Term
| Compare feedlot operations vs cow-calf operations |
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Definition
Cow-Calf
-expansive system
-small number of cows (61)
-large number of operations
Feedlot
-intensive management
-large number of cattle (25000-100000)
-small number of operators |
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Term
| Describe the setup of a modern feed lot (5 points) |
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Definition
-250 to 300 head/pen
-250 square ft per head
-concrete feed mangers
-3% grade to facilitate manure removal
-windbreak fences |
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Term
| Describe the management of a modern feed lot |
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Definition
-Pen riders check new arrivals 2X/day
-pen riders check yearlings 1X/day
-cattle are pulled & brought to hospital area
-then either treated or not, sent back to home pen or kept in hospital pen |
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Term
| Describe the setup of a slatted floor feedlot |
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Definition
-often fully covered barn
-25 square ft per head
-cattle must be older to withstand slatted floor
-can be on slats for no more than 5 months |
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Term
| Describe the sources of cattle coming to feedlots |
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Definition
-weaned calves
-pre conditioned weaned calves
-stocker/backgrounded yearlings/calves
-grass or fed yearlings
-cull cows/heifers/bulls |
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Term
| What are the two most important tools for health management on a feedlot? |
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Definition
Pull records
-record all pulls & treatments
Post Mortem Knife
-know the reason for death
-helps to plan PM programs |
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Term
| What are the main objectives of health management on feedlots? (5) |
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Definition
-rapid growth rates
-maximize feed conversion efficiency
-reduce morbidity, mortality, culling
-optimize health expenditures
-reduce antimicrobial residues |
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Term
| What is the goal for feed conversion efficiency? |
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Definition
ADG 3-4lbs per day
5.5-8 : 1 feed to gain ratio |
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Term
| What is the 'formula' for calculating profit? |
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Definition
| Profit = ($ finished cattle) - ($ purchased cattle) + ($/unit weight gain) |
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Term
| What are the main cost inputs on a feedlot? |
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Definition
60% feed
20% capital costs & interest
5% health |
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Term
| What factors affect the price of finished cattle? (5) |
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Definition
Yield
Grade
Maturity
Meat Colour
Fat Colour |
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Term
| How is yield measured? Where is the cut made? |
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Definition
-graded by length, width & fat class
-cut btwn 12th & 13th rib |
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Term
| How is meat graded and what are the categories? |
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Definition
based on marbling
Canada Grade A, AA, AAA, Prime |
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Term
| What are the primary animal health concerns on a feedlot? |
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Definition
Respiratory Disease
Metabolic disturbance (ruminal acidosis, bloat)
Footrot
Pink Eye
Pregnancy |
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Term
| What are the viral agent factors involved with BRD and their effects? |
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Definition
Viruses e.g. IBR, BVD, BRSV
-depresses immune function, damages upper respiratory tract cells
-reduces bacterial clearance
-predisposition to bacterial infection |
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Term
| What environmental factors affect BRD? |
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Definition
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Term
| What host factors affect BRD? |
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Definition
Immunocompromised
Stress (recently weaned, co-mingling, transport)
Whether they are bunk-adjusted & vaccinated
Decreased DMI |
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Term
| When are cattle at the greatest risk of contracting BRD? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the bacterial agent factors involved with BRD? (4) |
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Definition
Mannheimia haeolytica
Pasteurella multocida
Mycoplasma bovis
Haemophilus somni |
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Term
| Describe the effects/indicators of Mannheimia haemolytica |
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Definition
-bacterial normally present in upper resp tract
-number of bacteria increases during stressful periods
-most often implicated with BRD |
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Term
True or False
If Mannheimia haemmolytica is found on a swab, it is not necessarily the primary pathogen causing BRD |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe the effects of Pasteurella multocida |
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Definition
-early pneumonia associated with BRD in recently weaned calves
-found in up to 60% of clincally normal calves (likely a commensal bacteria)
-implicated in fatal BRD, secondary to M haeomolytica |
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Term
| Describe the effects of Mycoplasma bovis |
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Definition
-implicated in several diseases in young calves, not just BRD
-NOT commensal bacteria!
-poor response to antibiotics
-difficult to isolate from samples (swabs are insufficient)
-bacterial infection may persist for calf's entire life |
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Term
True or False
Treatment for mycoplasma bovis would consist of swab tests followed by a course of antibiotics |
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Definition
False
-this bacteria does not respond well to antibiotics, and swab tests are not enough to make an accurate diagnosis |
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Term
| Describe the effects of Haemophilus somni |
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Definition
-commensal bacteria of upper resp tract
-pre-weaning vaccination may provide some protection
-also involved with meningitis, carditis, septic joints
-will develop BRD after 30-60 days on feed |
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Term
| What are some clinical signs of BRD? |
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Definition
-calf has isolated themselves
-depression
-reduxed feed intake
-high temp
-cough & nasal discharge (sometimes)
-increased resp effort (sometimes)
-weight loss (sometimes) |
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Term
| What would you do if a calf presented with clinical signs of BRD? |
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Definition
1. Pull sick cattle and send to pull pen for further eval
2. Decide if treatment is necessary
3. Often a single antibiotic dose is sufficient
4. Send cattle back to home pen or hospital pen (depending on treatment decision) |
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Term
| What are the consequences of BRD, and goals for morbidity & mortality rates? |
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Definition
30% fatalities if untreated
80-90% success if early treatment
Death if 2/3 of lung damaged or toxaemia
Goal: <30% treatment rate calves
<10% treatment rate yearlings
<5% case fatalities |
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Term
| What can you do if simply preventing BRD from entering the farm isn't enough? (3) |
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Definition
-metaphylactic treatment of high-risk animals
-administer antibiotic to whole pen if the rate of disease is high
-use records to track risk periods! |
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Term
| Describe the typical feeding method on feedlots |
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Definition
-7 to 9 different rations to gradually increase carbs
-grains increase finishing weight
-increases marbling
-need to balance feed efficiency with risk or ruminal acidosis |
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Term
| What causes subacute ruminal acidosis, and what are its effects? |
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Definition
-high grain diet decreases rumen pH
-ulcers in rumen develop = no bacterial barrier
-bacteria enter bloodstream, travel to liver
-can cause liver abscesses |
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Term
| What are the consequences of SARA? (3) |
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Definition
-condemned livers (profit loss)
-spread of bacteria through body
-suboptimal gains |
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Term
| How can you prevent SARA? (4) |
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Definition
-careful formulation of rations, mixing & delivery
-PM examination to determine incidence liver abscesses
-record slaughter condemnations
-prophylactic antibiotics in feed |
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Term
| How can you manage pregnancy on a feedlot? |
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Definition
-preg check all heifers, abort all pregnancies
-give prostaglandins to all heifers on arrival to induce abortions |
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Term
| What processing takes place when cattle arrive at a feedlot? |
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Definition
-ear tag
-vaccinate if req'd
-paraciticide (lice, GI parasites)
-implants
-dehorn/castrate (best done 4wks post-arrival) |
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Term
True or False
Cattle should be dehorned & castrated on arrival if necessary |
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Definition
False
Wait 4 weeks to minimize stress |
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Term
| What are implants and why do we use them? How long do they last? |
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Definition
Anabolic steroids
-low doses of hormones (estrogen, progestin, androgens)
-increases efficiency of lean protein gains
-last 70 to 100 days |
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Term
| What records should be made and when? (5 main) |
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Definition
On arrival
-source, which pen assigned, how long to fill pen
Pull records
-why, frequency, clinical signs, treatment, withdrawal time
Record if in hospital pen/sent back to home pen
Post-mortem euth & dead animals
Regular assessment of morbdity, mortality, case fatality |
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Term
| What are some performance indicators of production goals (6) |
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Definition
BRD treatment rate <30% calves <1% yearlings
BRD relapse rate <20%
BRD case fatality rate 5%
Total mortality rate <2% calve <1% yearlings
Average daily gain 3-4lbs per day
Feed conversion ratio 5.5-8 : 1 |
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Term
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Definition
Increase immunity
-buy pre weaned & bunk adjusted
-buy from farm not auction
-fill pen in less than a week
-vaccinate on arrival or after 4 wks
-provide high qual feed & forage |
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Term
| Why is pregnancy not desireable on a feedlot? |
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Definition
-not set up to manage calving
-greater risk of complications/death
-often younger heifers likely to be disproportionate to fetus
-poor feed:gain ratio
-less uniform growth |
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