The role of the producer in minimising feedlot losses

摘要

The feedlot industry is a rapidly growing sector in the Australian cattle industry, with feeding capacity of over 800,000 head. Almost 50% of the capacity is in Queensland, with Queensland and New South Wales combined accounting for about 85% of the feedlot capacity. As the populations of these feedyards increase, so do the health issues. Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) accounts for more than 60% of health problems. Lameness accounts for 15% and Gastrointestinal Disease accounts for 11%. The remaining problems are a mixture of sporadic conditions.