Estimating the Effects of Animal Health on the Performance of Feedlot Cattle

It is generally accepted that performance of feedlot cattle is negatively impacted as health problems increase. The magnitude of impact that health problems have on overall or specific performance parameters is not well defined for feedlot cattle. This study determined the effect of animal health on the performance of feedlot cattle. Multiple regression models were developed to aid in the performance analysis for feed conversion, average daily gain, added cost and cost of gain. Results of this study showed that for each percentage increase in mortality in a pen of cattle the feed conversion ratio increased by 0.27 pounds (lb) (0.12 kg), the average daily gain decreased 0.08 lb (0.036 kg) per day and added costs increased $1.00 per head. For each percentage increase in treatments for a pen of cattle, death loss increased by 0.143%. A 10% treatment rate would equate to a 1.7% death loss. These data should be useful to estimate performance of fed cattle. The study confirms and quantifies the negative effect of adverse health on fed-cattle performance.