Ongoing Management

The major objective on arrival at the feedlot is to get the cattle onto a high-energy diet—which will result in rapid growth—as soon as possible, usually within 21 days, while minimizing the morbidity and mortality associated with acute respiratory disease, other common infections, and digestive diseases associated with adjustments to high-energy diets.

Animals should be observed daily for:

• Signs of disease onset.
• Feed problems (for example, shy feeders).
• Failure to adapt to the diet.
• Bad ‘doers’ – it often pays to remove these animals.

Growth Promotion

Growth-promoting agents increase the growth rate of animals without being used themselves to provide nutrients for growth. They are generally administered in small amounts—often via implants or in feed—to alter metabolism so the animal increases body tissues and grows more rapidly. They include antibacterial, antimicrobials, steroids (e.g., estrogens, androgens), and ionophores. They promote changes in composition, conformation, mature weight, or efficiency of growth, along with changes in the rate of live weight gain

Feed Adaption Introducing Cattle to Grain: Open Troughs (or Bunks)

Ruminants must always be adapted to a new feeding regime. Adaptation allows the microflora in the rumen to adapt to the new substrate they must grow on. This usually takes up to three weeks. When adapting livestock to high concentrate diets, this process is best done by a gradual increase in the energy content of a diet. This is called an adaptation ratio. With modern additives, such as ionophores, the adaptation period is not as critical as it used to be. However, although most feedlots no longer make use of an adaptation ration, a good practice is to place animals on hay for a day or two before supplying the high energy ration. Initially, the intake of the concentrate is best limited to 1 to 2 kg per day before animals are allowed free access. This also assists animals to overcome the stress related to transportation to the feedlot.

Cattle must have grain introduced into their diet gradually. A gradual introduction allows the rumen microbes to adjust to a grain diet thereby minimising the incidence of grain poisoning and laminitis. The following feeding program is a satisfactory method of bringing cattle on to a high grain diet. Cattle should be continually observed during this period for sickness and other health problems.

Feeding

It is desirable that cattle are fed at the same time each day to reduce the incidence of metabolic upsets. In wet weather, it may be necessary to feed two to three times a day to avoid feed spoilage/wastage.

It is important that cattle have feed in the troughs at all times. Empty feed troughs are a prime cause of grain poisoning.

Do not feed excessive quantities each day, as the feed may become stale. Try and judge the amount fed so that a little is left over each day. This ensures the cattle are not without feed. If you have to change grains during the feeding period, it is important that it is done over about a 14-day period. This is particularly important going from sorghum to barley, but not as critical for the reverse.

Introducing Cattle to Grain: Self Feeders

Grain intake can be restricted with self-feeders by initially using a narrow opening (for example, 12 mm) and then gradually raising the shutters over two weeks. Initial mixes are usually 50:50 grain and hay by weight, to assist the mixture to `flow’.

The following method for self-feeders has been used successfully in commercial feedlots.