Assessing and Predicting Feedlot Mortality and Culling Using Standard Feedlot Arrival Data

Abstract

Economic losses due to mortality and out-cattle (any animal that died or was culled prior to harvest) are substantial in commercial feedlots, and the ability to estimate potential losses at arrival would be a valuable tool. Our objectives were to quantify effects of arrival risk factors on cumulative mortality and out-cattle risk and assess the resulting models' performance at predicting these risks in commercial feedlots.