Beef Production Management and Decisions

by Field, Thomas G.; Taylor, Robert W.

• ISBN13: 9780131198388
• ISBN10: 0131198386
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-09-15
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

"Beef production and management decisions, Fifth Edition, is the most comprehensive beef cattle management text on the market. This text provides a unique perspective on the total industry while incorporating a systems view of management decisions and their impact on both productivity and profitability. The new edition increases the reader's understanding of market and consumer signals and discusses how the industry can best respond to the changing needs of both domestic and international consumers. This edition focuses on the challenges and barriers to profitability in each industry segment, while describing the infrastructure, demographic, and policy changes that confront beef cattle managers."--BOOK JACKET.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
An Overview of the U.S. Beef Industry	1	(29)
General Overview	2	(3)
Contribution to the U.S. Economy	5	(1)
Beef Industry Segments	5	(15)
Beef Industry Organizations	20	(5)
Beef Industry Issues	25	(1)
Animal Rights Issues	26	(3)
Management Systems Highlights	29	(1)
Selected References	29	(1)
Retail Beef Products and Consumers	30	(40)
Retail Beef Products	30	(3)
Beef Consumption and Expenditures	33	(5)
Beef Palatability and Consumer Preferences	38	(12)
Six Primary Beef Consumer Preferences	50	(15)
By-Products	65	(1)
Management Systems Highlights	66	(1)
Selected References	67	(3)
Management Systems: Integrated and Holistic Resource Management	70	(34)
Resources and Principles	70	(2)
The Human Resource	72	(14)
The Financial Resource	86	(4)
Land and Feed Resources	90	(1)
The Cattle Resource	90	(3)
The Equipment Resource	93	(1)
The Market Resource	94	(1)
Management Systems	94	(7)
Management Systems Highlights	101	(1)
Selected References	101	(3)
Management Decisions for Seedstock Breeders	104	(30)
Breeding Program Goals and Objectives	104	(2)
Production Records	106	(1)
Financial Records	107	(3)
Bull Selection	110	(14)
Selecting Replacement Heifers	124	(1)
Selecting Cows	124	(5)
Marketing Decisions	129	(3)
Management Systems Highlights	132	(1)
Selected References	133	(1)
Commercial Cow-Calf Management Decisions	134	(47)
Creating the Vision	135	(1)
Profit-Oriented Management Decisions (Financial Resource)	135	(3)
Factors Affecting Pounds of Calf Weaned	138	(2)
Managing Percent Calf Crop	140	(3)
Managing Weaning Weights	143	(6)
Managing Annual Cow Costs and Returns	149	(13)
Matching Cows to Their Economical Environment	162	(6)
Weaning Management	168	(2)
Marketing Decisions	170	(2)
Establishing a Commercial Cow-Calf Operation	172	(5)
Management Systems Highlights	177	(1)
Selected References	177	(4)
Yearling-Stocker Management Decisions	181	(19)
Computing Breakeven Prices	184	(1)
The Budgeting Process	185	(1)
Management Considerations	186	(11)
Management Systems Highlights	197	(2)
Selected References	199	(1)
Feedlot Management Decisions	200	(25)
History of the Fed Cattle Industry	200	(3)
Managing a Feedlot Operation	203	(16)
Management Priorities	219	(4)
Management Systems Highlights	223	(1)
Selected References	224	(1)
Concentration, Integration, and Alliances in the Beef Industry	225	(20)
Concentration and Integration	226	(8)
Forces Driving Structural Change	234	(1)
Alliances/Business Relationships	235	(6)
Source Verification, Traceback, and Identification Systems	241	(1)
Management Systems Highlights	242	(1)
Selected References	243	(2)
The Marketing System	245	(55)
Market Classes and Grades	245	(13)
Marketing Cows and Bulls	258	(2)
Market Channels	260	(7)
Grid Pricing	267	(3)
Major Factors Affecting Cattle Prices	270	(11)
Assessing Marketing Costs	281	(1)
Keeping Current on Beef Prices	281	(2)
Forecasting Beef Prices and Managing Price Risks	283	(1)
The Futures Market	284	(4)
Value-Based Marketing	288	(6)
Advertising and Promoting Retail Beef	294	(2)
Marketing Issues	296	(2)
Management Systems Highlights	298	(1)
Selected References	298	(2)
The Global Beef Industry	300	(30)
Numbers, Production, Consumption, and Prices	300	(2)
International Trade	302	(5)
Beef Suppliers	307	(7)
NAFTA Partners	314	(5)
Buyers	319	(9)
Management System Highlights	328	(1)
Selected References	328	(2)
Reproduction	330	(49)
Structure and Function of the Reproductive Organs	330	(9)
Breeding	339	(5)
Artificial Insemination	344	(6)
Synchronization of Estrous	350	(6)
Embryo Transfer	356	(3)
Cloning	359	(1)
Pregnancy	360	(3)
Calving	363	(10)
Rebreeding	373	(4)
Management Systems Highlights	377	(1)
Selected References	377	(2)
Genetics and Breeding	379	(38)
Genetic Principles	379	(5)
Gene Mapping	384	(1)
Mating Strategies	385	(7)
Traits and Their Measurement	392	(8)
Improving Beef Cattle Through Breeding Methods	400	(8)
Selection Programs	408	(3)
National Sire Evaluation	411	(2)
Marker-Assisted Selection	413	(2)
Management Systems Highlights	415	(1)
Selected References	415	(2)
Cattle Breeds	417	(39)
Breed Evaluation for Commercial Producers	420	(24)
Breed Evaluation for Low Cost Production	444	(7)
Breed Evaluations to Improve Consumer Market Share	451	(1)
Integrated Production Systems	451	(3)
Management Systems Highlights	454	(1)
Selected References	454	(2)
Nutrition	456	(36)
Nutrients	456	(2)
Proximate Analysis of Feeds	458	(2)
The Ruminant Digestive System	460	(1)
Digestibility of Feeds	461	(1)
Energy Evaluations of Feeds	462	(2)
Feeds: Classification and Composition	464	(7)
Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle	471	(1)
Ration Formulation	471	(11)
Cow-Calf Nutrition	482	(6)
Yearling-Stocker Cattle Nutrition	488	(1)
Feeding Feedlot Cattle	489	(1)
Management Systems Highlights	490	(1)
Selected References	491	(1)
Managing Forage Resources	492	(52)
Grazed Forage Resources	492	(4)
Plant Types and Their Distribution	496	(3)
Grazing Management	499	(14)
Major Grazing Regions of the United States	513	(15)
Hays	528	(3)
Crop Residues	531	(1)
Drought Management	532	(1)
Market Cattle Production on Grazed Forage	533	(2)
Health Problems Associated with Grazing Plants	535	(6)
Management Systems Highlights	541	(1)
Selected References	541	(3)
Herd Health	544	(37)
Establishing a Herd Health Program	544	(1)
Stress and Health	545	(2)
Diseases and Health Problems	547	(14)
Parasites	561	(7)
Cow-Calf Health Management Programs	568	(11)
Management Systems Highlights	579	(1)
Selected References	579	(2)
Growth, Development, and Beef Cattle Type	581	(33)
Growth and Development	581	(9)
Beef Type	590	(1)
Parts of the Beef Animal	591	(1)
Carcass Conformation	591	(4)
Conformation of Slaughter Cattle	595	(2)
Conformation of Feeder Cattle	597	(3)
Conformation of Breeding Cattle	600	(10)
The Livestock Show	610	(1)
Management Systems Highlights	611	(1)
Selected References	612	(2)
Cattle Behavior, Facilities, and Equipment	614	(27)
Behavior	614	(9)
Gathering Cattle on Pasture and Training Cattle	623	(1)
Cattle Transport	624	(1)
Facilities and Equipment	625	(11)
Auditing Animal Welfare	636	(2)
Management Systems Highlights	638	(1)
Selected References	639	(2)
Appendix	641	(32)
The Metric System	642	(1)
Other Weights, Measures, and Sizes	642	(1)
Volumes and Weights of Stacked and Baled Hay	642	(4)
Round Grain Bin Volumes	646	(1)
Measuring Irrigation Water Flow	646	(2)
Land Description for Legal Purposes	648	(1)
Major Organizations Within or Affecting the Beef Industry	648	(22)
Record Systems and Software	670	(3)
Glossary	673	(26)
Index	699