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, Sep 2017

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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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 - See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr Thi s report is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. Copyright 2013 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. Brand names appearing in this publication are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 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. Creative Commons License Thi s work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. 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)


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E.A. Bailey, G.W. Preedy, L.A. Pacheco, John R. Jaeger, Justin W. Waggoner, K. C. Olson. 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, 2018, Issue 1,