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The Rural Voice, 1979-09, Page 38Advice on Farming Study shows causes of feedlot mortality Results from the first year of a proposed three-year study of the cause of death in feedlot calves in Bruce County indicate that farmers finishing their own cattle had a higher mortality rate than those who put their cattle out to pasture. Dr. Wayne Martin, of the Ontario Veterinary College (O.V.C.) emphasized the results of the one year study really prove nothing until they're validated by further studies when he reported initial findings at the first annual Ontario Beef Congress held in London. The study, which started in the fall of 1978, was jointly funded by the Bruce County Cattlemen's Association, the Ont- ario Cattlemen's Association and OMAF, with the research conducted by University of Guelph staff. Dr. Martin said the study, involving approximately 20,000 head of cattle, included post-mortem examinations of animals delivered to O.V.C. from farms involved with the project and a field study involving 65 farmers who filled in questionnaires and kept detailed logs on their feedlot calves. Dr. Martin warned that in a study of this nature, researchers saw animals only with diseases that proved fatal so the study underestimates diseases which didn't prove fatal to the calves. As the news media has already reported, the study found cattle given the anti bovine disease vaccination, had a higher mortality rate than those who weren't vaccinated, particularly when the vaccine was given within two days of arrival at the feedlot. However, most of the cattle studied weren't vaccinated during the period of the study. Some of the other interesting findings were that cattle fed a haysilage ration had a lower mortality rate than cattle fed on a cornsilage ration. Also, it was found that people who fed their cattle silage rations, were also more likely to vaccinate their cattle. According to the initial results of the study, the worst time to process feedlot calves is on their arrival at the feedlot. Similarly, the operations of castration, dehorning or implanting the cattle ap- peared to increase mortality if done upon arrival at the feedlot. Before researchers will draw firm conclusions about the significance of these factors they want to do further research. Of the 169 calves which died in three months of the study, (70% of total deaths reported) 69 of the cattle died from fibrinous pneumonia, more commonly called shipping fever. In looking at the transportation factor involved, it was found cattle shipped by train were twice as likely to die as cattle shipped from the west by truck. The two diseases which claimed the next greatest number of calves were broncho- pneumonia, infectious thromboembolic meningoencephalitis, each claiming 15 calves and bovine virus diarrhea, which caused 11 deaths. In summing up results of the first data collected, Dr. Martin said to reduce the mortality in feedlot calves, farmers could consider feeding their calves a hay -based ration, buying and keeping cattle in relatively small groups; not implanting their cattle immediately on their arrival on the feedlot; providing both block and loose salt for the animals; growing cattle over the winter as opposed to fattening them and not feeding their cattle grain, or if they do feed grain, using a mixed grain ration. Dr. Martin said if he were a cattleman, "I certainly wouldn't sell my farm" on the basis of these initial results. He said cattlemen are still advised to work out a program for their feedlot operation with their own vet. While all the factors mentioned by Dr. Martin are statistically significant, he said he will be more prepared to draw conclusions when results are in from the second year of the Bruce County study. He said between 90 to 95 per cent of the cattle studied were Western cattle, and came both from auction barns and directly from the farm. Green Fuel " offers energy answer Gasohol might be one of the energy answers for future farmers, saving oil by making power alcohol from crops in the same way that drinking brands are brewed. Gasohol, a word coined in the United States, refers to a mixture of gasoline and pure alcohol, suitable for fuel. Alcohol, also known as ethyl alcohol or ethanol, is made in one of two ways: by fermentation, as in the case of the liquor store brand, or by a chemical reaction from P0. 38 THE RURAL VOICE/SEPTEMBER feedstock derived from oil. An Iowa service station owner reports that his customers are getting better mileage from their cars since using gasohol, his 9:1 blend of unleaded gasoline and grain alcohol. More than 500 gas stations, mostly in the midwest of the United States, are now selling the blend of 10 per cent alcohol. Almost any crop except wood can be used in the distilling of the fuel. Brazil gets 1979 this "green fuel" from molasses, and the government is considering cane juice, the sugar solution squeezed from sugar cane in processing. Thailand, hoping to overcome an uncertain agriculture economy, is planning to use any surplus of main crops -sugar cane, molasses, rice, cassava (the source of tapioca) and Indian corn. Sudan hopes to make use of a surplus of a molasses byproduct to ferment power alcohol.