This practical book shows producers how to make good decisions in the beef industry. It provides an overview of the cattle industry, with details on breeding management, pastures, selling methods and costs, beef grading and marketing, muscle and fat scores. Contains diagrams and photos with easy to follow instructions. AgGuides are compiled by highly regarded industry experts to provide easy to follow advice on agriculture and support the Tocal College external study program for agriculture. Written by: Jennifer Laffan Technical advisers: Ian Blackwood, Brett Littler Table of Contents: · Cattle industry overview · Manage the breeding herd · Pastures for the herd · Selling methods and costs · Other aspects of marketing · Muscle and muscle score · Fat assessment and fat scores · Frame size · Growth, maturity and carcase suitability · Understand your product · The killsheet · Get the best return · Some terms explained · Appendix 1: Ruminants and rumination · Appendix 2: Calculating and using DSE ratings for beef cattle

"This publication was produced by Education Delivery, Tocal College and it is a companion to the AgGuide "Getting started in beef". It is a revision and modification of a previous series, The Beef Business...."--Page iii.

Management Strategies for Sustainable Cattle Production in Southern Pastures is a practical resource for scientists, students, and stakeholders who want to understand the relationships between soil-plant interactions and pasture management strategies, and the resultant performance of cow-calf and stocker cattle. This book illustrates the importance of matching cattle breed types and plant hardiness zones to optimize cattle production from forages and pastures. It explains the biologic and economic implications of grazing management decisions made to improve sustainability of pastures and cattle production while being compliant with present and future environmental concerns and cattle welfare programs. - Documents the effects of cattle grazing on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprints - Discusses strategies to enhance soil fertility, soil health, and nutrient cycling in pastures - Provides information on the use of stocking rates, stocking strategies and grazing systems to optimize cow-calf production of weaned calves and stockers. - Presents innovations in cattle supplementation and watering systems to minimize negative impacts on water and soil health - Includes methods for weed control to maintain pasture condition and ecosystem stability - Describes management strategies to integrate cattle operations with wildlife sustainability

This textbook provides an integrated view of beef cattle production with a systems based approach, discussing the interrelationships of a broad range of aspects with the overall goal of optimising cattle production. This book provides the background to allow cattle producers to match their production environments with genetic, management, and marketing opportunities for sustainable beef production globally. This logic and resulting considerations can then be tailored to address specific regional challenges and opportunities worldwide. Considerations and examples for extreme situations will be provided, such as very small herds, very large herds, communal-group situations, and minimal artificial input systems.

Beef Cattle Production and Trade covers all aspects of the beef industry from paddock to plate. It is an international text with an emphasis on Australian beef production, written by experts in the field. The book begins with an overview of the historical evolution of world beef consumption and introductory chapters on carcass and meat quality, market preparation and world beef production. North America, Brazil, China, South-East Asia and Japan are discussed in separate chapters, followed by Australian beef production, including feed lotting and live export. The remaining chapters summarise R&D, emphasising the Australian experience, and look at different production systems and aspects of animal husbandry such as health, reproduction, grazing, feeding and finishing, genetics and breeding, production efficiency, environmental management and business management. The final chapter examines various case studies in northern and southern Australia, covering feed demand and supply, supplements, pasture management, heifer and weaner management, and management of internal and external parasites.

For Junior/Senior level courses in Beef Production and Management Current, authoritative, balanced coverage of the issues impacting the beef industry. The hallmark text Beef Production and Management Decisions, 6/e, examines the most current and critical biological, ecological, financial, and marketing issues impacting the beef industry today. This updated edition includes concepts of beef quality assurance and devotes chapters to the management of information, the traditions of the business, and the future of the industry. Integrating a management systems viewpoint while drawing on the author's industry and academic experience to explore the challenges of the industry, this text is a must for any professional library. The new edition is expanded and features 85% new images and more than 60% new tables; the latest industry demographics across the supply chain in the United States and with other major global players; a significant increase in management-oriented information in several areas; comprehensive, in-depth evaluation of the stocker sector; and increased online resource suggestions.