Weighing Your Options: Cattle Scales By Josh Jackson, Ph.D. Assistant Extension Professor Livestock Systems From a management and production standpoint, obtaining cattle weights is essential on
Photo courtesy of Josh Jackson. beef operations as these animals are purchased, sold, and treated on a weight basis (by the pound). The visual evaluation of weight can be performed effectively by some and less so by others. A scale system removes the guess work of “eyeballing” cattle. There are many advantageous reasons to weigh livestock. In addition to establishing an economic value to the animals, knowing the weight could allow for cost savings, as more efficient drug delivery can be implemented. Performance characteristics such as weaning weight and yearling weight could be quantified—which is especially desirable for purebred operations since this information can be used to improve the accuracy of their breed’s EPDs (Expected Progeny Difference records). Management decisions for growth and replacement heifer development can be more effectively benchmarked to industry standards.
Therefore, the application of these drugs typically results in producers falling into one of these categories: proper dosage, overapplying, or underapplying, with the latter two categories being the most likely. From drug delivery standpoint, the cost of overapplying wormer is not negligible, as shown in Table 1, above. With most operations in Kentucky having 30-50 head and deworming their cattle at least two times per year, overapplying dewormer by 100 lbs per animal could be costing these producers approximately $50 dollars annually. Underapplying dewormer may not allow for complete and effective control of parasites; yet, a cost is still incurred. Furthermore, underapplying could lead to developed resistance by the parasites and ineffectiveness of the dewormer. Subclinical costs of these parasites are reduced milk production, decreased average daily gain, and impaired conception rates. As demonstrated by the FDA U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s veterinary feed directive, the use of antibiotics within the livestock industry is facing ever stronger scrutiny, and the judicious use of antibiotics is being encouraged. Therefore, knowing the weights can help ensure that cattle are treated according to their weight. As shown in the Table 2, there is a cost associated with oversupplying the antibiotic. The cost of undersupplying antibiotics
Drug Delivery Most antibiotics and dewormers specify the dosage as a function of animal weight.
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
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