Feedlot entry characteristics and climate: their relationship with cattle growth rate, bovine respiratory disease and mortality

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between the feedlot entry characteristics of breed, gender, entry weight and the presence or absence of permanent incisors, with growth rate, the incidence of bovine respiratory disease (BRD), and mortalities of cattle destined for the Australian domestic market. The relationship between climate data and the occurrence of BRD was also investigated.

Design: Two thousand four hundred and sixty eight cattle were individually identified at feedlot entry, and lot number, body weight, property identification code, breed, gender, and the presence or absence of permanent incisors were recorded for each animal. Daily climate data were collected for the duration of the experiment. Univariate correlations, multivariate analysis and survival analysis techniques were used to examine the relationship between these feedlot entry characteristics and the outcomes of BRD and growth rate.

Results: The feedlot entry description of breed had a significant effect on average daily gain. The presence of permanent incisors at feedlot entry was associated with an increase in average daily gain of 0.1 kg/animal/d. Growth rate decreased by 0.702 kg/animal/d in cattle treated for BRD and by 0.302 kg/animal/d in cattle identified with anorexia. Treatment for BRD was ten times more likely with Hereford cattle. There was a moderate correlation between minimum daily temperature and the occurrence of BRD.

Conclusions: This study indicates that breed can affect growth rate and health, specifically the occurrence of BRD, in Australian domestic feedlot cattle. The moderate correlation between minimum daily temperature and the occurrence of BRD indicates potential associations between climate and BRD incidence in Australian feedlots.