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World Beef Production

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posted on 2023-05-22, 13:48 authored by Malau-Aduli, AEO, Holman, B
Beef cattle, like other ruminants, have a complex digestive system inhabited by rumen microorganisms that can effectively convert pastures and other plant-derived products to meat and milk for human consumption (Chapters 15 and 16). To be able to appreciate the diversity in cattle performance in global beef production systems, a firm understanding of beef cattle performance indices and unique climatic, management and production systems around the world is essential. For example, in Australia, specialised beef breeds and crossbred cattle dominate beef production, whereas in New Zealand, Europe and the USA (Chapter 5), dairy beef constitutes a substantial percentage of finished beef production because land is too expensive to run cattle specifically for producing beef. An estimated 8–8.5% contribution of Holstein genetics to finished steers, representing the largest recognisable single-breed source to beef production in the USA, has been reported (USDA 2011; Schaefer 2005). Holstein steers also represent 15–20% of lot-fed steers in the USA (Rust and Abney 2005). In New Zealand, dairy breeds also dominate beef production, providing approximately half the weight of beef produced and slightly less than 50% of the value of beef produced (Charteris et al. 1998). In Australia, nearly 75% of the land mass is suitable only for beef production as the soil is too poor and rainfall is too low for cropping and the returns from wool are too small due to the labour-intensive nature of the production system. This chapter gives an overview of global beef production systems, industry characteristics and outlooks for the beef industries in Australia (Chapters 9 and 10), India, Argentina, Brazil (Chapter 6), the USA (Chapter 5), Canada and the European Union, to represent selected regions in Oceania, Asia, South America, North America and Europe. Descriptions of the operational peculiarities and diversity in management practices that integrate genetics, nutrition and other environmental key drivers of profitability are presented.

History

Publication title

Beef Cattle Production and Trade

Editors

DJ Cottle, L Khan

Pagination

65-80

ISBN

9780643109889

Department/School

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Place of publication

Victoria, Australia

Extent

21

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 David Cottle

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Beef cattle

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