Breeding, Rearing, and Finishing: Discover the Differences Between the Phases
If you are interested in cattle farming, you have certainly heard about the terms breeding, rearing, and finishing, which are the three phases in which this activity is divided for the realization of the so-called “complete cycle”. Continue reading to learn more about these stages in the article prepared by the team at 7M Boots. Breeding, rearing, and finishing: discover the differences between the phases. Above all, beef cattle farming is divided into three stages: breeding, rearing, and finishing. When all these phases are worked on a property, it leads to the so-called complete cycle. Each of these phases presents a productive profile and a final product. Discover below the main characteristics of each of these stages:
This phase focuses on the fertility of the breeding stock, has higher yield, and the calves are heavier.
This aims at the development of the animals. In this phase, structure is formed, and the cattle are reared in a shorter timeframe.
This phase is characterized by weight gain in a short period and involves the finalization stage of the carcass, highlighted by the fattened cattle.
In activities involving cattle raising, there are breeders focused on the production of a certain stage as a way to enhance their profits. In other words, they address a specific production cycle. This type of practice, in addition to facilitating management, also reduces costs, as it contributes to specialized management. Overall, this indicates that some breeders focus on raising calves, others sell breeding stock for genetic improvement, and others specialize in finishing.
This phase is carried out by females in reproduction and may involve the rearing of females for replenishment, as well as increasing the herd and intensifying sales. This stage involves everything from reproduction (including insemination and gestation identification) to the development and weaning of the animals, which typically occurs between seven and eight months of age. Once weaned, the males are sold. Activities within the Breeding phase are focused on ensuring greater quantity and quality of production. This is because, in these cases, profitability is directly related to the pregnancy rate and weaning rates of the females.
This is the longest and most challenging phase of cattle raising, where the breeder needs to direct all efforts to develop the animals and ensure they express their full genetic potential. In this stage, the animals should present conformation and structure with weight gain in the shortest possible time. After all, when the development of an animal is not properly completed, the finishing process is severely hindered. Therefore, it is the breeders' mission to ensure a nutrient-rich diet and provide specialized veterinary care.
Finally, finishing is a very quick phase in which animals undergo a process of significant weight gain. During this stage, there is a fat disposition in the carcass. Due to physiological issues, fat disposition requires higher energy expenditure from the animals. Therefore, this period requires greater investments from breeders. Usually, these animals are sent to a confinement or semi-confinement system. The goal is to assist in the weight gain of the animals and ensure a good finish of the carcass. Did you enjoy learning more about the differences between the phases of breeding, rearing, and finishing? If this article was interesting to you, keep an eye on the content in the Country Tips section of 7M Boots. We will have many new updates soon. A big hug and see you in the next post!
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