The central aim of the InnoNauta Tiedotus project is to acquire the latest information from home and abroad and to distribute it to those concerned. This publication summarises the main results of four literature reviews on beef production. The aim of the first literature review is to map the factors that affect the voluntary feed intake and production efficiency of beef cows and growing beef cattle. The productive traits of beef breeds and breed types within breed are different. The different traits have an effect on the success and efficiency of production. On average, large breeds have better carcass traits than medium-size breeds. On the other hand, the maintenance energy requirements and risk for calving difficulties of beef cows may be higher for large breeds than for medium-size breeds. Roughage-based diet can be used in the feeding of medium-size breeds, whereby the carcasses may accumulate less fat and the growth rate of the animals may be more even than with animals on a concentrate-based diet. The quality of animal stock has a great impact on the production result and every producer should pay attention to its development by breeding. On individual farms the productive traits of the animals can be developed e.g. by following the production results and by visual appraisal. New methods include e.g. gene tests that can be used The aim of the second review is to study practices that promote and facilitate autumn calving in beef cows. Autumn calving is not the natural calving season for cattle. However, autumn calving can be introduced for beef cow herds without weakening the production traits if the nutrient requirements of the cows are looked after. Indoor raising of calves together with the cows requires different structures on the production farm than the considerable shorter period of raising spring calves indoors with their dams. Artificial insemination and/or embryo transfer can be used more effective in the breeding of autumn calving cows than in spring calving cows. However, natural service indoors can be challenging for the breeding bull and result in a risk for injury. The object of the third review is to collect data on the factors related to grazing of beef cows. The grazing solutions are always unique to each farm. Grazing is an economically viable option if the production goals are reached during the grazing season. In a successful grazing season the beef cows have no need for other feed. During grazing the beef cows should gain body condition score and the calves should grow well. Cattle exhibit behavioral traits typical of the breed as well as individual preferences that can be used to further the success of grazing. Proper planning of rotational grazing system is a prerequisite for successful grazing. The object of the fourth review is to illustrate the basics of visual appraisal and the significance and methods of objective live cattle assessment and total breeding selection for beef cattle. The selection of beef breed animals is a demanding and complex task. The breeder should be aware of what kind of animal stock is required for meeting the desired goals. Finnish beef cow production is still very young and we have little experience on objective live cattle assessment of beef breeds. Nevertheless, it pays off to acquire more information and use it, since the overall quality of the cattle can only be improved by systematically eliminating inferior animals.