S.C. Loerch1 and F.L. Fluharty
The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences
Abstract
A 28-day trial was conducted with 216 steers (body weight = 552 lb) to determine the efficacy of two potential management strategies for reducing stress of newly arrived feedlot calves. Effects of placing newly received feedlot calves in pasture paddocks vs feedlot pens and effects of trainer cows on performance and health were determined. Half of the calves were placed in pasture paddocks and half were placed in feedlot pens. Half of the calves in each of these groups were housed with a mature beef cow to serve as a trainer. Calves were exposed to pasture and trainer cows for the first 14 days after arrival and then all calves were housed in feedlot pens (24 pens, 9 steers/pen) for the remaining 14 days of the trial. The presence of trainer cows the first two weeks did not affect (P > 0.27) gains; however, calves placed on pasture after arrival had lower (P < 0.03) gains during week 1 than those housed in the feedlot. Calves placed in pasture paddocks upon arrival had more than twice (P < 0.01) the incidence of morbidity vs those placed directly in the feedlot.
Introduction
Calves undergo significant physiological and psychological stress during weaning, transportation and adjustment to the feedlot environment (Loerch and Fluharty, 1999). Opportunities to modify stress-associated behavior as a mechanism to improve dry matter intake (DMI) of newly received calves has not been thoroughly explored. Prior to weaning, calves are reared in a hierarchical society, with the brood cow as the dominant figure. When newly weaned calves are grouped together in a feedlot, they are placed in an environment where the feed and water sources are foreign, and the social hierarchy is destroyed. Placing newly received calves on pasture for a brief period prior to feedlot placement may reduce environment stress. Additionally, use of trainer cows may reduce social and psychological stresses on these calves.
The objectives of this trial were to determine effects of placing newly received calves in pasture paddocks versus feedlot pens and the effects of trainer cows on performance and health.