11/4/2025 5:35:04 AM	ANSCI 27 Course Outline as of Fall 2009	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  ANSCI 27	Title:  BEEF CATTLE SCIENCE
Full Title:  Beef Cattle Science
Last Reviewed:1/25/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  AG 62

Catalog Description:

A study of the principles of purebred and commercial beef cattle production throughout the World, United States ,and California. Emphasis to be placed on the importance of breeds, breeding principles, selection, nutrition, environmental management, health, marketing, and recordkeeping to ensure scientifically based management decisions and consumer product acceptance as applied to beef cattle.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

A study of the principles of purebred and commercial beef cattle production throughout the World, United States, and California. Emphasis to be placed on the importance of breeds, breeding principles, selection, nutrition, environmental management, health, marketing, and recordkeeping to ensure scientifically based management decisions and consumer product acceptance as applied to beef cattle.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2001	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: AG - AS 108L	Beef Cattle Science	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): ANSC27

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

A.  Discuss the history and development of the beef industry.

B.  Identify beef breeds and their adaptability to climatic conditions

   and types of operations.

C.  Describe the common systems of beef production.

D.  Explain the principles of genetics in terms of form and function in

   the beef industry.

E.  Define the relationship between the consumer, packer, and retailer

   in the commercial beef industry.

F.  Identify common diseases and parasites and the current methods of

   prevention and treatment.

G.  Explain the principles involved with ruminant nutrition in beef

   production.

H.  Demonstrate the use of computer management systems to efficiently

   manage beef cattle operations.

I.  Discuss animal welfare issues, environmental concerns and the beef

   cattle quality assurance program.

J.  Discuss career opportunities and requirements for successful

   employment.

K.  Identify cultural influences on the beef industry.

Topics and Scope

  1. The Beef Cattle Industry

           a.  Origin and importance of beef cattle

           b.  Breeds of cattle

           c.  Ethnic contributions

   2. Systems of Production

           a.  Purebred enterprise

           b.  Cow/calf operations

           c.  Stocker operations

           d.  Feedlot operations

   3.  Establishing the Beef Herd

           a.  Selecting the breed and breeding system

           b.  Selecting and foundation stock

               1.  Type and conformation

               2.  Pedigrees

               3.  Performance

   4.  Beef Cattle Management Practices

           a.  Care and management of the breeding herd

           b.  Beef animal preparation for seed stock sales

           c.  Buildings and equipment

   5.  Beef Cattle Genetics

           a.  Principles of beef cattle genetics

           b.  Percentage of heritability of beef traits

           c.  Economically important beef traits

   6.  Beef Cattle Nutrition

           a.  Digestion and utilization of feed

           b.  Nutrient requirements for beef cattle

           c.  Rations for beef cattle

           d.  Range management

   7. Herd Health

           a.  Common diseases of cattle

           b.  Control of parasites

           c.  Poisonous plants that affect cattle

   8.  Marketing Beef Cattle

           a.  Marketing purebred and commercial cattle

           b.  USDA yield and quality grades

           c.  Beef cattle production cycles

   9. Issues and Regulations in the Beef Cattle Industry

           a.  Animal/welfare issues

           b.  Quality assurance program

           c.  Environmental issues

           d. Cultural influences on the industry

Assignments:

 

Lab Assignments:

Showing livestock

Making up rations

 

Lecture Assignments:

Read periodicals, handouts, and textbooks (20 pages per week).

Lab reports (16--one per week).

Term paper ( 6 to 8 pages).

2 midterms

Final Exam

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 30%
Lab reports, term paper
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 10 - 30%
Class performances, performance exams
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 60%
Tests, quizzes, exams
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Attendance and participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Taylor, Robert.  Beef Production and Management Decisions, 2nd edition, MacMillan Publishers, 2002.

Cooperative Extension   Cow-Calf Management  (Magazine)              

Drovers Journal

Ensminger, M.E., Beef Cattle Science, The Interstate  Publishers, 1996. (Classic text)

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