CQUniversity
Browse
- No file added yet -

Major health problems and their economic impact on beef cattle under two different feedlot systems in Brazil

Download (330.35 kB)
Version 2 2022-10-13, 05:01
Version 1 2021-01-18, 20:13
journal contribution
posted on 2022-10-13, 05:01 authored by P Malafaia, TAL Granato, VC de Souza, Diogo Fleury Azevedo CostaDiogo Fleury Azevedo Costa, CH Tokarnia
ABSTRACT.-Malafaia P., Granato T.A.L., Costa R.M., Souza V.C., Costa D.F.A. & Tokarnia C.H. 2016. Major health problems and their economic impact on beef cattle under two different feedlot systems in Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 36(9):837-843. Departamento de Nutricao Animal e Pastagem, Instituto de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil. E-mail: malafaia_ufrrj@yahoo. com. br This study aimed to describe the diagnosis of health problems and to evaluate the cost of their treatment for cattle raised in feedlots to be slaughtered or to be sold as sires for cow--calf systems. Bovine respiratory disease and digestive disorders were the main problems diagnosed in the feedlot for slaughter; the cost for treatment was high, accounting for 9.7 to 20.9 kg of live weight (LW) or the equivalent of 7 to 15% of total LW gained over the days on feed. Due to the high intake of starch-rich concentrate, rumen and fecal pH was lower, whilst rumen osmolarity and blood lactate were higher in cattle fed for slaughter. Cattle affected by digestive disorders spent on average four additional days in the feedlot. Diseases and cost of treatments were associated with lower average daily gain and considerable economic losses. Health problems commonly observed in the feedlots for slaughter were not observed in the feedlots for males to be sold as sires. The most likely reason for this observation was the more careful nutrition and prophylactic health management in sire production systems, which produce animals of much higher selling price. Results from this study suggest that health problems found in feedlots for slaughter may not only reduce animal productivity and profitability, but also the welfare of the animals. The systemic understaffing of livestock cattle workers and veterinarians in large feedlots in Brazil results in under reporting of diseases and lack to understand epidemiological context and disease prevention.

Funding

Other

History

Volume

36

Issue

9

Start Page

837

End Page

843

eISSN

1678-5150

ISSN

0100-736X

Publisher

Colegio Brasileiro de Patologia Animal

Additional Rights

CC BY-NC 4.0

Peer Reviewed

  • Yes

Open Access

  • Yes

Acceptance Date

2016-07-12

External Author Affiliations

Centro Universitário de Octavio Bastos, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Exito Rural Consultoria em Pecuária, Biotec Reprodução Animal e Consultoria Pecuária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ, Brazil

Era Eligible

  • Yes

Journal

Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira

Usage metrics

    CQUniversity

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC