CALF_News_December_2018_January_2019

46 CALF News • December 2018 | January 2019 • www.calfnews.net Pull rates were dramatically reduced. In the previous year’s October-placed calves (2015), Phelps County Feeders had a 27 percent first-treatment pull rate within the first 30 days and a 45 percent second- pull, or re-treatment, rate. The next year (2016 calves) using NaturSafe, they had a 24 percent first pull rate and a 4.7 percent second pull rate in the first 30 days. “When we’re treating them, they’re getting better as opposed to getting sick and dying,” Klute says.“We’re not re-pulling as many cattle, so both our veterinary and labor costs are down.” While NaturSafe can benefit cattle in an all-natural program, it is also proven in conventional cattle, Belknap says. In a field trial he cites more than 20,000 cattle consisting of steers and heifers were monitored at another commercial feedyard in Nebraska. At processing, about 11,600 head were given a metaphylactic antibiotic (oxytet- racycline) 300 Pro-LA at an injection rate of 4.5 ml/cwt. Their health and performance records were compared to about 8,600 cattle that received Natur- Safe in a liquid supplement in both their starter and finisher rations. However, NaturSafe cattle received no metaphylactic antibiotic at processing. Average arrival weights of both groups of cattle ranged from 500-899 pounds, while finished weights averaged between 1,200 and 1,499 pounds. Lot closeout data was used to summa- rize cattle health and performance. Data was rated based on the number of animals received in each lot. Here are key results:  ADG was 0.28 pounds per head higher for the NaturSafe cattle, nearly 10 percent better. • Feed conversion was 3.4 percent better for the NaturSafe cattle.  Cattle receiving the metaphylactic antibiotic had a first-pull rate of 33.3 percent; a second-pull rate of 15 percent and a three-or-more-pull rate of 7.8 percent.  NaturSafe cattle pull rates were con- siderably lower, with first pulls at 26.7 percent; second pulls at 8.7 percent DIAMOND V Continued from page 45 and third or more at 3.6 percent.  Death loss was 1.1 percent for the NaturSafe cattle, compared to 1.9 percent for the metaphylactic antibi- otic cattle.  Discretionary use of an in-feed chlortetracycline was also allowed in the study. However, when expressed on a grams/cwt. basis, the Natur- Safe cattle required 50 percent less chlortetracycline.  Due to higher ADGs and better feed conversion, overall feed costs were $15 per head less for the NaturSafe cattle.  With fewer pulls and repulls, vet costs were $12 per head less for NaturSafe cattle.  By combining better gains and feed conversion with lower vet costs and fewer deads, the overall net return was more than $50 per head more for the NaturSafe cattle. “Fed cattle on a NaturSafe program simply start healthier and maintain that health and performance advantage all the way to finish,” Belknap says.“It helps get cattle to the bunk faster and enhances average daily gain while reducing the number of sick cattle.” Easy to use The product’s ease of distribution enables it to be practical in any feedlot, backgrounding or grazing program, Belknap adds. It can be incorporated into dry or liquid supplements, loose mineral products, blocks and tubs, or even pelleted. It requires no refrigera- tion. In its free-flowing granular form, NaturSafe is easily used in modern micro-ingredient proportioning systems in premixing and feed manufacturing. Since NaturSafe is not a drug, it doesn’t require a Veterinary Feed Directive. Better food safety Gwartney points out that “pre-harvest” or on-farm food safety has become a major factor in Diamond V’s research and product development in recent years. “At the farm, ranch or feedyard, increased biosecurity, better hygiene, improved management and animal care, and feed security all play critical roles in promoting food safety,” he says.“How- ever, it’s going to take innovative tools such as immune support technologies to reduce the risk of pathogens in food pro- cessing and assure greater food safety.” Among the most dangerous pathogens are Salmonella and E. coli, which can present critical food safety hazards. They can be easily spread through fecal matter at the feedyard and can contaminate hides and carcasses if not controlled. Beef packing facilities clean carcasses and hides when cattle are harvested. But any efforts that can control Salmonella or E. coli at the ranch or feedyard are initial steps in preventing these health hazards from reaching consumers. With- out growth-promoting or subtherapeutic antibiotics in the feed, the challenge is greater than ever. “Better antibiotic stewardship at the farm supports the public health goal of preserving the efficacy of antibiotics,” Belknap says.“Retailers and consumers are demanding a reduction of antibiotic usage. “If we can reduce the need for anti- biotics by building a stronger immune system in cattle, we can improve the effi- cacy of antibiotics when they are needed. It’s the right thing to do.” The industry can expect to see more pressure on cattle handling and produc- tion in 2019 and beyond. There must be new products available that will satisfy consumer concerns relating to both food safety and antibiotic stewardship. Prod- ucts like NaturSafe are needed to help appease these concerns. However, to be effective these prod- ucts must promote powerful cattle performance. If not, change among pro- ducers and feeders will be more difficult. For more about NaturSafe, visit http://www.diamondv.com/wp-content/ uploads/productprofile_natursafe.pdf.  “Fed cattle on a NaturSafe program simply start healthier and maintain that health and performance advantage all the way to finish” – Craig Belknap