A comparison of bunk management strategies and their effect on cattle performance and health

Abstract

The Australian feedlot industry has sufficient capacity to feed approximately 870 000 head (ALFA Lotfeeding 1997) and contributes approximately 25% of total beef production in Australia. The industry is composed of feedlots incorporated into vertically integrated companies, custom feedlots, pastoral operations and opportunity feedlots. Custom feedlots feed and market cattle for other owners, the pastoral operations value add and retain control over breeding programmes and opportunity feedlots feed cattle on a opportunistic basis when market conditions, eg. feed costs, cattle costs and selling price, are economically beneficial.