Feedlots

National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare (NCCAW) Position Statement - June 1990

Feedlotting beef cattle is a legitimate husbandry tool in certain circumstances. As with all intensive animal husbandry systems, however, it needs to be exact so as not to affect the health and welfare of thousands of animals.

NCCAW believes in proper regulation for establishing and conducting feedlots, and that adequate management standards should be set to:

• ensure animal health and welfare in the feedlot, and
  
  
• protect the environment.

NCCAW's Position

The following management principles should apply in establishing and conducting beef feedlots. (They don’t apply to dairy cattle or feeding during drought):

• the establishment and continued operation of feedlots shall be regulated and licensed
  
  
• all feedlots shall be properly constructed and maintained to high standards.
  

On arrival at the feedlot, all cattle:

• shall be closely inspected to assess their health status
  
  
• treated for any injuries, and
  
  
• treated or given preventative treatment for disease and parasites.

The feedlot veterinarian should design the entry health requirements.

All animals shall be inspected daily:

• sick animals shall be quickly identified and isolated in proper sick bays, and given appropriate veterinary treatment
  
  
• stressed cattle shall be allowed to recover and graze on natural pasture.

Cattle pens and yards should not be overcrowded. Their stocking density should take account of the cattle’s age, size, behavioural needs, movement and feeding patterns.

• the suggested minimum size is 15-20 square metres per animal.

Pregnant cattle should not be admitted to the feedlot.

All cattle shall be provided with firm and dry footing outdoors. All areas shall be:

• adequately graded and drained to provide proper water run-off, and
  
  
• of a soil type which does not bog in wet weather.

All cattle shall be provided with effective shelter and shade for protection from the elements and climatic extremes, and other factors that produce heat or cold stress.

Adequate feed troughs shall be provided. The minimum space should be:

• 1 metre of self-feeder trough space per 6 cattle, or
  
  
• 1 metre of open trough space per 3 cattle.

All pens shall be cleaned regularly to remove manure and waste. Manure and waste should not be allowed to build up in the feedlot.

The dietary needs of all cattle shall be properly met. Cattle shall:

• not be overfed
  
  
• provided with sufficient roughage and protein to satisfy normal dietary requirements, and
  
  
• food quality, palatability, and associated disease processes shall be appropriate.

Each feedlot shall have a veterinary practice or contracted veterinarian with specialised skills in feedlot medicine. The veterinarian(s) weekly hours shall be appropriate to the feedlot’s size and nature. They shall also be responsible for:

• developing, monitoring, and (in conjunction with management) implementing the animal health and welfare program in the feedlot
  
  
• emergency treatment
  
  
• carrying out all surgical procedures on cattle
  
  
• supervising any calving, and
  
  
• for the use of all chemical and food additives.

Full-time, adequately trained personnel using clean and appropriate equipment and tools shall perform all work practices. There shall be adequate supervision of stockworkers and a proper training program for new personnel.

Appropriate environment protection procedures shall be in place to protect the health and welfare of the feedlot animals.