Calf health and performance during receiving is not changed by fence-line preconditioning on flint hills range vs. drylot preconditioning
Calf health and performance during receiving is not changed by fence-line preconditioning on flint hills range vs. dr ylot preconditioning
E.A. Bailey
G.W. Preedy
L.A. Pacheco
John R. Jaeger
Part of the Other Animal Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Bailey, E.A.; Preedy, G.W.; Pacheco, L.A.; Jaeger, John R.; Waggoner, Justin W.; and Olson, K. C. (2013) "Calf health and performance during receiving is not changed by fence-line preconditioning on flint hills range vs. drylot preconditioning," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 0: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1431
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Calf health and performance during receiving is not changed by fence-line
preconditioning on flint hills range vs. drylot preconditioning
Abstract
Ranch-of-origin preconditioning can improve the welfare and performance of beef calves by decreasing the
stress associated with weaning, transport, diet change, and commingling with other calves. Preconditioning
methods that involve pasture weaning coupled with maternal contact (i.e., fence-line weaning) have been
promoted as possible best management practices for minimizing stress. Prior studies focused on performance
and behavior during preconditioning on the ranch of origin. Little information has been published relating to
carryover effects of fence-line preconditioning compared with conventional drylot preconditioning on
performance and behavior during feedlot receiving. Our objectives were to measure growth and health during
a 28-day ranch-of-origin preconditioning phase and during a 60-day feedlot receiving phase among beef calves
subjected 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 delivered in a bunk. In addition, we recorded incidences of behavioral
distress among these treatments during first 7 days of feedlot receiving.
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Authors
E.A. Bailey, G.W. Preedy, L.A. Pacheco, John R. Jaeger, Justin W. Waggoner, and K. C. Olson
Thi s Research Report article is available in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: https://newprairiepress.org/
kaesrr/vol0/iss1/28
Calf Health and Performance During Receiving
Is Not Changed by Fence-Line Preconditioning
on Flint Hills Range vs. Drylot Preconditioning
Introduction
Ranch-of-origin preconditioning can improve the welfare and performance of beef
calves by decreasing the stress associated with weaning, transport, diet change, and
commingling with other calves. Preconditioning methods that involve pasture weaning
coupled with maternal contact (i.e., fence-line weaning) have been promoted as possible
best management practices for minimizing stress. Prior studies focused on performance
and behavior during preconditioning on the ranch of origin. Little information has
been published relating to carryover effects of fence-line preconditioning compared
with conventional drylot preconditioning on performance and behavior during feedlot
receiving.
Our objectives were to measure growth and health during a 28-day ranch-of-origin
preconditioning phase and during a 60-day feedlot receiving phase among beef calves
subjected 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
delivered in a bunk. In addition, we recorded incidences of behavioral distress among these
treatments during first 7 days of feedlot receiving.
Experimental Procedures
Angus × Hereford calves (n = 460; initial body weight = 496 ± 77 lb) originating from
the Kansas State University commercial cow-calf herds in Manhattan and Hays, KS,
were used in this experiment. Calves were weaned at approximately 180 days of age. All
calves were dehorned, and steer calves were castrated before 60 days of age. At
weaning, calves were weighed individually and assigned randomly to 1 of 3 (...truncated)