AGR 2350 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Feedlot, Vertical Integration
7 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
Forage-based: although use significant grain in finishing programs. Utilize land not capable of crop production. Add value to forages and grains raised on crop-land. Great diversity of cattle and farms/ranches: environment. Highly segmented industry with little vertical integration: cow-calf, feedlot, packing plant, wholesale, retail. Goal: to produce genetics for the commercial industry. Purebred (20 recognized breeds: ~11,000 purebred breeders in canada, angus, simmental, hereford, charolais. Composite or stabilizers breed the best to the best . Goal: one healthy calf from each cow every year. Typically, on lower quality land: can grow forage or pasture but not grain. Cows calve in winter/spring, and wean calves in the fall: wean calves 500-600 lbs. Goal: increase size of light weight calves before entering the feedlot. Low cost gain: grass with some grain supplement, or in a dry lot/yard. Market after 3-6 months: target ~1600 lbs market weight. Calf-fed: enters feedlot directly, 200d to finish. Long-yearling: large frame, < 3 months to finish.
