You may wonder: what do feedlot cattle eat? There are several common misconceptions about what these animals eat. In this article, we’ll cover grains, cereals, and legumes. Learn how to avoid the biggest pitfalls in this industry and protect the health of your family. Also, learn more about the food industry in general. Listed below are some facts about what feedlot cattle eat. The truth may surprise you!
Contents
Grains
In a feedlot, cattle begin their diets with high-quality forage, like alfalfa or wheat hay. The cattle gradually increase the amount of grain they eat, transitioning to a higher-energy diet. Typically, feedlots use corn as the dominant grain, a good source of starch that is easily digested by cattle. Other grains are byproducts of grain milling.
Grass
The meat industry uses a process called confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to finish cows. The cattle are housed in small areas with limited space and are fed high levels of grain and other ingredients to gain weight. In the feedlot, cattle must gain about three pounds per day in order to reach market weight. But a study by the Breakthrough Institute in Oakland, Calif., argues that the advantage of feedlot finishing may outweigh this disadvantage.
Legumes
There is no single cause of bloat, but many factors can contribute to it. One reason for bloat is a feedlot’s use of legumes as feed. A common type of legume is cicer milk-vetch. Some animals have a chronic bloat problem, so this type of feed is best avoided. A good way to limit bloat is to rotate the forages cattle eat.
Cereals
Most feedlot cattle consume a variety of cereals as their staple diet. Grains are the seeds from grasses and grow throughout the growing season, filling with starch and associated protein. The starch content increases towards the end of the growing season, and it is used to store energy for germination and early seedling development. Cereal grains also contain essential nutrients needed for plant growth and reproduction.
Ionophores
Ionophores are antibiotics that cattle are fed in the feedlot. They increase ADG and reduce DMI, resulting in increased profits. However, the use of ionophores in feedlots is regulated heavily in many countries, and public opinion is strongly against it. There are other natural antibiotic alternatives to ionophores, such as plant extracts. This article will discuss a few of these options.
Vaccinations
There are several important feedlot-related diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. While blackleg is the most familiar clostridial disease, there are many others that are equally as deadly. To protect your cattle against clostridial disease, consider the 7-way clostridial vaccine. This vaccine provides protection from Clostridium chauveoi (blackleg) and three different strains of Clostridium perfringens.
Treatment of parasites
There are several options for the treatment of feedlot cattle for a variety of different parasites. These treatments may be in the form of oral drenches, topical pour-on products, or injectable medications. All options are effective for treating cattle, but the most important aspect of these treatments is to use the correct dose according to the cattle’s weight. These medications may not be effective if the cattle are not consuming their supplements.
Cleanliness of pens
Before, clean pens were considered a good thing. However, a recent study contradicted this belief. It found that cleaner pens actually led to less energy expenditure. While the general assumption is that clean pens encourage the animals to perform better, the study found that clean pens actually slowed their growth. This is because cleaning reduces the amount of energy required for movement and maintaining body temperature. The study evaluated three different cleaning treatments: a full cleaning of the entire pen twice, an apron cleaning of the pens, and no clean-up at all.
Environmental impact
Feedlots produce a high concentration of manure. Manure from feedlots is a source of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have harmful impacts on water quality, as well as on humans. In addition to contributing to the problem of dead zones in coastal waters, odours from feedlots are also a source of particulates and pathogens. A recent study found that residents living near feedlots reported elevated levels of depression, anger, and fatigue. Similarly, people living near feedlots also reported breathing shortness, dizziness, and headaches. Environmental impact of feedlot cattle is so widespread that many are unsure how to address it.
