Raising Cattle Raiser Research Paper

which results in healthy cattle. We use our cattle for milk and meat, and you wouldn’t want

I raised commercial heifers and steers for several years, some being successful and some not as much. But all those years and activites ago, I never imagined I would be have taken on the challenges and leadership roles I have been audacious enough to face. The National FFA Organization is my most prideful youth-led organization I am apart of. I entered the FFA under the Diboll FFA Chapter my freshman year and am thankful for all of the opportunities and experiences I have received. Every year I have participated in different competitions that have developed my leadership skills and will help me in my future for career and life success. I also am an exhibitor in major and county livestock shows. I grew up raising cattle for the local county fair every year and it has been something I have truly loved to do. I have shown heifers and steers throughout my FFA career leaving with a banner almost every year. After so many years of competing and getting my name out, this is what I am mostly known for in my local show and

Ever since forty plus years ago Agriculturalists have shown a variety of show cattle and ran ranches with them. I showed cattle for a few years throughout my FFA experience. Cattle have played a huge role in our society feeding families and other people who reside in this world. Their effect on human culture is something that we take much pride in when raising our cattle whether it is for companion or meat products. Previous cattle showman know and strive to achieve the ultimate goal: winning grand champion. This reward is earned by having the best show calf in the ring to the judge’s perspective. In order to reach this goal, the exhibitor must use proper feeding methods and show technique. (Insert thesis here.)

Today's competitions heifers and steers are specifically bred for shows. More than likely they are from breeders of club cattle. There is obviously a huge difference in club calves and commercial cattle. We are trying to put basically most of the traits you need in good commercial cattle, but then you add a little show ring pizzazz in them. They need that extra balance,quality, and eye appeal. “The difference is the hair and muscle they have in them,” said Jerry Riley of JDR cattle. “For breeding purposes I am going after that hair, that muscle, that bone that it takes to be a club calve compared to just a commercial cow. Mark Beauprez of Beauprez cattle stated, “There is a lot more of a show cattle look to these cattle.” “The lines are a lot straighter and they are prettier fronted, bigger boned, and a lot thicker of an animal”

Additionally, differences in other vitamins and minerals, such as iron and zinc, have not been shown to be significantly difference in between grain-fed and grass-fed cattle. (Prosch 1) Though there are differences, even if it may only be slight differences, it all comes down to the buyer and what they prefer.

As the United States grew in the beginning of the 20th century the demand for meat was always needed. Fortunately for the young state of Oklahoma the prairie lands of the Great Plains were a perfect area to feed the numerous heads of animals sent to the butchers that fed America. In 1907, there were 1,206,800 animals within Oklahoma; nearly all farmers in every country of Oklahoma raised hogs (Goins and Goble, 171). Oklahoma’s ranching economy changed in the youthful years of statehood as the profession of ranching became more commercialized with intent to maximize the meat per hoof, which would increase the profit margins (Baird and Goble, 194). One way the ranchers maximized the meat per hoof was the replacement of Spanish breed longhorn cattle for the heartier English breed, Hereford (Baird and Goble, 194). “Herefords were raised in such numbers that many referred to Oklahoma as ‘Hereford Heaven’ (Goins and Goble 172)”. As mentioned before plains of Oklahoma were ideal for grazing

Stress? Cattle? Do they not just lie around and chew their cud? The stereotype of lazy cows soaking up the sun perhaps is far stretched. Cattle are associated with this stereotype because it is what people see. An average citizen’s only interactions with cattle are seeing them in the field grazing; however a farmer understands to keep his profit and cattle healthy he must reduce stress.

Up before the sun and home after dark, a seldom phone call from your neighbor explaining that your cows are out. Early mornings, late nights and unexpected situations call for a cattle business owner’s duties.

Bounce over impediments, slide under windmills, established the homestead animals complimentary as well as compile coins to get exceptional pressure ups that will certainly aid the bovine make it to possibility!

Taking into consideration that the weight of the cows is a key driver of calf weight, which in turn is the key driver of revenue.

Cattle have been in my life since I was born. They seem scary to some people. However, they are big teddy bears. Showing cattle has started to decline in popularity. Nevertheless, showing cattle will always be apart of my life. People need to see how important show steers are and how to prepare them for a show. To prepare a show steer there are several steps. Starting with choosing the proper

Minimize the loss to the business by treating the animals humanely. Instead of injecting the animals with growth hormone, let them grow naturally. Cows won’t get udder infections and won’t need antibiotics (an unnecessary cost to the business). Give the animals more space and let them graze on the land as they would naturally and you won’t need preventative antibiotics. More space will help the animals grow and live as they were meant to. They will not be stressed. Their bones will not be brittle. Chickens can be stunned as they were meant to be before being slaughtered, the humane way.

In years prior, steers were sought to have long legs and lean bodies. Yet over time, judges now look for shorter legs with filled out bodies. The preferences of these judges impact my business as a steer marketer in a serious way. To deal with these changes in perspective, I will have to breed and shape my livestock into the criteria that the judges are looking for. I will strive to do this or else people will not buy my livestock, because they will not succeed in the show ring. Changing the appearance of my steers when the judges preferences change, will help me stay in business, and helps me to continue to make profit on my market animals.

Showing steers is not as easy as some may think. You now see that there are many steps in preparing a show steer. Although, cattle aren’t easy to maintain they teach you responsibility and allow you to love them just as you love any other pet. Cattle have made a lasting impact in my life and I hope that they can make a lasting impact in yours as well.

Which brings us to the quality of the milk, lots of commercial farms put steroids in there cows to produce more milk than a regular cow could produce, prolactin, steroids including estrogens, progesterone, corticoids, and androgens, these are just some of the steroids commercial farmers inject in there cows. Sometimes when a cow produces too much milk they could develop mastitis in cows, mastitis is an infection or inflammation in the udders which makes them produce chunky milk it can be potentially fatal in the mammary gland and very expensive for the dairy commercial/industrial farms says HDB dairy, if the udders of a dairy cow doesn 't work they often get shot and get butchered for meat just because the farm was pushing them to hard