Interesting Facts about Beef...
Beef Production at Five Oaks Family Farm - The process begins with a small herd of commercial Black and Red Angus cows that are referred to as breeding stock or brood cows. They are bred to a commercial or registered Angus bull who is usually 2 to 5 years old. The pregnancy, or gestation period, lasts for about 9 1/2 months and the cows are closely monitored for any conditions that might impair the health of the cow or heifer or the impending calf. The vast majority, or about 97%, of calves are born without any assistance but occasionally we, or a veterinarian, have to help.
The newborn calf, which will be either a bull (male) or heifer (female) will be on it's feet and nursing within an hour or so of birth. This first meal is very important as the milk provides special protection and immunity from disease. A calf that does not nurse within a few hours of birth is less likely to survive and often has health issues later on. After nursing, the calf on wobbly legs, but walking none the less, will be able to follow his or her mama around the pasture. There is a strong bond between mama and calf for the first 6 to 8 months of the calf's life.
At Five Oaks Family Farm, the calves will be vaccinated against all likely diseases at about 6 months of age and at 7 months will be weaned from their mama. Allowing the calves to nurse longer than about 7 months is not good for either mama or the calf. Weaning, though necessary, is stressful on both mama and the calf as they are going to be separated for the first time since birth. We at Five Oaks Family Farm have chosen to use the lowest stress approach called 'Fenceline Weaning'. This takes a little longer than other approaches but we always opt for minimal stress. With this technique, the calves to be weaned are placed in a pasture that is separated by a wire fence from an adjacent pasture where their mamas stay. Though separated by a wire fence, the weaning takes place such that mama and calf can still see and touch and smell each other through the fence. Weaning generally takes about 4 to 6 weeks and after such time the calves are reunited with their mamas. They have learned to eat and enjoy pasture grasses.
Calves that are selected for beef processing will continue to live with the herd for another 11 or 13 months when they will be moved to a grain supplementing pasture where they still have access to as much grass or hay (depending upon the season) as they want but in addition will also be offered corn. They will remain on this diet for 3 to 4 months. The corn improves the ultimate flavor and tenderness of the beef and at about 20 months of age they are processed.
Beef Consumption - Over 98% of the beef animal is used when it is processed. About 36% of the animal is used for meat and the rest is used for other byproducts including leather, china, glue, film, soap, pharmaceuticals, insulin and gelatin. The average American eats about 65 pounds of beef each year.
Hamburger - About half of all the beef consumed in the United States is hamburger/ground beef.
Freezer Space - Well packed, you can store about 22 - 25 pounds of delicious Five Oaks Family Farm beef in only 1 cubic foot of freezer space.
The Industry - The combined value of the cattle and beef industry is about $200 billion.
The Hide - The hide from one cow can make 144 baseballs, 20 footballs or 12 basketballs.
Stomach (Rumen) - Cattle are ruminants. This means they have one stomach with four separate compartments. The compartments are the Rumen, the Reticulum, the Omasum and the Abomasum. Their digestive system allows them to digest plant material by repeatedly regurgitating it and chewing it again as cud. This digestive process allows cattle to thrive on grasses, other vegetation, and feed. A cow chews its cud for about eight hours a day. When an animal chews its cud it is a sign of health and contentment. Other ruminant animals include deer, elk, sheep, and goats.
Birth Weight - Black and Red Angus calves at Five Oaks Family Farm typically weigh between 60 and 70 pounds at birth.
Beef Nutrition - Beef is a nutritionally rich food and an excellent source of ten essential nutrients. A three-ounce serving of lean beef contributes more than 10% of the daily recommended value of protein, zinc, vitamin B12, selenium, phosphorous, choline, niacin, vitamin B6, iron and riboflavin. Beef is among the top food sources for protein, zinc and vitamin B12.
The newborn calf, which will be either a bull (male) or heifer (female) will be on it's feet and nursing within an hour or so of birth. This first meal is very important as the milk provides special protection and immunity from disease. A calf that does not nurse within a few hours of birth is less likely to survive and often has health issues later on. After nursing, the calf on wobbly legs, but walking none the less, will be able to follow his or her mama around the pasture. There is a strong bond between mama and calf for the first 6 to 8 months of the calf's life.
At Five Oaks Family Farm, the calves will be vaccinated against all likely diseases at about 6 months of age and at 7 months will be weaned from their mama. Allowing the calves to nurse longer than about 7 months is not good for either mama or the calf. Weaning, though necessary, is stressful on both mama and the calf as they are going to be separated for the first time since birth. We at Five Oaks Family Farm have chosen to use the lowest stress approach called 'Fenceline Weaning'. This takes a little longer than other approaches but we always opt for minimal stress. With this technique, the calves to be weaned are placed in a pasture that is separated by a wire fence from an adjacent pasture where their mamas stay. Though separated by a wire fence, the weaning takes place such that mama and calf can still see and touch and smell each other through the fence. Weaning generally takes about 4 to 6 weeks and after such time the calves are reunited with their mamas. They have learned to eat and enjoy pasture grasses.
Calves that are selected for beef processing will continue to live with the herd for another 11 or 13 months when they will be moved to a grain supplementing pasture where they still have access to as much grass or hay (depending upon the season) as they want but in addition will also be offered corn. They will remain on this diet for 3 to 4 months. The corn improves the ultimate flavor and tenderness of the beef and at about 20 months of age they are processed.
Beef Consumption - Over 98% of the beef animal is used when it is processed. About 36% of the animal is used for meat and the rest is used for other byproducts including leather, china, glue, film, soap, pharmaceuticals, insulin and gelatin. The average American eats about 65 pounds of beef each year.
Hamburger - About half of all the beef consumed in the United States is hamburger/ground beef.
Freezer Space - Well packed, you can store about 22 - 25 pounds of delicious Five Oaks Family Farm beef in only 1 cubic foot of freezer space.
The Industry - The combined value of the cattle and beef industry is about $200 billion.
The Hide - The hide from one cow can make 144 baseballs, 20 footballs or 12 basketballs.
Stomach (Rumen) - Cattle are ruminants. This means they have one stomach with four separate compartments. The compartments are the Rumen, the Reticulum, the Omasum and the Abomasum. Their digestive system allows them to digest plant material by repeatedly regurgitating it and chewing it again as cud. This digestive process allows cattle to thrive on grasses, other vegetation, and feed. A cow chews its cud for about eight hours a day. When an animal chews its cud it is a sign of health and contentment. Other ruminant animals include deer, elk, sheep, and goats.
Birth Weight - Black and Red Angus calves at Five Oaks Family Farm typically weigh between 60 and 70 pounds at birth.
Beef Nutrition - Beef is a nutritionally rich food and an excellent source of ten essential nutrients. A three-ounce serving of lean beef contributes more than 10% of the daily recommended value of protein, zinc, vitamin B12, selenium, phosphorous, choline, niacin, vitamin B6, iron and riboflavin. Beef is among the top food sources for protein, zinc and vitamin B12.
