A FEEDLOT information day was held at Hyden recently, promoting the benefits of good cattle nutrition and methods to reduce the prevalence of health problems such as bovine respiratory disease (BRD).
About 30 producers and industry representatives attended the day, organised by Landmark Hyden branch manager Greg O'Neil, which was held at Trevor and Sharon Hinck's Hyden feedlot and run by Landmark and Pfizer.
Speakers included nutritionist Henry Strating, veterinarian Enoch Bergman and representatives from Pfizer, who among them spoke about cattle nutrition and new products available for use in the feedlot.
Among those new and improved products was the Synovex SX10 implant gun, which Pfizer's northern key account manager for intensive livestock Scott Pavey discussed in detail.
One of the main aims of the day was to introduce Landmark's Maxi Start program to local cattle producers, which encourages them to adopt yard weaning and pre-vaccination techniques that significantly reduce the risk of BRD in the feedlot environment.
Esperance-based veterinarian Enoch Bergman spoke about preparing cattle for feedlot entry and fostering the relationship between the lotfeeders and cow/calf producers.
Mr Bergman said the tendency to sell calves unweaned came from the days when many WA producers supplied into a milk-fed vealer market.
"Literally the buyers said they wanted calves with milk on their lips," Mr Bergman said.
"If you're going to slaughter an animal straight after you buy them, then that's probably okay but in today's modern world where we're trying to value-add by putting them through the feedlot for 60-90 days, that can be a pretty stressful time for a calf.
"To prevent respiratory diseases and all diseases in the feedlot, the best place to start that program is on grass in the cow/calf producers' hands.
"In the end, production loss is the enemy and if the cow/calf producers prepare these animals perfectly for the lotfeeders, they need to be remunerated - it's a two way street."
Mr Bergman said there were a number of viruses and bacteria associated with BRD and there were three main hard hitting products available to combat them ? Pestigard, Bovilis MH and Rhinoguard, which worked in synergy.
He said Pestigard and Bovilis MH had been around for sometime, while Rhinogard was more commonly used in the Eastern States for protection against Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR).
Mr Bergman said it had always been quite a fiddly vaccine that had to be shipped with dry ice and once mixed, needed to be used quite quickly.
"Pfizer recently purchased Rhinogard and have made a commitment to try and simplify it," he said.
"So over the next six months to a year, we should see it available in smaller dose packs and a lot easier formulation than it is currently."
Mr Bergman said the lotfeeder really had no control over how cattle arrived at their feedlot or what viruses and bacteria they were carrying, so it would be ideal if they could encourage the producer to manage the cattle on-farm in such a way that made things easier for them.
"For instance, on-farm yard weaning," he said.
"By allowing the animal 30 days on-farm after weaning to allow them to settle and co-mingle with their mates before bringing them into feedlot, they'll do better.
"If he can encourage that same backgrounder or cow/calf producer to vaccinate those animals on-farm for some of those main diseases, when they get to the feedlot, they'll just need the booster and go straight into the feedlot."
Pfizer professional sales representative Ben Fletcher spoke to producers about the Maxi Start program and why it was important to prepare cattle appropriately before they enter the feedlot.
"A lot feeder once said to me that cattle need to be a bit more bulletproof before they hit the feedyard," Mr Fletcher said.
"What this program does is ensure that cattle are properly pre-vaccinated and weaned, at least two weeks before they hit the feedlot.
"That eliminates sulking at the bunk and the cattle are already set up in their own little social group, so they are prepared for co-mingling a lot better."
Mr Fletcher's part of the program included the vaccination for pestivirus, mannheimia haemolytica, the key causes of BRD and a five-in-one Clostridial vaccine.
Those products are Pestigard, Bovilis MH and Ultravac 5in1.
He said the vaccinations helped the cattle to build up a strong immunity when they were introduced to the feedlot, obviously reducing the risks of illness and mortality.
"People still seem to associate pestivirus only as a reproductive virus, but it's also a massive immuno-suppressant when naive cattle are exposed to it and can leave cattle vulnerable to other secondary bacterial infections which can cause severe issues such as pneumonia," Mr Fletcher said.
"If they've been vaccinated with Pestigard, Bovilis MH and Ultravac 5in1, cattle put up a bit of a wall and can handle disease challenges better.
"Studies over east and on a local feedlot using this type of program, had in excess of a 50 per cent drop in death rates in their feedlot, which in anyone's terms is a big kick on the bottom line.
"They offer a premium of 10c/kg and that more than covers the farmers' time and the vaccine, and very few people fought against it, most people picked up on it with gusto."
Mr Fletcher said producers could register online or in store for the Landmark Maxi Start program, which required a compulsory two-shot course of the three vaccines, with doses matched up according to how many cattle turn up at the feedlot compared to doses of vaccine purchased from Landmark.
He said producers received a Landmark Maxi Start certificate for the cattle presented to the feedlot, but it was vital that all records be kept by producers because the program is AusMeat accredited and audited.
"So it's all accredited and properly done, there's no messing with the numbers," he said.
"There are premiums available with the program, but it's up to the individual lotfeeders to negotiate them with their cattle suppliers.
"It's really opening the door up for special Landmark Maxi Start sales, so lotfeeders who don't have backgrounders of their own and have to source from the saleyards, can buy with confidence knowing the cattle have been properly prepared & pre-vaccinated for better performance in the feedlot."
