Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1971

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Animal Science

Abstract

The agricultural industry or South Dakota is primarily based on the beer cow and her products. Cattle feeders had 275, 000 head of cattle and calves on feed on July 1, 1970, a 2 percent increase over July 1, 1969. South Dakota has about 1, 719, 000 beef cows which is 38 percent more than a decade ago. The state can continue to increase beef production in many ways such as retaining mare cows to produce feeders, increasing calving percentage, using crossbreeding, or feeding cattle to heavier weights. Increased carrying capacity through irrigation and management may be another avenue to increased production. In 1949, 63 pounds of beef was the annual per capita consumption. By 1959 it was 81 pounds and increased to 112 pounds in 1969. Beef is providing more nutrition than ever before and some people believe this country will need 33 percent more beef by 1980. Although increased beef tonnage will be required to satisfy increasing demands, maintenance, improvement and standardization of beef quality are also necessary during the next decade. Manufacturers of meat substitutes will capitalize on the ability to standardize palatability characteristics. Quality and palatability indicators in the live animal and the carcass must be identified and utilized by the beef industry to maintain and improve its position in the main dish market. Presently, tenderness is the variable having the most influence on consumer quality evaluation of beef.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Beef -- Quality
Beef cattle
Beef -- Carcasses apli

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

95

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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