PRODUCERS attending Riverina Stockfeed’s recent two day Beef4U event in Miles and Condamine have been told genetic improvement and backgrounding are the keys to unlocking the value of calves going into feedlots.
Respected feedlot consultant and nutritionalist Bob Lee from Advanced Feedlot Solutions said backgrounding was well recognised as a means of improving socialisation, improving feed intakes and reduced health issues.
However, that picture was not complete. A number of challenges are facing the industry – particularly in the all dominant US feedlot industry, he said.
Dr Lee said US research suggested that although more cattle were being backgrounded, mortality rates had increased in feedlots on average for the past 40 years. That was despite the introduction of four new antimicrobials categories cleared for use in cattle. Mortality has also increased even with multiple new vaccines for cattle diseases including pestivirus, which had increased beyond normal levels.
Dr Lee said technology was now available in the dairy industry that could logically be applied to beef cattle to enable producers to more accurately select animals based on their DNA.
“You can improve animal health through genetics,” Dr Lee said. “You can get a much better immune response. These are also documented to be genetically passed on. The cows will produce a greater specific antibody in the colostrum. The females have better disease prevention and the this so far has not compromised any other economically important traits for milk production.”
Dr Lee said it was also critical to recognise that the backgrounding process needed to begin when the calf changed from being an embryo to a fetus.
“Fetal programing will allow the full genetic potential of an animal to be expressed. Period. That’s a fact,” Dr Lee said. “Cattle that are deprived of nutrients at gestation at and after birth will not achieve 100 per cent of their genetic potential.”
Dr Lee suggested a health component was required on EBVs used to help select more suitable cattle, a move that was happening in some breeds behind the scenes.