15 HW Calf Processing Lab S23 d1
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Apr 3, 2024
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AnS 226:
HW: Calf Preconditioning and Handling Homework
Spring, 2023
The purpose of this homework is to facilitate a review of the concept and practices of preconditioning, and to study best operating procedures regarding cattle handling. You will want to be able to:
explain the details of the Iowa Green and Gold Tag Preconditioning Programs.
list the criteria required for each.
explain why it is worth it to pay more for certified preconditioned calves.
describe how and why castration and dehorning is practiced.
define flight zone, point of balance and the use of these in low stress handling.
describe best-practice designs of cattle handling facilities.
We examine preconditioning practices using the requirements of the Iowa Green and Gold Tag Preconditioning Programs in Iowa as the best-practice example. We will review options to these programs and look at other recommended procedures to follow when preparing calves to enter the feedlot, or to enter
the breeding herd. In addition to information provided in lab, the references for this homework are provided in the class folder.
A video recording of Dr. Bruce Leuschen processing calves during lab time in AnS 226
A video recording of castrating beef calves by Dr. Dan Thomson
A video recording of dehorning beef calves with Dr. Dan Thomson
In addition, here are some useful readings you should review. Be sure to focus on understanding the required components of the Iowa Certified Green and Gold Tag Preconditioning Programs.
BCH 3505 Bovine Respiratory Disease
BCH 5475 Preconditioning of Calves
BCH 9001 Livestock Psych and Handling Facility Design
BCH 9004 Cattle Behaviour, Handling Facility Design
Preconditioning Certificates Update S23
Iowa Preconditioning Calf Program Steps and Guidelines
Vaccination and Disease Outline Remember, these are homework assignments, and not 3 point quizzes. In other words, the expectation is to
prepare quality work that takes some time to do. Background information (as usual, in blue). . . Consider first how you would answer the question,, “Why do we precondition calves?” It is easy to state such things as “to have shots” or “get vaccinated” or “be weaned”, etc. These are what we do, but not why
we do them. It is easy to say “because a vet has done the work.” While always good to involve a veterinarian, many producers are very skilled at dehorning, castration and giving shots. Your reading states that preconditioning are “practices that are applied to calves to prepare them for the next stage in the channels of trade.” The questions of importance here are 1) what do we mean by ‘prepare’ them? 2) prepare them for (or against) what? And 3) what is meant by channels of trade? A variety of possible treatments and management practices constitute practices of preconditioning. This does not just mean vaccinations, but includes other practices applied to the cattle. Some of these practices are “certified” by some agency (like the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association – aka “green tag” program), and some are not. The Iowa Certified Preconditioning Program, otherwise called the “Green Tag” Program because of the color of the metal clip-tag placed in the ear of the calf after the program has been completed, is similar in practice to other certified preconditioning programs around the country. Here are the homework questions. Please type your answer directly in the space provided below each question.
Last Name
First Name
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1.
Feedlot managers (aka those who buy calves at weaning and then feed them to harvest weight) often pay more money per cwt. (which stands for “per 100 pounds”) for calves that have been preconditioned than for those who have not. Why is this justified? Note:
The answer is NOT that this reduces stress on the calves. They still have to be processed and then transported, so the stress is there anyway. Also, the answer is not “so that they work has
been done and the operator doesn’t have to do it.” While that is true that the work has been done, it is often true that many operators are in the habit of vaccinating and processing calves upon arrival to the feedlot, and frankly they can do the work cheaper than hiring a veterinarian anyway.
Therefore, the question remains, why is it of value to pay a premium for properly preconditioned calves? Feedlot managers will pay more for preconditioned cattle because they are going to be able to convert at a higher rate than those that have not. By being preconditioned the cattle are less likely to become ill and are more prone to sickness.
3.
Since we are in Iowa, it is necessary that we know what is required for a calf to receive Iowa “Green Tag” Preconditioning Program certification. You will need to be specific.
Some are required vaccinations.
In the following spaces, list the mandatory Iowa Green Tag Precondition Program vaccinations. No acronyms, but the full term is needed. Spelling matters
here so be sure to check your work.
a.
Seven-way Clostridia
b.
Haemophilus somnus
c.
Pasteurella haemolytica
d.
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis
e.
Parainfluenza-3
f.
Bovine viral diarrhea
g.
Bovine respiratory syncytial virus
There are other mandatory practices applied to the calf besides vaccinations in order to be Iowa Green Tag Certified Preconditioned. Name two. Not talking about paperwork administration here, but physical applications to the calf. h.
Internal parasite treatment
i.
Castrated and dehorned 3 weeks prior to sale
There are also several important dates/time frames
to which to adhere in order for the certification to
be valid. Name a couple of these.
j.
All calves must be dehorned and castrated 21 days before the shipment/sale.
k.
You must wait 30 days until after the birth of the calf to be green tag certifiable and 45 days for gold tag certification.
Did you know? . . The veterinarian must administer the vaccinations in order to qualify for the certificate. The veterinarian usually also performs the other practices necessary to finish the preconditioning, though the owner can do some of these procedures too. Once the work is done, however, a vet signs the certificates that accompany the calves to designate that they are Iowa Certified Green Tag Preconditioned calves. Without the paper, the ear tag alone is not documented proof. Certification (aka proof) of work done is the key issue here. 4. Diving into the modern era, I posted the following question in ChatGPT: Why is brucellosis listed on the Iowa Green Tag Preconditioning Program?
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The response I received from ChatGPT is as follows: Generally speaking, the inclusion of brucellosis in a preconditioning program could be due to the fact
that this bacterial infection affects the reproductive system of animals, causing abortions and fertility problems. By requiring that participating animals are tested for brucellosis and found negative prior to entering the program, the program aims to reduce the risk of spreading the disease and increase the health and value of the animals.
What is correct and what is incorrect in ChatGPT’s response to my question?
The statement of how they describe brucellosis is correct. Testing the animals for the disease is also something that I see as a logical idea. 5. Iowa Certified Green Tag and Gold Tag Preconditioning programs have some different requirements. What distinguishes the gold tag certification from the green tag program? Be complete in your response. The gold tag program is basically the follow up program to the green tag. You cannot receive a gold tag unless you have you green tag certification completed. The gold tag program also requires you to
give a second round of shots two weeks after the green tag program.
6. Another very popular and common preconditioning program in the United States is called the “VAC45” program. For what does the acronym “VAC45” stand?
Value Added Calf 45
7. In your reading, “BRD” is mentioned a lot, and was discussed in lab. Just to make sure we are all on the same page, define “BRD” (acronym and definition)?”
Bovine respiratory disease which is the most common and costly disease affecting the cattle industry. This causes pneumonia.
Is there one specific vaccination that takes care of all of “BRD”? No, there are multiple products needed to cure BRD.
8. Often folks talk about shipping fever and BRD as the same thing. Is this correct? Yes they are the same issue. 9. One important vaccination associated with essentially all Iowa certified
preconditioning programs is a “7-way” vaccination (sometimes you will
hear of 3-way and 5-way too). Name three of the diseases that one is
vaccinating against with a ‘7-way’ vaccine. Also, describe the disease
that would manifest if the vaccination did not occur. Clostridium chauveoi, Clostridium septicum, and Clostridium novyi are three common diseases that a
7-way vaccination will prevent. Brucellosis would likely manifest in the animal if not for the 7-way vaccination.
Note:
It is no surprise that good handling practices are actively promoted by cattle producers, Beef Industry Councils (via the BQA program) and veterinarians. Poor handling practices create stress, stress raises cortisol levels and interferes with immune function. After all, why would one pay for preconditioning programs and vaccines only to negate their benefits by poor handling practices. You are provided numerous references that overview good handling and facility design.
Please read them for a comprehensive review. 10. You have some readings posted in this module that address principles of good cattle handling and the design of those facilities. As you review these materials, the principles of handling cattle that are promoted, and recall the practices of good handling that you may have learned in classes or other
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Compare those principles with the design and use of what is called a “bud box” (named after “Bud Williams” who promoted this design of handling facility. If you are unfamiliar with this approach to
handling cattle, you might take a look at: https://www.beefmagazine.com/beef-quality/cattle-
handling/1001-crowd-pen-stockmanship
or maybe https://extension.psu.edu/bud-boxes-gaining-in-
popularity-for-cattle-handling
for information ( there are dozens of very good articles on line that you can review. What would you say is the essential difference between the ‘tub design’ system of handling promoted by Temple Grandin, and the design and use of the ‘bud box’ developed by Bud Williams.?
The tub system is pushing cattle from behind whereas the ‘bud box’ considers that you should be at the exit to get the cattle out of the system to get them into the chute or truck. Another major difference is that the tub system is pushing more for a solid way system so the animal cannot see out.
The ‘bud box’ only has a solid door system at the back but the rest is open sided.
If you want to learn more about the operation of a bud box method of handling, take a look at the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axH3ZYUy5Rg
11. In class you are required to complete one Beef Quality Assurance training (see 1 HW BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) Training located in Module 1 in our Canvas folder. For this question, define what we mean by the BQA Program. If you have not completed this training yet, you can still look online to find out more about the program and its intent. There are countless URL’s that address the program. This is a crash course to raising cattle in an effective fashion that promotes high quality care and management of a herd. The system provides information and scientific knowledge to the handler to properly provide top tier husbandry to their cattle.
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