Establishing and Maintaining a Health Program Under Intensive Feedlot Conditions

Abstract

A feedlot health program serves as a very positive attempt by the veterinarian to provide specialized service to a highly specialized area of livestock production. The use of veterinary expertise in preventive medicine is far more productive to the modern feedlot where technicians are utlized to do the routine procedures.
Many different health programs are available to the feedlot owners, and the challenge to establish successful plans lies clearly with the veterinarian who is willing to commit the time necessary to develop the program and then work to see that it is carried out properly.
This paper will present the following eight main points of a feedlot health program and discuss their significance:
1. Long-term goals and immediate objectives
2. Procedures
3. Health Record system
4. Receiving schedules
5. Guidelines for detection of sick animals
6. Treatment schedules
7. Recovery