CattleCattle

By: Kristen SchmittBy: Kristen Schmitt

EDUC 373 Inquiry Project #1EDUC 373 Inquiry Project #1

September 22, 2009September 22, 2009

My ExperienceMy Experience

I have lived on a grain and cattle farm I have lived on a grain and cattle farm all of my life. My family raises feeder all of my life. My family raises feeder steers, grows sweet corn, white and steers, grows sweet corn, white and yellow corn, soybeans, and wheat. yellow corn, soybeans, and wheat. Throughout the past three years, I have Throughout the past three years, I have helped my fiancé, Andy, on his family helped my fiancé, Andy, on his family farm. Though he grows the same crops farm. Though he grows the same crops that I am accustom to, his family raises that I am accustom to, his family raises show calves, not feeder steers. show calves, not feeder steers. Throughout my inquiry, I will briefly Throughout my inquiry, I will briefly explain the similarities and differences explain the similarities and differences between these two types of operations.between these two types of operations.

??Questions????Questions??

What is a difference between a What is a difference between a feeder steer and a show calvf?feeder steer and a show calvf?

How are they treated differently?How are they treated differently? What is the probable outcome of What is the probable outcome of

each?each? How do they interact with the How do they interact with the

environment around them?environment around them?

Indiana State Indiana State StandardsStandards

4.4.4 : Observe and describe that some source 4.4.4 : Observe and describe that some source of energy is needed for all organisms to stay of energy is needed for all organisms to stay alive and grow.alive and grow.

4.4.9 : Explain that food provides energy and 4.4.9 : Explain that food provides energy and materials for growth and repair of body parts. materials for growth and repair of body parts. Recognize that vitamins and minerals, present Recognize that vitamins and minerals, present in small amounts in foods, are essential to keep in small amounts in foods, are essential to keep everything working well. Further understand everything working well. Further understand that as people grow up, the amounts and kinds that as people grow up, the amounts and kinds of food and exercise needed by the body may of food and exercise needed by the body may change.change.

4.2.1 : Judge whether measurements and 4.2.1 : Judge whether measurements and computations of quantities, such as length, computations of quantities, such as length, area, volume, weight, or time, are reasonable.area, volume, weight, or time, are reasonable.

What is a feeder steer?What is a feeder steer?

A feeder steer is exactly what is sounds like. It A feeder steer is exactly what is sounds like. It is a steer (male calf that is now not able to is a steer (male calf that is now not able to produce semen) that is fed until it is ready to produce semen) that is fed until it is ready to go to market. Feeder steers normally start go to market. Feeder steers normally start out in a pasture, and end up in the feedlot out in a pasture, and end up in the feedlot once they have reached a certain age.once they have reached a certain age.

This is produce you would get at your local This is produce you would get at your local meat market. According to essortment.com, meat market. According to essortment.com, a two year old feeder steer will weight a two year old feeder steer will weight around 1,100 pounds. The steers market around 1,100 pounds. The steers market weight will depend on it’s frame or size of the weight will depend on it’s frame or size of the calf.calf.

Feeder steer cont.Feeder steer cont.

When the steer is butchered, it When the steer is butchered, it carcass will then get graded. This is carcass will then get graded. This is how you get the various grades of how you get the various grades of meat. The better the carcass, the meat. The better the carcass, the more expensive it’s meat is. An more expensive it’s meat is. An example would be that a dairy cow’s example would be that a dairy cow’s carcass would grade less than a carcass would grade less than a beef cow. Therefore their carcass’s beef cow. Therefore their carcass’s meat would cost less. meat would cost less.

Can you tell Can you tell the the difference?difference?

Picture 2 has a better Picture 2 has a better grade of carcass. It grade of carcass. It has less marbling has less marbling (the white), the fat, (the white), the fat, than picture 1.than picture 1.

Picture 1

Picture 2

What is a show calf?What is a show calf?

A show calf can be any type of calf. A show calf can be any type of calf. What does this mean you say? It What does this mean you say? It means that you can show a bull means that you can show a bull (intact male), Steer (unattached (intact male), Steer (unattached male), cow (female that has calved male), cow (female that has calved a calf), heifer (female that has not a calf), heifer (female that has not had a calf). People show cattle and had a calf). People show cattle and other animals to illustrate the best other animals to illustrate the best cattle (animals) from their herd.cattle (animals) from their herd.

Show calves are normally bathed on a weekly if Show calves are normally bathed on a weekly if not daily basis. They are fed and watered not daily basis. They are fed and watered separately than the other cows. They are separately than the other cows. They are halter broke and know how to walk with halter broke and know how to walk with someone holding their halter with out being someone holding their halter with out being scared of the person. They are always given scared of the person. They are always given more special attention than the others (better more special attention than the others (better foods, more hay).foods, more hay).

How are these calves How are these calves treated differently?treated differently?

Feeder Steers are: Feeder Steers are: fed in a feed lot fed in a feed lot with lots of other with lots of other calves. They calves. They never get bathed never get bathed and are rarely and are rarely halter broke. halter broke. Normally they do Normally they do not graze on not graze on grass once they grass once they have been have been introduced to the introduced to the concrete feedlot.concrete feedlot.

Show Calves are:

Fed with a small group of calves. Graze on grass or are in the barn most of the time. Get bathed on a regular basis. Can be pretty tame.

What is the probable What is the probable outcome of each?outcome of each?

Feeder steers will be butchered when Feeder steers will be butchered when they reach the appropriate weight. they reach the appropriate weight. For show calves, it depends on the For show calves, it depends on the kind of calf it is. The following is kind of calf it is. The following is the job each calf will soon have: the job each calf will soon have: bull-make semen/bread cows, bull-make semen/bread cows, steer-be butchered, cow-have more steer-be butchered, cow-have more calves, heifer-have calves.calves, heifer-have calves.

How do these calves act How do these calves act with the environment with the environment

around them? around them? The feeder steers do not know any The feeder steers do not know any

other way of living. For the most other way of living. For the most part, all they do is eat, sleep, and part, all they do is eat, sleep, and poop. All cows know when it is time poop. All cows know when it is time to eat. Just like people they get to eat. Just like people they get hungry around the same time hungry around the same time everyday. Feeder steers eat about everyday. Feeder steers eat about every 12 hours. Show calves are no every 12 hours. Show calves are no different. They want to eat on a different. They want to eat on a normal schedule also.normal schedule also.

However, if show calves are grazing However, if show calves are grazing in the pasture they can eat in the pasture they can eat whenever they want. These calves whenever they want. These calves learn to use the shade and shelter learn to use the shade and shelter that the barn or mother nature that the barn or mother nature provides them. All cows interact provides them. All cows interact well with the other cows. Cows do well with the other cows. Cows do not make to many noises unless not make to many noises unless they are hungry or are out in a they are hungry or are out in a storm. storm.

ResourcesResources

http://www.essortment.com/all/feedercatthttp://www.essortment.com/all/feedercattlesa_rkjm.htmlesa_rkjm.htm

Picture 1 slide 7Picture 1 slide 7

http://www.das.psu.edu/research-http://www.das.psu.edu/research-extension/meat/images/carcass-steer-extension/meat/images/carcass-steer-2.jpg2.jpg

Picture 2 slide 7Picture 2 slide 7

http://www.das.psu.edu/research-http://www.das.psu.edu/research-extension/meat/images/carcass-steer-extension/meat/images/carcass-steer-3.jpg3.jpg