Improvement in the Cattle Industry

Stephanie Stimpson

Background Stimpson Brothers Ranch Inc. Cow-Calf Operation Operate 500 head of cattle Charolais/Black Angus, Pure Breed Charolais Own 20,000 acres

Cattle Numbers

Oklahoma: 5,450,000• Ranked 4th nationally.

United States: 93,701,000 (2010) 94,491,000 (2009)• Ranked 4th in the Country

Rank State 2010 2009

1 Texas 13,300,000 13,600,000

2 Nebraska 6,250,000 6,350,000

3 Kansas 6,000,000 6,300,000

4 Oklahoma 5,450,000 5,400,000

5 California 5,150,000 5,250,000

Source: http://www.cattlerange.com/cattle-graphs/all-cattle-numbers.html

Cattle Numbers Increasing Over The Years

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

226

448469 463

571

Year

Num

ber o

f Catt

le

96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01Source: http://www.noble.org/ag/Livestock/KnowledgeIsKey

Overall Size and Number of Producers Declining

0

20

40

60

5.6

47.2

21.2 19.6

4.51.2 0.8

Number of Cattle

Perc

ent o

f Tot

al

None 1-49 50-99 100-240 250-499 500-999 1000 +Source: http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-4570/AGEC-245web.pdf

Past and Today

1950’s Today

Improvements in the Cattle Industry

Artificial Insemination Vaccinations NAIS Growth Implants

Artificial Insemination AI is the process of collecting sperm cells from a male animal and manually depositing them into the reproductive tract of a female. First biotechnology applied to improve reproduction and genetics of farm animals. Scientists in Russian accomplished the first successful AI in cattle in 1899.

Advantages: By this technique a 1000 cattle can be sired by one bullIncreases the potential for genetic selection Decreases the cost such as feed Reduced disease transmission

Source: http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/resources/technology-ai.html

Artificial Insemination

Disadvantages: Requires well trained operators and equipment Requires more time Operator needs to have knowledge of the structure and function of the reproduction part of the animal Improper cleaning of the instruments and insanity condition may lead to lower fertility.

Source: http://www.world-agriculture.com/animal-husbandry/artificial_insemination_cattle.php

Vaccinations

Vaccinations help to protect animals from certain diseasesTypes of disease for which vaccines are used:

Blackleg Brucellosis Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD)

Other Advancements: Ivomec Castration Dehorning

National Animal Identification System

Government ran program in the U.S. that surveillances animals by identifying and tracking. NAIS will help control disease. NAIS is a control mechanism that will quickly identify, isolate, and monitor infected animals. Government started this system in 2002 after a BSE outbreak in overseas

National Animal Identification System

Cattle have radio frequency ear tags (RFID) The tag will be read every time the animal changes the premises Animal ID number, premise number the animal is leaving, premise number the animal is entering, date and time of transfer to a Federal central database. This year the government ended the NAIS to develop a more flexible animal disease traceable system.

Growth Implants Used in beef production for over 30 years. Feed efficiency increased 5-10%, daily grains 5-15% Available for all cattle except for calves less than 45 days old. More than 27 brand of growth implants today. Improves weaning weight of calves 3-5% and steers gain 1.5 lbs/day Most cost effective method of enhancing cattle gain and efficiency of gain. Research indicates that growth implants will give at least a 10:1 returnon their cost.

Source: http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/docs/Utah_University_Implants.pdf

Conclusion Since the early 1900’s there have been many improvements in the cattle industry. The number of cattle in the U.S has been declining over the years, but with the improvements of the industry cattle it has came a long ways.

Questions