The 2015 feedlot consulting nutritionist survey is a collaborative project between New Mexico State University and Texas Tech University that focuses on summarizing the professional practices of consulting feedlot nutritionists and updates a 2007 survey. Forty-nine consulting feedlot nutritionists were asked to participate, of which 24 completed the survey. The nutritionists surveyed service over 14,000,000 cattle annually and were representatives from individual consulting practices (54.2%), corporate cattle feeding companies (20.8%), corporate feed manufacturing companies (20.8%), or a combination of consulting practices (4.2%). The survey was completed using a web-based survey tool and contained 101 questions that were divided into sections regarding general information about the consulting practice; general cattle management; receiving cattle management, diet adaption; mixers, feed mills, and feeding management; grains and grain processing; grain by-product use; roughage use; information about supplements and microingredients; liquid feed use; nutrient formulation; feed additive use; and information used as a basis for nutritional recommendations. In most cases, the results of the current survey were similar to those reported for the 2007 survey, with a few notable exceptions such as shifts in cattle numbers and preferences for specific feedstuffs. The present study introduced a number of new questions not included in the 2007 survey that focused on management strategies used in the receiving period. Data from this survey provide insight into current nutritional and management practices of consulting nutritionists and, as in past surveys, should be useful for informing national committees that make nutritional recommendations for cattle, as well as nutrition and management strategies employed within university research settings.

. 2001. Application of feeding behaviour to predict morbidity of newly received calves in a commercial feedlot. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 81: 315-320. The objective of this study was to use feeding behavior of newly received steers (average initial weight 191 kg) to detect morbidity in animals in a commercial feedlot. Two separate 32 d feeding trials were conducted in Wellton, Arizona, in July and November 1996. Radio frequency technology was used to record the total time spent within 50 cm of the feedbunk (animal presence every 5.25 s times 5.25 s) in 3 h intervals from 0600 to 2400 on a daily basis for 103 and 122 male calves in trial 1 and 2, respectively. Statistical procedures based on the cumulative sums (CUSUM) of the 3 h feeding intervals were used to detect morbid animals, compared with detection of animals deemed morbid by experienced pen riders. In trial 1, the CUSUM procedure detected animal morbidity 4.5 d earlier (P < 0.001) than the feedlot personnel. In trial 2, the CUSUM procedure detected animal morbidity 3.7 d earlier (P < 0.001) than feedlot pen riders. Overall accuracy, positive predictive value and sensitivity of the CUSUM prediction method were 87, 91, and 90%, respectively. Combined trial data suggest that feeding behavior during the first 30 d cattle are in a receiving pen, as collected with radio frequency technology and analyzed with CUSUM charts, may be used to detect animal morbidity approximately 4.1 d earlier (P < 0.001) than conventional methods typically employed in commercial feedlots.Key words: Feeding behavior, morbidity, quality control, feedlots Quimby, W. F., Sowell, B. F., Bowman, J. G. P., Branine, M. E., Hubbert, M. E. et Sherwood, H. W. 2001. Identification des jeunes veaux morbides grâce aux habitudes alimentaires dans un élevage commercial. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 81: 315-320. L'étude portait sur les habitudes alimentaires de jeunes bouvillons (191 kg à l'arrivée) et sur la manière dont on pourrait s'en servir pour déceler les animaux morbides dans un élevage commercial. Les auteurs ont effectué deux essais de 32 jours à Wellton (Arizona), en juillet et en novembre 1996. Un dispositif radioélectrique a servi à établir combien de temps les animaux passaient à moins de 50 cm des mangeoires (présence de l'animal pendant 5,25 s toutes les 5,25 s), par période de 3 h, de 6 h à 24 h tous les jours. Le premier essai portait sur 103 veaux mâles et le second sur 122. On a ensuite recouru à des méthodes statistiques reposant sur la somme cumulative (CUSUM) des intervalles de 3 h pour identifier les sujets morbides, comparativement à ceux repérés par des zootechniciens chevronnés. Lors du premier essai, la méthode CUSUM a permis d'identifier la morbidité des animaux 4,5 jours (P < 0,001) plus tôt que le personnel responsable du parc d'engraissement. Au deuxième essai, la même technique a permis l'identification des animaux morbides 3,7 jours (P < 0,001) avant les préposés. La précision globale, la valeur prédictive positive et la sensibilité de la méthode CUSUM s'établissent respectivement ...

Nine ruminally cannulated steers (average weight 477 kg) were randomly assigned to serve as controls (C) or to be fasted (F) or fasted and transported (FT). C steers were allowed free access to alfalfa hay, water and plain salt during the experiment; F steers were deprived of feed and water for 32 hr, and FT steers were deprived of feed and water and transported for 32 hr in a gooseneck trailer. After 32 hr, F and FT steers were allowed access to alfalfa hay, salt and water. Rumen samples were withdrawn via cannula at 0, 18, 32, 36, 46, 56, 80 and 104 hr after the start of the experiment. Jugular blood was sampled at the same times, except for 36 and 46 hours. Rumen pH of F and FT steers increased (P less than .05) during the 32 hr fasting/transit period over that of C steers and then decreased (P less than .05) on refeeding. Total VFA concentrations were lower in F steers (39.5 mmoles/liter) at 32 hr than in FT steers (202.2 mmoles/liter). Total counts of rumen bacteria and protozoa were lower (P less than .05) in F and FT steers than in C steers at all times except 0 and 104 hr, and recovery of microbial numbers was slower in FT and in F steers. VFA data suggest rumen motility may be impaired in FT steers compared with that in F steers. Blood glucose was higher (P less than .05) at 18 an 32 hr in FT than in F steers. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase was higher (P less than .05) at 18 hr (104.7 IU/liter) in FT steers than in steers in the other two groups (average 84.3 IU/liter). Serum Fe tended to be lower at 18 and 32 hr in FT steers than in F and C steers, and serum triglycerides were lower (P less than .05) in FT steers at 32 and 56 hr than in C. Most other blood constituents were not greatly affected by treatment. These data suggest that the physiological response of fasting alone differs considerably from that of fasting and transit stress, because transit appears to impose influences on rumen fermentation and blood chemistry beyond those imposed by fasting.

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Our objective was to determine whether there were differences in feeding and watering behavior of newly received healthy and morbid feedlot steers. Two separate 32-d feeding trials were conducted in Wellton, Arizona, in July and November 1996. Radio frequency technology was used to record individual animal behaviors from 108 (average weight 139 kg) and 143 (average weight 160 kg) steers in each respective trial. Steers that were subsequently identified as morbid were present at the feed bunk in greater percentages than reported in previous studies. In Trial 1, healthy steers spent more (P < .001) time at the feed bunk and had more (P < .009) feeding bouts than morbid steers. In Trial 2, healthy steers did not spend more time at the feed bunk, but they had more (P < .02) daily feeding bouts than morbid steers. There were no differences in daily time spent at the water trough by healthy or morbid steers in either trial. The greatest proportion of feeding and watering behavior occurred during the daylight hours in response to feed delivery. The pattern of time spent at the feed bunk throughout the 32-d feeding period was similar for healthy and subsequently morbid steers, but healthy steers had more feeding bouts per day.