Term
| What is the "Cattle Cycle" in the United States? |
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Definition
| Increasing cattle numbers when prices are good, then a liquidation phase when prices decline. Highs and lows generally repeat every ten years. |
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Term
| According to Dr. Purcell why is there a "failed price system" and what is it? |
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Definition
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Term
| How is the USDA grading system connected to the "failed price sysemt" in reference to Dr. Purcell? |
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Definition
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Term
| What segments of the US Beef Industry are NOT vertically intergrated |
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Definition
Seedstock (genetics)
Cow-Calf Producers
Feedlots
Packers |
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Term
| Why is the Beef industry not intergrated compared to the poultry or pork industries..? |
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Definition
| Different entities own different levels of production |
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Term
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Definition
| Fat Cattle numbers drop in lat summer and _____? |
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Term
| Why does seasonality exist? |
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Definition
| Most claves are born in early spring months and are slaughtered in the following summer |
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Term
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Definition
| Standardized Performance Analysis |
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Term
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Definition
| To accurately compare different factors from several different producers |
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Term
| What is the typical birth weight for Iowa calves? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the typical conception rate for Iowa? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the typical heifer replacement percentage for Iowa? |
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Definition
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Term
| What ae two reasons for a high heifer replacement percnetage? |
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Definition
-Turning over the herd
-Expanding the herd |
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Term
| A producer's weaned calf crop percentage is less than the state average what are the two most likely reasons? |
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Definition
Low conception rate
Dystocia |
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Term
| In what way does energy level in the diet of the cowherd influence dystocia? |
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Definition
| over fed heavier dams have higher dystocia rates___whY? |
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Term
| What does age of dam have on reproduction performance in the herd? |
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Definition
| 1st and 2nd year heifers are the most difficult to breed calve and rebreed |
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Term
| What is a calving distribution? |
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Definition
| The amount of early, middle and late calvers due to heat cycles |
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Term
| Within a breed, age and puberty is a function of two main factors - what are they? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why is age at puberty so important to cattle producers? |
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Definition
| An earlier puberty ensures an earlier reproductive ability - the earlier a heifer starts to reproduce calves the faster she pays for herself and gains profit in an enterprise |
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Term
| What stipulation should be met before breeding a heifer? |
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Definition
| Around 15 months of age and 2/3 of 65% of her expecting mature weight. |
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Term
| If an average commercial crossbred herd has cows on average at 1300lbs, how much should heifers weigh? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are advantages of feeding breeding heifers to make them gain faster? |
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Definition
| There are none - this will cause the heifer to become over weight and difficult to breed having no true advantages |
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Term
| Why might a commercial producer be inclined to use growth promotant on heifers pre-weaning although it's discouraged? |
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Definition
To help market heifers gain faster so they can be sold faster - although they most likely don't know what heifers will be kept pre-weaning so this is discouraged.
It can affect the reproduction of the heifer due fattiness in the pelvic area. |
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Term
| Aging a fetus is one benefit that comes from ultrasounding pregnancy detection. Why is aging a fetus helpful? - Two reasons |
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Definition
Determine when the calf will be born
Determine the sire of the calf |
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Term
| Besides aging name two other advantages of ultrasounding pregnant cows? |
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Definition
Early detection (compared to palpation)
Sexing fetus |
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Term
| Why is sexing a fetus beneficial to producers? |
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Definition
| If cows would be sold it's beneficial to know what sex their calf is. Heifers are desired for those who would like to build a herd. |
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Term
| The main reason cows leave the herd is because they are open, name two other reasons. |
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Definition
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Term
| Three conditions against which vaccinations that are required by Iowa Green Tag Precondition Program (not acronyms) |
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Definition
Bovine Respiratory Syncytical Virus
Haemophelus Somnus
Bovine Virus Diarhea |
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Term
| What is BRD and what causes it? |
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Definition
Bovine Respiratory Disease
Damp weather, crowded pens and poor bedding |
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Term
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Definition
| Expected Progeny Difference |
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Term
| What is the "grid" in marketing cattle? |
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Definition
| A value based pricing scheme |
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Term
| What are three factors that appear on a price grid? |
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Definition
| Quality Grade, Yield Grade and Weight |
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Term
| What is a factor that does not appear on the price grid? |
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Definition
| Youthfulness of the carcass |
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Term
| How long must calves been weaned before they can have a certification issued? |
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Definition
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Term
| Explain the body condition scoring system what means by a cow being a 1, 5.5 or a 9. |
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Definition
A cow with a
1 - Emacitated (4% body fat - very fraile)
5.5 - Good to moderate fat cover (20% body fat)
9 - obese (34% body fat) |
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