Feeder Cattle Health Management: Effects on Morbidity Rates, Feedlot Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Beef Palatability121This project was funded by the Kentucky Beef Council, Lexington, KY.2The authors wish to thank Excel, Inc., Division of Cargill, Fort Morgan, CO, for their assistance in conducting this project.

Abstract

The effects of morbidity, defined as hospital visits per calf during the feeding period, on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and beef palatability traits were determined using 273 steer calves originating from one of two preconditioning programs or auction barns. Cattle treated more than once at the feedyard had a 12% lower ADG through reimplant (67 d; P<0.05), but ADG did not differ through harvest (185 d), compared with those cattle not treated at the feedyard. Cattle treated more than once also had lower hot carcass weights, lower marbling scores, and lower yield grades (P<0.05) than cattle not treated. Cattle that originated from the two preconditioning programs had a lower (P<0.05) average number of hospital visits compared with cattle that originated from the auction market. No differences (P>0.05) were noted in the effects of hospital visits or preconditioning treatments on beef tenderness and palatability measures. Overall, morbidity resulted in economic losses as a result of mortality and increased costs associated with hospital treatment. Morbidity also decreased (P<0.05) marbling deposition and USDA quality grade.