Calf health and performance during receiving is not changed by fence-line preconditioning on flint hills range vs. drylot preconditioning

摘要

Ranch-of-origin preconditioning can improve the welfare and performance of beefcalves by decreasing the stress associated with weaning, transport, diet change, andcommingling with other calves. Preconditioning methods that involve pasture weaningcoupled with maternal contact (i.e., fence-line weaning) have been promoted as possiblebest management practices for minimizing stress. Prior studies focused on performanceand behavior during preconditioning on the ranch of origin. Little information hasbeen published relating to carryover effects of fence-line preconditioning comparedwith conventional drylot preconditioning on performance and behavior during feedlotreceiving.Our objectives were to measure growth and health during a 28-day ranch-of-originpreconditioning phase and during a 60-day feedlot receiving phase among beef calvessubjected to 1 of 3 ranch-of-origin preconditioning programs: (1) drylot preconditioning+ dam separation, (2) pasture preconditioning + fence-line contact with dams, and(3) pasture preconditioning + fence-line contact with dams + supplemental feed deliveredin a bunk. In addition, we recorded incidences of behavioral distress among thesetreatments during first 7 days of feedlot receiving.