The Effect of Lameness on Average Daily Gain in Feedlot Steers

Authors

Giselle T. Kruse, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Richard R. Randle, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Douglas E. Hostetler Hostetler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Gary K. Tibbetts, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dicky D. Griffin, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Kathryn J. Hanford, University of NebraskaFollow
Terry Klopfenstein, Universitiy of Nebraska--LincolnFollow
Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Brandon L. Nuttelman, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
David R. Smith, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Published in 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report.

Comments

Copyright © 2013 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test the effects of lameness on average daily gain (ADG) of feedlot steers. We evaluated two feedlot health data sets: 1) 14,798 steers from a 14-year period (1993 to 2006) at the Meat Animal Research Center (USDA MARC) near Clay Center, Neb.; and 2) 16,766 steers from an 8-year period (2002 to 2009) at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center (ARDC) near Mead, Neb. The ADG for USDA MARC steers with lameness late in the feeding period (≥ 60 days) was 0.04 lb./day less than steers without lameness. The ADG for ARDC steers with lameness later in the experimental trial period (≥ 60 days) was 0.2 lb./day less than steers without lameness. Lameness in steers had a significant and meaningful negative effect on ADG later in the feeding period.