Luing Cattle breeding has been around since prehistoric times. In the 19th-century cattle, breeders began to specialize and create species of potentially specific qualities that could be marketed for sale and profit.
Today, cattle breeders spend a lot of time focusing on genetics to maximize possibilities for the future, improving beef production, increasing genetic diversity, ensuring animal welfare, and reducing pollution related to agriculture.
Breeding cattle is a complicated process, and only the best of the best are chosen for breeding. Cattle breeders are not limited to homogeneous land; they work across entire countries, continents, and world markets.
This intensive breeding process has resulted in a robust gene pool to select. The beef industry evaluates potential cattle breeds, comparing them with other species on various objective genetic markers.
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History of cattle ranching
history with a description of its diversity and diversified applications. Grazing was the main occupation of most ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, Vikings, and Romans. Cattle have been raised in the Middle East since 4000 B.C… Still, it remained a subsistence activity until later into the 19th century, when ranching became a source of revenue for many families in the Kansas and Oklahoma region.
In this region, cattle are now considered an agricultural commodity rather than an animal resource for subsistence or local consumption. The advent of the railroad and the introduction of barbed wire in the 1880s made possible the large-scale use of cattle for transportation and limited their utilization for grazing.
In the 20th century, cattle ranching has been a widespread enterprise that has given way to ranching systems in places worldwide with efficient beef production. Modern Ranchers In 1853, William A. King and his partners established King Ranch in Texas.
History Of Luing cattle breed
Cattle originated from the “humpafaras” (Homo sapiens) about two million years ago in Africa. A significant amount of genetic diversity has evolved in cattle domesticated for more than one million years. Cattle were first introduced to the Americas in 1493.
After several centuries of cooperation between Spanish colonists and the native population, cattle were raised in New Mexico in 1824 from Spain. It was initially considered a valuable breed and was only used for food by New Mexicans.
Animal husbandry
In the early 19th century, cattlemen recognized the value of crossbreeding to improve the quality and quantity of cattle. The first cross was performed in 1822 when a bull from Yorkshire was mated with a cow from England to produce a cow whose progeny were all polled–“a cross between the shorthorn and shorthorn.” By 1840, three significant breeds existed: Shorthorn, Hereford, and Angus.
How to breed?
Cows should be kept separate from other cattle, or their reproductive cycles may become interjected. I recommend buying purebred cows for breeding. Your herd will prosper if you keep the sire’s dam and other calves separate from the sire and his progeny. Please do not keep the bull and his daughters altogether.
The purpose of breeding is to combine desirable characteristics with unfavored ones while maintaining your herd’s overall health and well-being. In the mid-1800s, the English-bred Shorthorn cross dominated the Texan range. This breed was extensively dispersed throughout the western United States and was on its way to becoming a commodity.
Shorthorn cattle were crossed with other breeds due to their higher resistance to disease, ease of calving, ability to withstand harsh weather and short growing season, and high reproductive rate. By 1867, at least ten cattle breeds were crossed in South Texas. The industry had significantly grown from the 1850s when it was primarily confined to San Antonio and Victoria.
Shorthorn cattle were crossed with Hereford, Angus, Durham, Galloway, Brahman, and Spanish breeds. The Texas Longhorn cow was crossbred with Brahman bulls to produce polled and heavy-horned cattle progeny. In the 1880s and 1890s, Albertson gathered large herds of longhorns in northern Texas and New Mexico.
How to choose the right breed for your farm?
To breed cattle, the breeder must first understand the genetics of their breed. The cow is an individual, but a species can be different. For example, the American Short Horns (the Shorthorn) is a breed that has three unique qualities, including polled or horned, an extra-large size, and heavy feed requirements. These characteristics make them beautiful herd mates.
However, one must be careful how much or how little of these desirable qualities are passed down because a cow’s attributes can be utterly different from its neighbor. The polled trait is often called “hocked” when in a bull. Polled bulls are sterile and will not produce offspring that have this trait.
Do not add to your herd if you do not have room to get all the cows in the pastures that you need. Beginners tend to overbreed, and then their calves will be difficult to move off their field when they are grown up.
Raising milk cows and beef cattle?
Here are a few tips to get started on raising good quality milk and beef cows in a small-town setting. When you become experienced with your herd, you may increase other types of cattle such as pigs, goats, llamas, sheep, etc. The cattle industry is mostly dependent on agriculture-based economies to finance growth and expansion.
For example, in the United States, the amount spent on feed is approximately 62% of the total expenses for growing animals. The farmer must provide adequate feed to sustain a healthy cow. The farmer needs at least 20 acres of arable land to do this.
How much land is needed to raise a cow?
The recommended minimum area to graze one cow is 20 acres/40 hectares/100 feddans or 2 hectares per every 2 cows. Cattle have to have access to good quality forage at all times, so larger areas are often required for extensive beef production systems.
The best pasture for raising cattle is one that can easily be accessible for all your cattle. It has to be a grass-based pasture with good grazing areas. There should be good quality grass with enough water and other green plants to eat. The species of plants in the pasture will determine if it is suitable for cows to eat or not.
Best 10 benefits of luing cattle breed
- Cattle is one of the essential agricultural animals
- Cattle are raised for meat, milk, and hides
- The large variety of breeds can be used to suit a farmer’s needs
- Dairy cows produce a lot of milk but little beef
- There are some rare types of cattle
- The cattle breed is the foundation of agriculture
- Cattle are a natural resource that can be used for other beneficial purposes
- If a farmer needs money, he usually sells his cattle; however, there is quite a demand for breeding them always
- The cattle breed is essential to provide food and livelihood
- Livestock helps in the reduction of poverty the farmers
In summary
Cattle farming could be a profitable venture in your area. There are many benefits to raising cattle, such as the cost of feed, which is far less than the price of beef produced on other animals. In addition, cows produce milk that is relatively cheap per liter. Lastly, beef can be produced in limited amounts, and it is cheap enough to sell to the buyer without weakening the health of your herd.
Cow milk, milk powder, and yogurt are the three main cattle products. Cow milk can be used to produce milk powder, yogurt, or cheese. In small amounts, cow milk is beneficial to mothers during pregnancy, prevents breastfeeding problems, and helps in boosting immunity and raise the calf.
Much higher quality milk is produced from dairy cattle and can be used for making cheese, butter, or other products used in the dairy industry such as ice cream, and from there on to human consumption.
