

FODDER INTAKE %

80

             


 

       

7

8

9

10

11

12

1

2

3

4

5

6

 

SUB-CLASS

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN


BULLS

     

No

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

       

LMass

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

       

AU

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

DRY COWS

No

80

32

8

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

80

80

LMass

450

450

450

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

450

450

       

AU

78.2

31.3

7.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

78.2

78.2

LACTATING COWS

No

0

48

72

80

80

80

80

80

80

80

0

0

       

LMass

0

450

450

450

450

450

450

450

450

450

0

0

       

AU

0.0

56.3

84.4

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

0.0

0.0

1ST CALF COWS

No

0

15

19

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

0

0

LMass

0

405

425

447

450

450

450

450

450

450

0

0

       

AU

0.0

16.3

21.4

23.3

23.4

23.4

23.4

23.4

23.4

23.4

0.0

0.0

TOTAL CALVES

No

0

63

91

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

0

0

0

TO

8

Mths

LMass

0

76

76

78

98

118

138

158

178

198

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

35.8

40.2

44.6

48.7

52.8

0.0

0.0

REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

No

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

9

TO

20

Mths

LMass

222

230

238

246

254

262

270

278

286

294

206

214

       

AU

13.8

14.2

14.5

14.9

15.3

15.6

16.0

16.3

16.7

17.0

13.0

13.4

REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

No

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

20

20

24

24

21

TO

32

Mths

LMass

317

325

333

341

349

357

365

373

381

389

301

309

       

AU

18.0

18.4

18.7

19.1

19.4

19.7

20.0

20.4

17.3

17.5

17.4

17.7

REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

No

20

5

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

20

20

33

TO

35

Mths

LMass

413

421

429

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

397

405

       

AU

18.3

4.6

0.9

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

17.8

18.1

HEIFERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9

TO

8

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

HEIFERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

HEIFERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

STEERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9

TO

8

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

STEERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

STEERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0


SALES, PURCHASES:

SUM AU

133

146

153

156

157

193

198

203

205

209

131

132

BULLS BOUGHT 

@ R No

2

                     

BULLS SOLD 

@ R No                

2

     

CULL COWS 

@ R No                    

18

 

IN-CALF HFRS 

@ R No                

4

     

WEANER HFRS 

@ R No                    

26

 

WEANER STRS 

@ R No                    

49

 


 

Table 24.  BEEF STOCKFLOW AND FEEDNEED for:  Tolly production system, 80% conception rate, Bulls in 1 Dec.


 

COW MEAN MASS

450

   

REPLACEMENT%

20

             
 

COWS IN HERD

100

   

NO. MATURE COWS

80

             
 

BULLS IN HERD

4

   

NO. 1ST CALVERS

20

             
 

COW CALVING: %

80

   

AGE@WEANING:mths

8

             
 

Mth & % drop

9

60

 

MASS@WEANING: kg

198

             
 

Mth & % drop

10

30

 

AGE-1STCALF: mths

35

             
 

Mth & % drop

11

10

 

HFR SALE AGE:mths

15

             
 

1ST CALVERS: %

90

   

L_MASS@SALE:kg

340

             
 

Mth & % drop

9

75

 

STR SALE AGE:mths

15

             
 

Mth & % drop

10

20

 

L_MASS@SALE:kg

340

             
 

Mth & % drop

11

5

 

MORTALITY % PA

2

             
 

BIRTH MASS KG

32

   

FODDER INTAKE %

80

             


 

       

7

8

9

10

11

12

1

2

3

4

5

6

 

SUB-CLASS

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN


BULLS

     

No

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

       

LMass

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

       

AU

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

DRY COWS

No

80

80

32

8

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

80

LMass

450

450

450

450

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

450

       

AU

78.2

78.2

31.3

7.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

78.2

LACTATING COWS

No

0

0

48

72

80

80

80

80

80

80

80

0

       

LMass

0

0

450

450

450

450

450

450

450

450

450

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

56.3

84.4

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

0.0

1ST CALF COWS

No

0

0

15

19

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

0

LMass

0

0

405

425

447

450

450

450

450

450

450

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

16.3

21.4

23.3

23.4

23.4

23.4

23.4

23.4

23.4

0.0

TOTAL CALVES

No

0

0

63

91

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

0

0

TO

8

Mths

LMass

0

0

76

76

78

98

118

138

158

178

198

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

35.8

40.2

44.6

48.7

52.8

0.0

REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

No

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

9

TO

20

Mths

LMass

214

222

230

238

246

254

262

270

278

286

294

206

       

AU

13.4

13.8

14.2

14.5

14.9

15.3

15.6

16.0

16.3

16.7

17.0

13.0

REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

No

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

20

20

24

21

TO

32

Mths

LMass

309

317

325

333

341

349

357

365

373

381

389

301

       

AU

17.7

18.0

18.4

18.7

19.1

19.4

19.7

20.0

20.4

17.3

17.5

17.4

REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

No

20

20

5

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

20

33

TO

35

Mths

LMass

405

413

421

429

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

397

       

AU

18.1

18.3

4.6

0.9

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

17.8

HEIFERS

No

26

26

26

26

26

0

0

0

0

0

0

26

9

TO

8

Mths

LMass

245

269

293

316

340

0

0

0

0

0

0

222

       

AU

16.1

17.3

18.4

19.5

20.6

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

14.9

HEIFERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

HEIFERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

STEERS

No

50

50

50

50

50

0

0

0

0

0

0

50

9

TO

8

Mths

LMass

245

269

293

316

340

0

0

0

0

0

0

222

       

AU

31.0

33.2

35.4

37.5

39.6

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

28.7

STEERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

STEERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0


SALES, PURCHASES:

SUM AU

179

184

200

210

216

157

193

198

203

205

209

175

BULLS BOUGHT 

@ R No

2

                     

BULLS SOLD 

@ R No                

2

     

CULL COWS 

@ R No                      

18

IN-CALF HFRS 

@ R No                  

4

   

WEANER STRS 

@ R No          

25

           

HEIFERS 

@ R No          

49

           


 

Table 25.  BEEF STOCKFLOW AND FEEDNEED for:  Ox production system, 80% conception rate, Bulls in 1 Jan.


 

COW MEAN MASS

450

   

REPLACEMENT%

20

             
 

COWS IN HERD

100

   

NO. MATURE COWS

80

             
 

BULLS IN HERD

4

   

NO. 1ST CALVERS

20

             
 

COW CALVING: %

80

   

AGE@WEANING:mths

8

             
 

Mth & % drop

10

60

 

MASS@WEANING: kg

198

             
 

Mth & % drop

11

30

 

AGE-1STCALF: mths

35

             
 

Mth & % drop

12

10

 

HFR SALE AGE:mths

26

             
 

1ST CALVERS: %

90

   

L_MASS@SALE:kg

420

             
 

Mth & % drop

10

75

 

STR SALE AGE:mths

26

             
 

Mth & % drop

11

20

 

L_MASS@SALE:kg

420

             
 

Mth & % drop

12

5

 

MORTALITY % PA

2

             
 

BIRTH MASS KG

32

   

FODDER INTAKE %

80

             


 

       

7

8

9

10

11

12

1

2

3

4

5

6

 

SUB-CLASS

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN


BULLS

     

No

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

       

LMass

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

585

       

AU

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

DRY COWS

No

80

32

8

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

80

80

LMass

450

450

450

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

450

450

       

AU

78.2

31.3

7.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

78.2

78.2

LACTATING COWS

No

0

48

72

80

80

80

80

80

80

80

0

0

       

LMass

0

450

450

450

450

450

450

450

450

450

0

0

       

AU

0.0

56.3

84.4

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

93.8

0.0

0.0

1ST CALF COWS

No

0

15

19

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

0

0

LMass

0

405

425

447

450

450

450

450

450

450

0

0

       

AU

0.0

16.3

21.4

23.3

23.4

23.4

23.4

23.4

23.4

23.4

0.0

0.0

TOTAL CALVES

No

0

63

91

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

0

0

0

TO

8

Mths

LMass

0

76

76

78

98

118

138

158

178

198

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

35.8

40.2

44.6

48.7

52.8

0.0

0.0

REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

No

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

9

TO

20

Mths

LMass

222

230

238

246

254

262

270

278

286

294

206

214

       

AU

13.8

14.2

14.5

14.9

15.3

15.6

16.0

16.3

16.7

17.0

13.0

13.4

REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

No

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

20

20

24

24

21

TO

32

Mths

LMass

317

325

333

341

349

357

365

373

381

389

301

309

       

AU

18.0

18.4

18.7

19.1

19.4

19.7

20.0

20.4

17.3

17.5

17.4

17.7

REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

No

20

5

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

20

20

33

TO

35

Mths

LMass

413

421

429

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

397

405

       

AU

18.3

4.6

0.9

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

17.8

18.1

HEIFERS

No

26

26

26

26

26

26

26

26

26

26

26

26

9

TO

8

Mths

LMass

237

250

263

276

289

302

316

329

342

355

211

224

       

AU

15.7

16.4

17.0

17.6

18.2

18.9

19.5

20.1

20.7

21.3

14.4

15.1

HEIFERS

No

26

26

26

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

26

26

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

394

407

420

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

368

381

       

AU

23.0

23.6

24.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

21.8

22.4

HEIFERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

STEERS

No

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

9

TO

8

Mths

LMass

237

250

263

276

289

302

316

329

342

355

211

224

       

AU

30.2

31.5

32.7

33.9

35.1

36.3

37.4

38.6

39.7

40.9

27.7

29.0

STEERS

No

50

50

50

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

50

50

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

394

407

420

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

368

381

       

AU

44.2

45.3

46.4

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

42.0

43.1

STEERS

No

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TO

0

Mths

LMass

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

       

AU

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0


SALES, PURCHASES:

SUM AU

237

242

246

262

273

207

210

248

255

262

265

271

BULLS BOUGHT 

@ R No

2

                     

BULLS SOLD 

@ R No                

2

     

CULL COWS 

@ R No

18

                     

IN-CALF HFRS 

@ R No                    

4

 

WEANER STRS 

@ R No          

25

           

HEIFERS 

@ R No          

49

           


 

Table 26.  Calculated monthly feed requirements of different beef production systems (tons per month)

 

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Year

Weaner system

ANIMAL UNITS

133.1

145.8

152.5

155.8

156.7

193.1

198.3

203.3

204.7

209.3

131.1

132.1

168

D M INTAKE

36.0

42.1

44.7

47.3

50.0

52.8

54.3

54.0

53.9

52.6

35.5

34.8

558

FODDER REQD + WASTE

45.1

52.6

55.9

59.2

62.5

66.0

67.9

67.5

67.4

65.7

44.4

43.5

698

Tolly system

ANIMAL UNITS

179.2

183.6

199.5

209.5

216.0

156.7

193.1

198.3

203.3

204.7

209.3

174.8

194

D M INTAKE

50.8

52.1

58.1

63.1

65.4

50.3

52.8

53.3

55.0

53.6

52.9

48.2

656

FODDER REQD + WASTE

63.5

65.1

72.6

78.9

81.8

62.9

66.0

66.6

68.8

67.0

66.1

60.3

820

Ox system

ANIMAL UNITS

246.2

262.4

272.7

207.3

210.0

248.2

255.2

261.9

265.0

271.4

237.0

241.6

248

D M INTAKE

69.4

76.4

78.9

62.5

65.2

68.9

71.0

69.6

71.6

70.2

66.9

66.2

837

FODDER REQD + WASTE

86.7

95.5

98.7

78.2

81.5

86.2

88.8

87.1

89.5

87.8

83.6

82.8

1046

     
      
Calf Housing Beef Cattle on Veld Breeding Seasons Breeding and Selection in the Beef Herd Bull Management Calf Rearing, Castration and Dehorning The Beef Carcass Classification System Cattle Identification Crop Residues for Animal Feeding Drought Feedlotting Cattle Fencing Cattle Handling Facilities Heifer and Cow Management Beef Herd Management Hides Marketing Management Principles Nutrition Beef Production Systems Transporting Cattle Trough Requirements for Cattle Useful Statistics Water Requirements of Livestock Herd structures for different systems
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