There are several factors to consider when raising feed lot cattle. This article will provide you with some important information on diets, treatments, diseases, and land requirements. It will also give you tips to improve the health of your cattle. Read on to learn more. You’ll be able to choose the right diet for your cattle in a matter of days. Keeping cattle on a feed lot can be a fun and rewarding hobby. However, it’s important to know a few things before starting.
Contents
Diets
The majority of feed lot cattle are fed a high grain diet with supplementation of roughage and additives. This ration is designed to increase liveweight gain and feed conversion efficiency. It is important to choose the correct blend of grain and roughage for optimum nutrient content. Many commercial lot-feeders engage the services of a nutritional consultant who formulates the diets to meet the nutrient requirements of their animals.
Treatments
Preconditioning is the process of weaning cattle 30 days prior to slaughter, training them to drink and eat from a feeding tank, and providing parasite control and vaccines against infectious diseases. The cattle are then dehorned and castrated, if necessary. Once at the feed lot, these cattle are usually healthy and begin eating and drinking. A final inspection and examination by a veterinarian are required if a cattle is found to be ill.
Land requirements
The land requirements for feed lot cattle are very specific. They vary from producer to producer, but generally speak, there is a minimum area set back from watercourses, groundwater recharge areas, and potable water sources. There are also guidelines on the density of cattle pens. One head of cattle per twenty square meters is the maximum density for feedlot pens. The land must also have a slope between two and six percent for manure and water runoff to prevent it from flowing into local waterways.
Diseases
Cattle feedlots are concentrated in central and western USA near areas of high grain production and slaughter facilities. These lots are primarily comprised of young cattle, which is why morbidity and mortality rates are low. Of the common diseases that affect feed lot cattle, Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is the most common, accounting for 75% of morbidity and 50% of mortality. In addition to BRD, other diseases commonly found in feed lot cattle include bovine encephalitis, enterocolitis, and mastitis.
Costs
Feed lot cattle owners may be surprised at the cost of their livestock. The daily feed bill typically runs between $30 and $40 per ton of feed. Feed is the main expense, but it is not the only cost. Yardage costs can be as high as 5 cents per head per day. Feed yard charges may also include a markup. It is important for cattle producers to understand all the costs associated with raising cattle.
Markup
When determining the markup for feed lot cattle, keep a few things in mind. Calves arriving at a feed lot need to be uniform. This makes feeding much easier, and will result in fewer discounts based on yield grades and carcass weight specifications. Cattle can be sorted by weight, gender, and other factors. Steers are often fed together, while heifers are usually fed separately. Likewise, the size of feed lot pens will determine how much markup will be applied.
Health effects
Several factors contribute to the development of health problems in feed lot cattle. Environment, diet and stress are all factors that can contribute to these diseases. One of the most prevalent problems is bovine respiratory disease, which continues to be a challenge for the feed lot industry. However, advances in diagnostic assays and the use of antibiotics have helped to manage the risks and minimize the effects of this disease on cattle. In addition to managing stress levels, nutritionalists can add roughage to the diet of feed lot cattle to provide interest and reduce abnormal behaviors.
