Beef Cattle Production Systems

This textbook provides an integrated view of beef cattle production with a systems based approach, discussing the interrelationships of a broad range of aspects with the overall goal of optimising cattle production. This book provides the background to allow cattle producers to match their production environments with genetic, management, and marketing opportunities for sustainable beef production globally. This logic and resulting considerations can then be tailored to address specific regional challenges and opportunities worldwide. Considerations and examples for extreme situations will be provided, such as very small herds, very large herds, communal-group situations, and minimal artificial input systems. This practical book will be important reading for upper level undergraduate and postgraduate students in animal and veterinary science, producers, extension workers and veterinarians.

Andy D. Herring has been teaching college courses and conducting research related to beef cattle production as a university faculty member since 1994. He was raised on his family's sheep and cattle ranch in west central Texas, which his family has owned and operated since 1886. Dr. Herring has university degrees in Animal Science (BS), Animal Breeding (MS) and Genetics (PhD). He has a passion for teaching as well as production-oriented research, and has received several awards for both. Dr. Herring is also passionate about educating and working with livestock producers so that they can make the most-informed decisions regarding profitability and sustainability. He incorporates his teaching style into his books where systems-based approaches and study questions are used to consider various "real-world" scenarios. He currently teaches at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.