ADVANCED INTENSIVE FEEDING MANAGEMENT

 

Feedlotting sheep and cattle can represent an excellent opportunity, but it can also present significant challenges. If not adequately addressed, these issues can mean the difference between profit and loss.

It is critical to have a solid understanding of the factors that contribute to superior feedlot performance before embarking on a lot (or supplementary) feeding program.

Cattle and sheep are subjected to a number of critical health, physiological and digestive challenges resulting from the stress and dietary changes associated with feedlot induction and adaptation to higher grain diets.

These challenges can dramatically reduce the animals’ ability to adapt to grain rapidly and to produce consistently high levels of feed conversion efficiency and weight gain during their time on feed. In severe cases, they can be associated with issues such as acidosis (grain poisoning) and lameness.

In addition, the animals’ health and immune function can also be significantly impaired. This may contribute to an increased incidence of infections such as pinkeye and respiratory disease (e.g. BRD or Bovine Respiratory Disease). These conditions can be devastating to the potential profitability of a feedlot, representing significant treatment costs as well as reduced feed conversion efficiency and prolonged time on feed.

Cattle and sheep that are inadequately managed in the lead up to and during feedlotting are much more likely to:

  • Spend longer on feed than they need to in order to achieve target weights;
  • Scour and develop lameness and acidosis;
  • Develop pinkeye and infections of the nose and lungs;
  • Produce less meat, more fat and lower carcass yields;
  • Have a higher incidence of ‘dark cutters’.

Livestock Central are specialists in develeloping customised backgrounding, pre delivery and intensive feeding management systems, designed to optimise feedlot performance.

Please Contact Us today for more information on our Advanced Production Management Systems can help you get the most out of your grain-feeding program.

 

 

 
 

 

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