Student Case Presentation
The first 48 hours: analyzing behavioral traits of chronic feedlot cattle based on final outcome
| Date/Time: |
9/11/2025 2:30 pm
|
| Presenter: |
Maggie Cronk |
| Veterinary School: |
IA |
Abstract:
Cattle in feedlot chronic pens may experience stressors related to prolonged illness or injury. Identifying behaviors at chronic pen entry predictive of recovery could inform management practices to support the welfare of these vulnerable animals. The objective of this study was to quantify cattle behavior during the first 48 hours after chronic pen entry and identify associations with final outcome (recovery or mortality). Heifers (n=52) housed in the chronic pen at a 2,400-head commercial Midwest feedlot were enrolled from August 2022 to March 2023 and marked for behavioral observations. Three trail cameras around the pen captured still images every 15 minutes during daylight hours. During their first 48h after chronic pen entry, each heifer’s images were analyzed with a focal animal sampling rule and instantaneous sampling recording rule to collect behavioral data - standing or lying, resource proximity when standing (bunk, hay, water, none), and isolation. Occurrences when the heifer was not at the bunk during feeding events (when >25% of the pen was at bunk) were also recorded. Focal animal behaviors were converted to proportion of scans in which the animal was viewed and analyzed with Mann-Whitney U tests. Regardless of final outcome, cattle spent an average (± SD) of 47±16% of scans standing and 24±16% lying. Of the scans spent standing, 19±13% were at the bunk, 14±10% at the hay, 4±8% at the water, and 63±17% not at resources. Cattle with mortality outcomes spent more scans isolated than cattle with recovery outcomes (P<0.04). There was a tendency for cattle with mortality outcomes to spend more scans standing (P<0.08), fewer scans at the bunk (P<0.07) and more scans not at bunk during feeding events (P<0.08). With additional study, measurement of these potential predictive behaviors may enhance treatment and euthanasia decision-making, ultimately improving chronic cattle welfare.
