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Managing Stress in Feedlot and Cow-Calf Operations

Stress is a biological reaction that affects every class of cattle, with significant implications for their overall health and productivity. When stress occurs, it triggers a release of cortisol and adrenaline from the hypothalamus, leading to a "trickle-down" effect on various systems within the body.

Impact on Rumen and Immune Function
One of the first areas affected by stress is rumen function, where it reduces microbial populations. This has a direct impact on the immune system, as stress-induced inflammation increases the risk of respiratory pathogens invading. The reproductive system also suffers, with reduced hormone secretion potentially disrupting the estrous cycle and impairing embryonic development.

The Duration of Stress Matters
The severity of these effects is directly related to the duration of the stress event. For example, sorting pairs and moving them to pasture—a process usually completed within a couple of hours—causes minimal stress. In contrast, a six-month-old calf that is weaned and then transported to a sale barn in Ft. Pierre, SD, followed by a journey to western Iowa, experiences stress that can last several days.

Increased Nutritional Demands
Research from feedlot nutritionists in Grey Summit, Missouri, indicates that stressed cattle require 30% more protein and energy (including micronutrients) to support their systems. Unfortunately, this increased need often coincides with periods of limited access to feed and water. When cattle are finally able to eat, they are typically in a new environment with unfamiliar feed and pen mates, compounding their stress—especially for those that are also being weaned.

Addressing Stress in New Arrivals and Weaned Calves
To mitigate the effects of stress, consider the following two key questions:

1. How can we create a stress-free environment to minimize the duration of stress?

• Protect cattle from sun, wind, rain, and mud. Even in dry pens, provide bedding to offer a comfortable place to rest after long periods of standing.
• Ensure ample water access, as cattle tend to maintain a herd mentality and do everything as a group when confined. Adequate space at the water tank is crucial.
• Provide high-quality feed ingredients during this critical period. Cattle are highly observant of what they eat, and offering the best feed now will pay off later.

• It can be tempting to cut corners on supplements, but this is a costly mistake. Skimping on nutrition during the starter phase is similar to delaying an oil change because it's expensive—you'll pay for it later.
• Remember that many cow-calf and grass backgrounding operations don't provide mineral or salt, leaving cattle nutritionally depleted even before stress begins. This makes it even more important to address these deficiencies as soon as possible.

Let me help you build an incoming cattle protocol tailored to your operation's feed resources. If your current feed supplier isn't providing this level of support, give me a call.

Thanks,
Al Clough and Katia Zwart