Animal Health & Biosecurity
To access the full version of the Alberta Cattle Co. Animal Health and Welfare manual, click the pdf link below:
Our animal health experts have designed a detailed and distinct Animal Health and Welfare manual outlining the Standard Operating Procedures for several areas of animal health.
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The areas of focus include:
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Mortality Management
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Treatment Management
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Recognizing and Managing Sick or Injured Cattle
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Receiving Cattle
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Moving and Processing Cattle
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Exporting Cattle
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Euthanasia
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Manure Processing
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Carcass care
Animal Health Startup Budget:
RFID tag reader - $2,500
Hydraulic Chute X2 - $38,000
chute scale X2 - $2,600
Herdtrax Setup - $2,000
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Total: $45,100
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Animal Health Annual Budget:
1 in. needles (25pk) - $9.99
Hydrogen peroxide - $19.99
Disposable syringes (5mL) - 50pk - $24.99
Aluminum needles (100pk) - $22.99
Ivermectin aplicator with hose - $40
Noromectin pour on - $69.99
Disposable syringes (6cc) - 100pk - $14.99
Cow magnets - $7
Iodine - $18
Alochol - $7.5
Booties - $26.5
Allflex repeater syringe - $82
Stethescope - $50
Thermometer - $10
Transfer needle x2 - $10
Tag cutter - $7
RFID tag - 10pk - $43
Allflex tag applicator - $87
Tag marking pen - $11
Herdtrax subscription ($0.50/new animal/year) - $3580
Medicine (average 1.50/head/month) - 3580 Hd - $128880
Regular allflex blank tags (25 pk) - $36
Cattle halters (x3) - $33
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Total: $133,090.94
Biosecurity (apart from animal health) of a feedlot can be grouped into Manure Management and Deadstock Control.
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We expected to incur 5% loss of stock with majority of loss occurring early (1-3 months).
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Manure estimations were made given an average production of 1 ton/manure/year. (5-7 lbs/day).
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Manure Management:
• Spreading needs to occur once cattle are shipped to market to prepare the pen space for new stock
• With a 180 growth period pen space will need to be cleaned twice in a year = 6387 tons
• Spreading over an 18 day period ~ 104 loads and land needed 511 acres needed @ 25 ton/acre rate
• Feed bunks would be examined for fecal contamination daily
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Deadstock Control:
• Using conservative 5% mortality of 10080 herd = 504 deceased
• West coast reduction offers a $0.14/pound including pick up service ~ $56,448 (800 Ibs)
• Deadstock would be stored in a dead pit located away from main operations