ACCORDING TO the Australian Lot Feeders Association (ALFA) there are approximately 450 accredited beef cattle feedlots in Australia with over 95 per cent family owned and operated. They are generally located in areas which have a ready access to grain, cattle and water.
A recent field day at the Llanarth feedlot, Belyando, saw veterinary surgeon, Dr Kevin Sullivan, form Bell Veterinary Clinic attend to impart to graziers some very helpful information on preparing cattle for and handling cattle in a feedlot situation. Over recent years Dr Sullivan has specialised in feedlot cattle and is regarded as one of Australia’s leading livestock production veterinarians.
Dr Sullivan had, at the time, been in North Queensland for a week lecturing at James Cook University and Llanarth feedlot owner, Clay Kenny used the opportunity to get his opinion of feedlot operation.
In regard to the entry of cattle into a feedlot, Dr Kevin Sullivan recommended that new calves into a feed lot should be fed only hay at a rate of 1.5 per cent of their body weight on the first day. This is to get them eating and because they have come off grass and not familiar with grain, it is best to feed just hay on the first day.
On the second day he recommended hay again at 1.5pc of body weight plus .5pc grain. The 3rd day hay at 1pc of body weight plus grain at 1pc; 4th day hay at .5pc of body weight and grain at 1.5pc then on the 5th and onwards just the diet opted for achieving the weight gain desired.
Weight gain required by cattle owners will differ as to whether the cattle will be going to live export, or processors.
As we approached the first feedlot pen, Dr Sullivan pointed out several beasts which were holding their heads higher than the rest and explained this was most likely because these cattle were more timid/nervous.
He said that these cattle took longer to adjust to feedlots and were often bullied away from feed troughs by the more dominant cattle and therefore had a lower weight gain.
They were also more susceptible to disease such as Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). This being the case he said that it was imperative that the feed troughs were long enough to allow these timid cattle access to feed.
Dr Sullivan said the recommended trough space is a minimum 20 cm/head for weaners (250-350 kg), 30 cm for yearlings (400-45), and 36 cm for bullocks/cows. (see breakout story)
It is believed that 30pc of cattle that enter into feedlots carry the BRD virus but once in the feedlot all cattle become infected. Healthy cattle do not show any adverse effect from the virus it is therefore important that cattle are enticed to eat as soon as possible on entering the fed lot. This will assist in keeping their immune systems working efficiently.
Dr Sullivan said that contrary to what a lot of road transport drivers say, it is recommended that cattle, particularly young cattle have a full rumen of hay before they are trucked. He said that this keeps the rumen active and ready to process feed when they enter the feed lot.
If young cattle go into a feedlot with and empty/shrunken rumen they take longer to begin eating adequate amounts of ration, longer to begin weight gain and are more susceptible to disease.
What also has a big influence on how young cattle perform in a feedlot is the manner in which they are weaned.
It is well known that to be healthy and profitable, a feeder steer has to come onto feed and water quickly after arrival at the feedlot.
Dr Sullivan said it is important that the steer can adapt easily to the social and psychological stress encountered upon feedlot entry and it must achieve good feed efficiency and weight gain.
“If these things are achieved then the steer has a good chance of performing well in the feedlot,” he said
Research done by the Beef CRC in Australia showed that yard weaned cattle had significantly better health and performance once they entered the feedlot six months later than cattle that were paddock weaned.
Yard weaning resulted in better feedlot weight-gain and less respiratory disease when the cattle were fed in the feedlot.
Another interesting fact to come out of the day was that yard weaned, cattle vaccinated against BRD gained significantly faster in the feedlot compared to the paddock-weaned, unvaccinated cattle (3.21 cf. 2.49 lbs/day).
During the tour of the feedlot, Dr Sullivan demonstrated best practice of handling cattle in the feedlots or cattle yard situations.
