Coccidiosis Incidence in Commercial Feedlots
No CommentsRumensin® was first cleared by FDA for feedlot cattle in 1975 to improve feed efficiency. The initial research indicated a 10% improvement in the feed to gain ratio with Rumensin in the ration at 30 g/ton.
From 1974 to 1982, Dr. A.J. Edwards (Animal Nutrition & Health, Jan-Feb, 1984) presented data indicating the annual death loss from coccidiosis in Kansas and Nebraska feedlots dropped from 55-60 deaths per 100,000 cattle to less than 5 deaths per 100,000 head over the 8 year period.
Annual death loss from Coccidiosis in feedyard cattle
It should also be noted that upon the initial stages of Rumensin introduction, many feedlots didn’t introduce Rumensin for the first 2-3 weeks so initial feed intake would not be reduced. Early in the product research of Rumensin and ultimate product introduction, cattle were often assigned to a research pen and then fed an unmedicated ration until all cattle were eating well before Rumensin was added to the feed. What this did was to create the impression that Rumensin greatly impacted feed intake and also allowed the development of coccidiosis.
Subsequently feeders discovered that if cattle were started on feed and Rumensin at the same time, less reduction in feed intake was observed and coccidiosis control was much better.
As a result, coccidiosis has not been a problem in cattle feedlots for the past 35 years due to this important ancillary benefit.
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