This document discusses beef cattle production and selection. There are three main types of beef production: cow-calf operations, purebred breeders, and cattle feeders. Cow-calf producers keep herds of beef cows and sell calves, purebred breeders provide bulls and genetic improvements, and feeders feed cattle to slaughter weight. Selection of beef animals considers conformation, performance records, pedigree, and health. The best herd bulls are selected based on sire summaries, maternal breeding value, and expected progeny differences. Judging beef animals compares them based on conformation, market classes consider type and finish, and breeding classes consider size and breed character.

1. Selection and Judging of
Beef Cattle

2. Objectives
• Describe the different types of beef
production systems
• Name the parts of a beef animal
• Select superior animals

3. Types of Beef Production
• Cow-Calf Producers
– Keeping a herd of beef cows to produce
calves
– Sold to feeders who feed to slaughter weight
– Performed mainly in Western range states
– Requires less labor, large investment of land
– Calves are either feeder (under 1 year of age)
or yearling calves (aged 1-2 years)

4. Types of Beef Production (cont.)
• Purebred Breeders
– Provide replacement bulls for cow-calf
operations
– Responsible for genetic improvements
– Knowledge and skill are required
– Costs are higher
– Takes many years to develop

5. Types of Beef Production (cont.)
• Cattle Feeders
– Feed animals for slaughter
– Use more grain in feeding to provide desired
market results
– Return on investment in 4 to 6 months
– High-risk enterprise due to price fluctuation

6. Selection of Beef Animals
• Conformation
– Appearance of the live animal
• Skeletal structure
• Muscling, fat balance
• Straightness of animal’s lines
• Structural soundness
– Proper conformation = more high-value cuts

7. Selection of Beef Animals
• Conformation (cont.)

8. Selection of Beef Animals (cont.)
• Performance Records
– Performance testing: collecting records to
select most productive animals
– Production testing: measuring brood cow
production by evaluating performance of the
offspring
– Progeny testing: evaluating a bull by the
performance of the offspring

9. Selection of Beef Animals (cont.)
• Pedigree
– Record of animal’s ancestors including names
and sometimes, performance data
– Recent ancestors most important in selection
– Use of bloodlines can become a fad

10. Selection of Beef Animals (cont.)
• Other Factors in Selection
– Only healthy animals should be brought into
the herd
– Check animal’s health carefully
– Females should test negative for various
diseases

11. Selection of Beef Animals (cont.)
• Selection of the Herd Bull
– One of the most important decisions a cattle
breeder makes
– Consider
• Sire summaries
• Maternal breeding value (MBV)
• Expected progeny difference (EPD)

12. Judging Beef Animals
• Comparing animals based on
conformation
• Usually four animals in class to be judged
• Certain procedures should be followed
when judging

13. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)

14. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)

15. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)

16. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)

17. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)
• Judging Market Classes
– The main things to look for are
• Type
• Muscling
• Finish
• Carcass merit
• Yield

18. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)
• Judging Market Classes (cont.)
– The main things to look for are
• Quality
• Balance
• Style
• Smoothness

19. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)
• Breeding Classes
– Judged on several traits
• Condition
• Size
• Feet, legs, and bone
• Breed character
• Sex character

20. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)
• Judging Terms
– Correct terms should be used when judging
– General terms used and listed describe
• Breeding and slaughter cattle
• Expressions for slaughter cattle
• Expressions for breeding cattle

21. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)
• Oral Reasons
– Provided to explain the difference of animals
that influenced placing
– Basic guidelines should be followed for:
• Completeness
• Length
• Presentation and delivery

22. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)
• Oral Reasons (cont.)
– Basic guidelines should be followed for
• Accuracy
• Terms
• Taking notes

23. Judging Beef Animals (cont.)
• Oral Reasons (cont.)
– An example of
note-taking