Feedlot Beef Cattle Health and Well-being Recommendations

Abstract

Animal health recommendations are given daily to feedyard managers relating to all areas of cattle management, from vaccination and metaphylaxis to pregnant heifer management and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) PI testing. Research and reports on the costs and benefits of these various options are conducted on a somewhat routine basis. However, little data is available about what practices are being advised or implemented in the majority of feedlot settings. The objective of this survey was to observe which feedlot practices are being recommended by consulting veterinarians for the health and well-being of feedlot cattle.