Exercises

1. Translate the following words and word combinations:

Cattle production, sufficient (insufficient), nutrients, needs, legume, silage, sorghum, wheat, oats, barley, soybean oil, linseed oil, cottonseed, roughage.

2. Practice back translation:

Good pasture is the necessary basis of successful cattle production.	Наличие хорошего пастбища является необходимой основой для успешного разведения крупного рогатого скота.
Silage is an excellent supplement when the grasses are dry or mature.	Силос – превосходное дополнение, когда трава на пастбище становится менее сочная.
Concentrates are used extensively in cattle rations. They consist primarily of the grains and by-products of grain of oil seeds.	Концентраты экстенсивно используются в рационе рогатого скота. Они состоят прежде всего из зерна и побочных продуктов зерна масличных семян.
Roughages should make up a large part of the cattle ration.	Грубая пища должна составлять значительную часть в рационе рогатого скота.
Vitamins and minerals must be included in cattle ration.	Витамины и минералы должны быть включены в рацион рогатого скота.

3. What are the peculiarities of feeding dairy and beef cattle? What vitamins and minerals should be included in cattle ration? Sun up the main information from the text, formulate the basic rules for a cattle breeder.

Beef cattle Selecting and Housing Beef Cattle

Rapidity of growth is the most important factor in selecting beef cattle. Females should weigh about 400 lb or more at 6 months of age and about 700 lb or more as yearlings. Bull should weigh about 500 lb or more and about 850 lb or more respectively.

A desirable beef animal is low-set and blocky. The head is wide and short and the muzzle is broad. The legs are straight and fairly short. If a mature cow is to be selected, it is possible to see some of her offspring and note whether she has consistently transmitted good qualities to them. If possible, inspect the sire and the dam, as well as sisters and brothers. If they are good, the strain of family is prepotent for the desired qualities.

Beef cattle have a thick covering of flesh, a fairly thick skin, and a dense coat of hair, which give the cattle considerable natural protection against low temperatures. Consequently, they can be housed in buildings which are quite cold. In warm climates no shelter is needed for beef breeding herds. In cold climates the shelter should be dry and protect the animals from exposure to cold winds and severe storms. If calves are born in winter, provide one or two box stalls for confining the cows at calving time.

Principal types of equipment for beef cattle are yards or corrals, a water supply, mangers and hayracks. Provide a salt box that protects the salt from the weather. A central water tank is used for watering beef cattle.

Beef cattle may be pastured in large numbers in one large field and may be housed in groups up to several hundred if ample space is provided.