Cull Cow Beef Quality Issues series

Figure 1. A cow that is thin and did not produce a calf is a candidate to enter the non-fed beef market as a cull cow. Credit: Matt Hersom, UF/IFASCull cattle are those that are sold from a herd for lack of performance, lack of resources, or genetic improvement The non-fed beef cattle market (cattle that are not managed through traditional feedlot finishing systems) is comprised primarily of cull cows and bulls. To address liability and food safety concerns, this series of articles discusses some quality defects identified in the non-fed beef market, how to prevent them, and how to address them when they appear in cattle.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_series_cull_cow_beef_quality_issues

Effect of Age at Castration on Beef Calf Performance (AN289)

Baby calf seen basking in the early morning sunA study in Florida was conducted to examine the issue of age at castration to determine if castration timing resulted in significant differences in growth rate and weaning weight in nursing calves. In addition, the study included a comparison between Angus and Brangus calves in the treatment groups to determine if there was a breed by castration effect. No differences in calf growth rates were observed in early compared to late castration. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Amie Imler, Todd Thrift, Matt Hersom, and Joel Yelich, and published by the UF Department of Animal Sciences, March 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an289