Production Cycle of Beef Cattle Cows are bred through natural means (exposure to a bull) or through artificial insemination. Artificial insemination (A.I.) is a process where sperm is collected from a bull, processed and frozen for storage, and then thawed and placed in the reproductive tract of the cow. Once the cow is pregnant, she will carry the calf in gestation (pregnancy) for approximately 279–290 days. The gestation period varies, depending on the breed of cattle. The term calving is used to describe a cow who is in the process of giving birth. When the calf is born, it will nurse its mother until six months of age when it is weaned or separated into a different pen or pasture from the cow. At weaning, calves of both sexes are sent to backgrounding operations to graze and gain weight prior to being sent to a feedlot. Some calves are kept as potential replacement breeding animals. These bulls and heifers are usually grazed and fed until an acceptable breeding age. Bulls usually reach breeding age at two years. Heifers are usually bred when they are 15–18 months of age so they can calve at approximately two years of age, Figure 10-3. The Beef Cattle Industry There are many different segments of the beef cattle industry. The following are examples of different types of beef cattle operations in the United States. Some of these examples may be common in your geographic region. Cow-Calf Operations Most beef cattle are born on cow- calf operations. These operations are commonly seen as you travel down highways or country roads. Cows are bred each year to produce calves for the market, Figure 10-4. These operations are usually Diamond K Ranch, Hempstead, TX Figure 10-2. Careers in the beef cattle industry often begin with raising and showing cattle as part of an SAE or 4-H program. Calving Birth Finishing begins Seedstock Processing and packaging By-products to rendering plant Further processing Harvest at 16–30 months Distribution Distribution Weaning Mating with bull or through A.I. Gestation 279–290 days Suckling for up to 6 months Cow Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 10-3. The production cycle of beef cattle. After studying the production cycle, visit www.g-wlearning.com to test your knowledge. 510 Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.