Causes of death in feedlot beef cattle and their control: a brief review

This review reports the leading causes of death in feedlot beef cattle. It describes economic losses resulting from these deaths and suggests control alternatives. Diseases associated with the respiratory and digestive systems were the most frequently observed. In different geographical areas, the importance of each one might vary. Outbreaks of diseases such as botulism occur occasionally and can cause important economic losses. Cattle tick fever can cause significant losses in zones of enzootic tick instability. Technical assistance and sanitary and food management are critical for the best productivity in feedlot cattle.

INDEX TERMS:
Feedlot; cattle; morbidity; mortality; pneumonia; acidosis; bloat

Authorship

Pablo Estima-Silva

Graduate Program in Veterinary, Faculdade de Veterinária (FV), Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Capão do Leão, Capão do Leão, RS 96010-900, Brazil.Universidade Federal de PelotasBrazilCapão do Leão, RS, BrazilGraduate Program in Veterinary, Faculdade de Veterinária (FV), Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Capão do Leão, Capão do Leão, RS 96010-900, Brazil.

Haide Valeska Scheid

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7855-6410

Ana Lucia Schild ^**Corresponding author: alschild@terra.com.br

Laboratório Regional de Diagnóstico, Faculdade de Veterinária (FV), Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Capão do Leão, Capão do Leão, RS 96010-900, Brazil.Universidade Federal de PelotasBrazilCapão do Leão, RS, BrazilLaboratório Regional de Diagnóstico, Faculdade de Veterinária (FV), Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Campus Capão do Leão, Capão do Leão, RS 96010-900, Brazil.

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2470-4785

*Corresponding author: alschild@terra.com.br

Conflict of interest statement.- There are no conflicts of interest.

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures | Tables

Figures (5)
Tables (1)

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Fig.1.
Thorax cavity from a feedlot steer that died from pneumonia. There are dark areas of consolidation affecting all pulmonary lobes. Adjacent areas show checkers pattern with intercalated dark and pale areas.

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Fig.2.
Rumen from a feedlot steer that died from acute ruminal lactic acidosis. The ruminal content is abundant, liquid, and yellow-green.

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Fig.3.
Rumen from a feedlot steer that died from frothy bloat resulting from grain overload. Ruminal content is yellow and frothy.

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Fig.4.
Stool score indicating the balance between concentrate and roughage in the diet of feedlot cattle. The score ranges from 1 (excess protein or starch) to 5 (poor digestion of forage. Score 3 represents the balance in the composition of the diet (Adapted from Vigne et al. 2019Vigne G.L.D., Neumann M., Santos L.C., Stadler Júnior E.S., Pontarolo G.B., Petkowicz K. & Cristo F.B. 2019. Digestibilidade do amido e comportamento ingestivo de novilhos confinados sob efeito de doses de complexo enzimático em dietas de alta densidade energética. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 71(3):1015-1026. <https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-10538>
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-10538... ). (A) Score 1: liquid stools; diarrheic. (B) Score 2: semi-liquid stools. (C) Score 3: pasty stools. (D) Score 4: Light and moderately dry stools, with concentric rings and 3-4cm layers. (E) Score 5: dry and hard stools.

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Fig.5.
Botulism. Several feedlot steers are affected in a massive outbreak in Mato Grosso do Sul. A total of 1090 out of 1700 feedlot steers died due to the ingestion of corn silage contaminated with Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type C (Courtesy of Dr. Tessie Möck, Ulmer Straße 14 89180 Berghülen, Germany).

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Table 1.
Feedbunk scoring system

Fig.1. Thorax cavity from a feedlot steer that died from pneumonia. There are dark areas of consolidation affecting all pulmonary lobes. Adjacent areas show checkers pattern with intercalated dark and pale areas.

Fig.2. Rumen from a feedlot steer that died from acute ruminal lactic acidosis. The ruminal content is abundant, liquid, and yellow-green.

Fig.3. Rumen from a feedlot steer that died from frothy bloat resulting from grain overload. Ruminal content is yellow and frothy.

Fig.4. Stool score indicating the balance between concentrate and roughage in the diet of feedlot cattle. The score ranges from 1 (excess protein or starch) to 5 (poor digestion of forage. Score 3 represents the balance in the composition of the diet (Adapted from Vigne et al. 2019Vigne G.L.D., Neumann M., Santos L.C., Stadler Júnior E.S., Pontarolo G.B., Petkowicz K. & Cristo F.B. 2019. Digestibilidade do amido e comportamento ingestivo de novilhos confinados sob efeito de doses de complexo enzimático em dietas de alta densidade energética. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 71(3):1015-1026. <https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-10538>
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-10538... ). (A) Score 1: liquid stools; diarrheic. (B) Score 2: semi-liquid stools. (C) Score 3: pasty stools. (D) Score 4: Light and moderately dry stools, with concentric rings and 3-4cm layers. (E) Score 5: dry and hard stools.

Fig.5. Botulism. Several feedlot steers are affected in a massive outbreak in Mato Grosso do Sul. A total of 1090 out of 1700 feedlot steers died due to the ingestion of corn silage contaminated with Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type C (Courtesy of Dr. Tessie Möck, Ulmer Straße 14 89180 Berghülen, Germany).

Table 1. Feedbunk scoring system

Score	Description
0	No feed remaining in bunk
0.5	Scattered feed remaining. Most of the bottom of the bunk exposed
1	Thin, uniform layer of feed remaining. About one corn kernel deep
2	25 to 50% of feed remaining
3	More than 50% of feed remaining. Crown is thoroughly disturbed
4	Feed is virtually untouched. Crown of feed still noticeable

Source: Pritchard R.H. (1993)Pritchard R.H. 1993. Bunk Management. Proceedings Land O’Lakes Beef Seminar, Delivering the Difference Conference, Minnesota, p.4-15..

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Causes of death in feedlot beef cattle and their control: a brief review

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[1] *Corresponding author: alschild@terra.com.br