Breeds of Beef Cattle
Cattle
are considered to have been one of the first animals domesticated
by man for agricultural purposes. They were tamed
to provide milk, meat and hides and for draft purposes. The
exact time and place this happened is hidden in the mists
of antiquity, but it is thought they were probably first
domesticated in Europe and Asia about 8500 years ago.
Domesticated cattle are in the family Bovidae which includes ruminates with paired, hollow, unbranched horns that do not shed and an even number of toes. They belong to the genus Bos and the subgenera Taurine which includes the two species tarus and indicus.
Cattle are ruminants (as are sheep, goats, deer, and giraffes), which gives them a unique digestive system that allows the digestion of otherwise unuseable foods by regurgitating and rechewing them as cud. They thrive on grasses and other low quality plants built predominantly of cellulose. Cattle have one stomach that has four compartments. They are named the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. The rumen is the largest compartment and is like a fermentation tank, providing the anaerobic environment, constant temperature and pH, and constant mixing that allows microbes to break down the cellulolse. The reticulum, known as the "Honeycomb", is is the smallest compartment. The omasum's main function is to absorb water and nutrients and is known as the "Many Plies." The abomasum is most like the human stomach; this is why it is known as the "True Stomach."
All breeds of British and European cattle like Angus, Hereford, Charolais and Simmental belong to the tarus species. The humped cattle of the tropical countries like Brahman and Africander belong to the indicus species. Many contemporary breeds are the result of crossing two or more of the older breeds. Most of the new breeds originating in the United States were developed in the Southern states where the standard breeds lacked resistance to heat and insects and did not thrive on the native grasses. Other Bovidae that are so closely related to true cattle that they can interbreed include the bison, buffalo, and yak.
Purebred cattle breeds have been selectively bred over a long period of time to possess a distinctive identity in color, size, conformation, and function and have the prepotency to pass these traits to their progeny.
The world cattle population is estimated to be about 1.3 billion head, with about 30 percent in Asia, 20 percent in South America, 15 percent in Africa, 14 percent in North and Central America, and 10 percent in Europe. The 10 states in the US with the largest cattle populations are Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, Kansas, Iowa, Kentucky, and Florida.
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5ft eastern diamondback...with 12 buttons!
by hooknline (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:42:14 GMT)
Actually, ran it over in the truck, but just got the azz end. Then ran and got the shotgun(closest at hand and didn't have the pistol in the truck) it was crawling off so I wanted to make sure it was done and finished it. No we're not eating it. I've never had rattlesnake and when it comes to trying new foods I'm a chicken shiat. Go figure
Triple D Cheeseburger Soup
by TexasBred (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:40:39 GMT)
hillsdown wrote:Now what to serve with it ? What about Focaccia Crostinis ?
Got a picture??
Homesteading dairy cow
by TexasBred (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:38:19 GMT)
Allforage as with anything there is a point of diminishing return. Sometimes it's more profitable to settle for less milk if you know how to make it work. Also much easier on the cattle. As for freestalls....we had one but also gave them access to a pasture which they would definitely use except during the summer. Those that are kept in the freestall 24:7 do look pretty exhausted and are.....on concrete all the time and when they do lay down it's in a cramped hard bed. Culling rates are usually pretty high as well.
Wal-Mart --vs-- The Morons
by highgrit (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:32:11 GMT)
BP has ruined the gulf of mexico around Grand Isle La. Still patches of oil floating in the gulf. Oil rules the world, and oil companies suck but watcha going to do. Oh, and by the way the beef is horrible tasting from Wal-Mart.
Anybody Near Dallas Texas?
by TexasBred (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:30:23 GMT)
We've been getting tons of calls from 877 numbers as well as a couple everyday from 313 area code. Most don't show on caller ID but a few others do and they say Arizona, Political Call, stuff like that. What ever happened to the National Do Not Call List?? Thought we were on it.
JD 5300
by VanC (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:29:05 GMT)
1982vett wrote:Van, you can click on their screen name and it will take you to their profile....a various amount of information is available along with the last time they visited.
Thanks, vett. Been on here 5 1/2 years and didn't know that.
RIP Gaye Delorme
by Nesikep (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:27:54 GMT)
it is... I have a whack of bootlegs of his I recorded live.. I made this little tribute... turns out the first song is "time after time" by cindy lauper, but its hard to recognize
Looks like pinkeye's back . . .
by Suzie Q (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:26:50 GMT)
Valerie in that post I said what I had read on this forum, not what I myself do.
We get a cream that we can put in the animals eye. For a couple of days I think, however since we put on the insecticidal ear tags. TOUCHWOOD, we have not had a case of pink eye.
Having lots of trouble
by Suzie Q (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:19:55 GMT)
Thank you so much IL cow man, all I know is that the former owner told me to vaccinate against it as they had it on the property before, so we have always vaccinated against it. TOUCH WOOD I have never seen it.
When it rains, it pours
by Nesikep (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:19:49 GMT)
you gotta have them once in a while to remind you of how good your average day is
I straightened out the roof of the allis the next day and you can't tell it was rolled
johnson grass
by chippie (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:14:15 GMT)
Not us. It gets poisoned, pulled and dug up at our place.
Somehow it got started in our garden. It's been heck trying to get rid of it.
Restaurants
by highgrit (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:10:57 GMT)
My family's been in the seafood restaurant business since 1938. If your ever in Boynton Beach Fl. stop by the Bannana Boat restaurant and dine on the waterfront. Most of the time you can go to the restroom and see if you really want to eat there or not. The location will get you there, but great food will bring you back.
The fat lady has sung
by chippie (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:08:00 GMT)
Photos
by chippie (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:49:19 GMT)
Thanks for posting your photos. I always enjoy them : )
Finally
by hillsdown (Posted Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:23:30 GMT)
M Gravlee wrote:hillsdown wrote:Macon, would that work on Apple trees ?
Don't know, probably would. The balls last three or four years if you store them over the winter. Ran out one year and couldn't find any in the spring so I bought some Styrofoam balls that they sell at craft stores and spray painted them red. Worked great except they pecked holes in them.
Thank you I am going to give it a try. What a great idea for the tomatoes ,have shared this already with some avid gardener friends .
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