Feeder Cattle Health Management: Effects on Morbidity Rates, Feedlot Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Beef Palatability

Roeber, D.L.; Speer, N.C.; Gentry, J.G.; Tatum, J. D.; Smith, Cheryl; Whittier, J.C.; Jones, Gary F.; Belk, K. E.; Smith, G. C.

doi:10.15232/s1080-7446(15)31566-7

Cited by 20 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Despite the limited power to study impacts of commingling on mortality, AD calves had a greater tendency for mortality due to BRD than PC calves and morbidity could be more in commingled vs. non-commingled pens. Similarly, in a previous study (12), mortality was greater in AD vs. PC calves.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

“…It was reported that a 45-day post-weaning PC program can increase net profit $14 per head as compared to that were not preconditioned (11). Preconditioning reduced morbidity and mortality rates by 42.6 and 10.3%, respectively, compared to auction barn-derived calves in Kentucky (12). Despite positive impacts of PC, it is not widely implemented, or perhaps cowcalf producers just focus on vaccination and ignore other critical elements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of commingling preconditioned and auction-derived beef calves on bovine respiratory disease related morbidity, mortality, and weight gain

et al. 2023

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IntroductionStressors predisposing to bovine respiratory disease (BRD) upon arrival in the feedlot, include the ranch to feedlot transition and mixing cattle from multiple sources. Preconditioning (PC) reduces multiple stressors, but commingling PC and auction-derived (AD) calves in a feedlot may increase BRD risk. Our objective was to evaluate PC calf performance over the first 40 days in the feedlot and determine impacts of commingling with varying proportions of AD calves (25, 50, and 75%).MethodsCalves were either preconditioned at one ranch (n = 250) or mixed-source and bought from a local auction (n = 250). At arrival, calves were assigned into 1 of 5 pens: 100 PC, 75 PC, 50 PC, 25 PC, and 0 PC, reflecting the percentage of PC calves in a 100-head pen.ResultsOver 40 days, morbidity in pen 100 PC was lower compared to 0 PC (24 vs. 50%, P < 0.001) and varied in commingled pens, being highest (63%) in 25 PC and least (21%) in 50 PC (P < 0.05). There were 3 AD deaths in 0 PC and 2 deaths in 25 PC. The AD calves in 0 PC were 3 times more likely to get BRD than PC calves in 100 PC; however, AD calves gained 0.49 kg/d more than PC calves (P < 0.0001). Ignoring pen placement, AD calves were 2.76 times more likely to get BRD but gained 0.27 kg/d more than PC calves (P < 0.0001). Commingling did not affect morbidity of PC (P = 0.5) or AD calves (P = 0.96), implying commingling did not affect health. Calves in 25 PC were 3.39 times more likely to get BRD than those in the 100 PC (P < 0.001). Furthermore, 25 PC calves gained the most (1.08 kg/d), followed by 50 PC (0.62 kg/d) and 75 PC (0.61 kg/d), compared to 100 PC (P < 0.05). Calf weight at arrival modified ADG (P < 0.05).DiscussionIn conclusion, PC calves had lower morbidity over the first 40 days, irrespective of commingling. With larger variations in arrival weight, there was no advantage of PC for ADG in the first 40 days. The unknown weaning strategies and comparable arrival weights of AD calves may have contributed to greater ADG in AD calves.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of commingling preconditioned and auction-derived beef calves on bovine respiratory disease related morbidity, mortality, and weight gain

et al. 2023

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“…To mitigate the cumulative stress caused by these practices and to enhance cattle health during feedlot receiving, a preconditioning program is recommended from weaning to feedlot entry ( Wieringa et al, 1974 ; Hilton, 2015 ). These initiatives provide the chance to employ management measures to prepare weaned beef calves for the stress and immunological challenges associated with long transit and feedlot entrance ( Roeber et al, 2001 ; Duff and Galyean, 2006 ). Hence, preconditioning strategies to mitigate stress elicited by the regular management process are warranted to promote calf growth and welfare in cow-calf and feedlot systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple administrations of bovine-appeasing substance during a 42-d preconditioning program followed by feedlot receiving and its effects on physiologic, health, and performance responses of feeder cattle

Kvamme,

Marques,

Alves Cruz

et al. 2024

Journal of Animal Science

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This experiment evaluated the effects of multiple bovine appeasing substance administration during a 42-day preconditioning program followed by a feedlot receiving period on productivity, health, and physiological variables of feeder cattle. Ninety calves were weaned, weighed, loaded into a livestock trailer, transported for 70 km, and unloaded at the Bozeman Agricultural Research and Teaching Farm for a 42-day preconditioning program. Upon arrival, calf body weight was recorded again, and both pre- and post-transport body weights were averaged and used as calf weaning initial body weight (BW). Calves were ranked by BW, sex, and age in a completely randomized design and assigned to receive 1) multiple administrations of bovine appeasing substance at weaning (day 0), days 14, 28, and before transport and feedlot entry (day 42; BAS; RSEA Group, Quartier Salignan, France; n = 9 pens/treatment), or 2) placebo (diethylene glycol monoethyl ether; CON; n = 9 pens/treatment). Treatments (5 mL) were applied to the nuchal skin area of each animal during the preconditioning period. Calves within treatment groups were ranked again by initial BW, sex, and age, in a manner that pens have similar initial BW, age, and 3 steers and 2 heifers and allocated to 1 of 18 drylot pens. On day 42, calves were combined within treatment group, loaded into 2 different single double-deck commercial livestock trailers, and transported for 1000 km (approximately 16 h). Upon arrival (day 43), calves were unloaded at the same feedyard. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 43, 46, 50, 57, 64 and 90. Average daily gain, final BW, and feed efficiency did not differ (P > 0.52) between BAS and CON calves in the preconditioning and receiving phases. A treatment × day interaction was detected (P < 0.001) for plasma haptoglobin concentrations, which was greater (P < 0.01) in CON on days 3 and 7 vs. BAS calves. During the preconditioning phase, serum NEFA concentration was reduced (P < 0.01) in BAS on day 3 compared with CON calves. A treatment × day interaction was detected (P = 0.001) for exit velocity, which was greater (P < 0.001) for CON vs. BAS calves on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 during the preconditioning phase and on day 46 of the receiving phase. Therefore, Applications of BAS reduced immunological responses and exit velocity associated with stress caused by management practices, but did not improve performance during the preconditioning and receiving phases.

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Integrating Lifetime Nutrition: From Cow/Calf to Stocker to Feedlot

Duff

2007

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice

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Feeder Cattle Health Management: Effects on Morbidity Rates, Feedlot Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Beef Palatability

Cited by 20 publications

References 3 publications

Impacts of commingling preconditioned and auction-derived beef calves on bovine respiratory disease related morbidity, mortality, and weight gain

Impacts of commingling preconditioned and auction-derived beef calves on bovine respiratory disease related morbidity, mortality, and weight gain

Multiple administrations of bovine-appeasing substance during a 42-d preconditioning program followed by feedlot receiving and its effects on physiologic, health, and performance responses of feeder cattle

Integrating Lifetime Nutrition: From Cow/Calf to Stocker to Feedlot

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