Beef Cattle

Overview

The Beef Cattle course from Warnborough College is a comprehensive introduction covering such things as Cattle Breeds; Beef Cattle Production Systems; Cattle Breeding; Diseases in Beef Cattle; Nutrition for Beef Cattle; Commercial Herd Management; Feed Lot Management; Stud Herd Management; Management, Economics and Marketing.

Course Aims

• Visit a range of enterprises which may include farms, agricultural shows, and suppliers of farm products in order to research, photograph, describe and specify facilities in the places visited as a basis, or part basis, of assignment questions;

• Identify beef cuts on a labelled diagram of a steer’s body;

• Judge a beef animal according to commonly recognised commercial standards;

• Choose two breeds suitable for beef production in specified climates;

• Observe and report on common cattle husbandry tasks, including dehorning, castration, dipping, vaccination, and drenching;

• Explain methods that are used to control beef cattle movements;

• Prepare a production schedule or timetable of husbandry practices for a typical beef cattle property in your locality for a period of 12 months;

• Attempt to determine the nature and scope of beef cattle breeding in your state or country;

• Explain the differences between and advantages of pure breeding and cross breeding;

• Describe and explain management and other factors that can affect calving percentage and calf weaning;

• Visit a supplier of health care treatments for cattle to determine what products (eg. dips, medicines etc) are available;

• Describe a significant viral disease, including its identification, symptoms and control;

• Interview someone working in the industry to determine the significance and nature of disease problems in beef cattle;

• List parasites and related organisms that are significant to beef cattle in your region;

• Report on the preferred food requirements for beef cattle on a beef property you have visited;

• Explain common health problems affecting animals, including the circumstances under which animals contract health problems, and methods used to prevent the development of ill health.