Question

23. What are some ways range steer (stocker) & range cow-calf operations differ?

In beef cattle management.

Animal Science

Answer 1

The range stocker and cow calf operations are different from each other as in case of range stocker management, it is mostly associated with taking care of the cattle which needs to be done with a range of technology and vaccination. The stocker cattle graze the pastures and hence their growth enhances before their slaughter so that more meat is produced. For managing the stocker cattle, a large and proper pasture need to be maintained so that the cattle can feed on the grass. The handling and management also requires that the stocker cattle are free of any sort of disease and handling must be done carefully so that there are no pathogens that contaminate the population. The forage quality helps in influencing the weight gain and with proper management, antibiotic and overall management, the stocker cattle needs to be managed. These cattle are raised on forage diets till they reach a particular weight and then they are made part of the feedlot. The grass on which they feed must be managed well and there must be constant deworming and management of flies and ticks.

The cow calf management is something important especially for the milking cows. After the calf is born, the cow is transferred to individual pens. Within the first 5 hours of the calf being born, the colostrums which is the first milk needs to be fed to the calf. There is proper management required for the cow calf and in order to manage the milk production, they must be separated within few days of birth and this process is called as weaning.