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AS1161 (Revised May 2018) Cattle Producer’s Guide to Feedlot Terminology

Greg Lardy Acidosis Bawling Calves Department Head An acute or chronic disease Calves that are taken directly off Animal Sciences Department condition in feedlot cattle. Results the cow and weaned at the feedlot, from overconsumption or too rapid requiring additional labor and a consumption of grain (starch). greater degree of health management This publication is Acute cases generally result in death. by the feedlot. intended to familiarize Chronic cases are common and result in erratic intakes and/or reduced feed Beta Agonists cow-calf producers with intake but probably are hidden by pen Feed additives improve efficiency the terminology that intakes, which tend to make average by partitioning energy away from consumption look normal. It is one fat accumulation and toward muscle feedlot managers may of the most costly problems in the growth in feedlot cattle. Weight gain, use when discussing feedlot industry. Subacute cases are rib-eye area and total red meat yield difficult to diagnose, but symptoms are increased when they are used. custom feeding and include poor performance and Beta agonists approved for use in feedlots. poor conversions. the U.S. include Actogain 45 from Zoetis, Optaflex from Elanco Animal ADG Health and Zilmax from Intervet Inc. Average daily gain. The amount of However, Zilmax was removed Portions adapted from: gain divided by the number of days voluntarily from the marketplace R.C. Albin and G.B. Thompson. 1996. in the feeding period. in 2013. Cattle Feeding: A Guide to Management. Trafton Printing Inc., Amarillo, Texas. As-is Basis Breakeven Feed is sold “as is,” with no The sale price ($/hundredweight, adjustments for moisture content. or cwt) at which the customer or Also see Dry-matter Basis. owner of the cattle does not make or lose money.

North Dakota State University Fargo, North Dakota 1 • AS1161 Cattle Producer’s Guide to Feedlot Terminology Buller(s) Calf-feds Company Cattle Steers that are ridden by other steers Cattle that are placed on feed as Cattle that are owned and fed by in the pen (as with cows or heifers calves and finished at less than the feedlot. Also see Customer Cattle. that are “bulling”). If problems persist, 16 months of age. Calf-feds may be on animals usually are removed from feed from 150 to as long as 300 days, Consulting Nutritionist, the pen to prevent bruising, injury depending on the production system. Feed Company and reduction in performance of These cattle usually are placed in the A nutritionist employed by a feed the other cattle. feedlot directly following weaning. company who assists the feedlot Also see Yearlings. with professional opinions on rations, Buller Pen supplements, feed additives and Pen in which bullers are kept. Carry Cattle management practices. The feed Cattle that are held at the packing company provides these services Bunk Call or Bunk Reading plant during a holiday or weekend. when the feedlot purchases supple- Deciding how much feed should These cattle may be penned at the ments or other feed ingredients be delivered and when it should plant for 36 to 84 hours before being from the feed company. Also see be delivered slaughtered. These cattle generally Consulting Nutritionist, Private. are offered feed and water if held Bunk Management for more than 36 hours. Consulting Nutritionist, The philosophy the feedlot manager Private uses to determine the amount of Charging the Bunk A private nutritionist hired by the feed to offer. Also see Slick Bunk Condition resulting from errors in feedlot to give professional opinions Management. bunk calls, feed delivery or inclement on rations, supplements, feed weather. Cattle will rush to the bunk additives and management practices. Bunk Reader when the feed truck comes because Usually paid on a retainer plus a The person at the feedlot who is they are hungry and overeat, resulting per-head fee. Also see Consulting responsible for deciding the daily in problems such as acidosis, founder Nutritionist, Feed Company. amount of feed delivered to the cattle. and other digestive disturbances. This person is critical to the successful Consulting Veterinarian feeding of high-concentrate diets. Chronic(s) A veterinarian hired by the feedlot Also see Bunk Call, Feed Call, Cattle that fail to respond to treatment. to consult on animal health-related Missing the Call. Also see Realizer and Railer. issues such as vaccines and treat- ments. Usually paid on a retainer Byproducts or Coproducts Chute Charges plus a per-head fee. Feed ingredients produced during the A fee charged by some feedlots each production of human food products time cattle are worked through Corn Syrup or Corn (for example, corn sweetener, flour, the chute. Condensed Distillers cooking oils, sugar) or industrial Solubles (CCDS) products (for example, ethanol, Clean Bunk Management A liquid byproduct of the ethanol industrial oils). These byproducts Refers to the bunk management industry. It contains relatively high are used as ingredients in some style in which cattle clean up all the levels of protein and fat and can be growing and finishing diets. feed offered every day. Feed call is used in feedlot diets to control dust Also see Wet Distillers Grains, increased if cattle have “slicked the and improve palatability. Wet Corn Gluten Feed. bunk.” Also see Charging the Bunk, Bunk Management and Slicked Up. Cost of Gain Byproduct or Total of all feedlot-related costs Coproduct Inclusion Close-outs (feed, yardage, processing, medicine, The amount of byproduct or A detailed description of pen interest and death loss) divided by coproduct included in the diet performance, feed intake, death total gain during the feeding period. on a dry-matter basis. loss, and profit or loss. A close-out Can be calculated on a “deads-in” is generated each time a pen of or “deads-out” basis. cattle is sold. Can be calculated on a “deads-in” or “deads-out” basis.

2 • AS1161 Cattle Producer’s Guide to Feedlot Terminology Custom Feed Yard Dressing Percent Feed Additive A feed yard that feeds, manages and Carcass weight divided by final live Combinations markets cattle for customers. Fees are weight times 100. (Typically ranges Feed additives such as antibiotics charged for feed, pharmaceuticals from 62 to 65 percent for slaughter and other products may be fed only and other services. cattle.) Live weights may be adjusted in combination when expressly noted for pencil shrink at the feedyard, local on the feed additive label published Customer Cattle scale, or live weight at the plant. by the Food and Drug Administration Cattle that are owned by an investor, (FDA). The FDA has responsibility rancher or other client of the feedlot Drunk Cattle and authority related to the use and fed and managed for a fee. Cattle that are experiencing acidosis of various combinations of feed Also see Company Cattle. due to overconsumption or too rapid additives. Feeding products in consumption of high-grain diets. combination when not noted Dark Cutter(s) on the label is prohibited. Carcasses with muscle tissue that Dry-matter Basis is dark colored rather than the Feed is sold on a “dry” basis following Feed Alley desirable cherry red. Usually the adjustments for variations in moisture The road used by the feed trucks result of depletions in muscle content. Also see As-is Basis. to deliver feed to the pen. glycogen stores. Can be influenced, cattle handling techniques, weather, Dry Rolling Feed Call sex of cattle and implant strategy. Grain processing method in which The amount of ration that is fed to grain is rolled without steaming. a particular pen. Also see Missing Days on Feed the Call, Bunk Call. The number of days the cattle are fed. Dry Supplement Supplement that is fed in a dry form Feed Conversion Deads In/Deads Out in a mixed ration. Can be pelleted The amount of feed consumed by Refers to the methods used to or in a meal form. an animal per unit of body weight calculate close-outs, cost of gains and gain. Expressed as pounds of feed per breakevens. These can be calculated Eared Cattle pound of gain. Also see Feed Efficiency. with the “deads in” or “deads out” Cattle with significant Bos indicus of the calculations. “Deads in” (Brahman) breeding. Feed Cost of Gain refers to leaving the dead cattle in Total feed costs divided by total the calculations, while “deads out” Earlage pounds of gain. Also see Cost of Gain. refers to leaving the dead cattle Ensiled corn grain, cobs and, in some out of the calculations. cases, husks and a portion of the stalk Feed Efficiency (depends on the harvest method). The amount of feed consumed by an Digestive Earlage typically is harvested with animal per unit of body weight gain. A death resulting from a digestive a forage harvester much like corn Also see Feed Conversion. disorder. silage would be harvested. Earlage is higher in energy than corn silage Feed Markup Distillers Dried Grains and has similar protein content, The amount the feedlot marks up Plus Solubles (DDGS) but it has lower energy than dry the feed charges. Charges vary from A byproduct of the dry milling or high-moisture corn grain. feedlot to feedlot. Feed markup can (ethanol) industry. Commonly be charged as a percentage of the feed used as an ingredient in feedlots bill or as a flat fee per ton of feed. in proximity to dry milling plants. Can be produced from a variety of Finisher or Final Finisher grains (corn, milo, barley, wheat). The final diet cattle will be fed during Contains 10 to 12 percent moisture. the feeding period. Usually contains Also see Byproducts or Coproducts. 5 to 10 percent roughage, but it may be an all-concentrate (no roughage) diet, depending on the feedlot.

3 • AS1161 Cattle Producer’s Guide to Feedlot Terminology Flaker Heiferettes Liquid Supplement A mill that steam flakes grain. Heifers placed on feed following the Liquid supplement based on loss of a calf or open heifers placed on molasses that contains urea or another Gluten or Gluten Feed feed following the breeding season. nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) source. See Wet Corn Gluten Feed. Used to provide supplemental protein High-moisture Corn in a finishing diet. May also contain Grass Cattle Corn that is harvested when supplemental phosphorus, salt, Cattle that were grown on pasture moisture levels are 22 to 32 percent. ionophores and other feed additives. prior to placement in the feedlot. Generally, this corn is ground or Most liquid supplements contain Also see Yearlings. rolled and stored in pit or bunker a suspension agent to keep the silos. It also can be stored whole ingredients and feed additives Green Cattle and processed before feeding. in suspension during storage. Cattle that are relatively thin, with Also see Pit Corn. only small amounts of body condition. Live Also see Soggy Cattle. Hospital Pen Method of sale in which the cattle are Place where sick cattle are treated sold to the packer “live” at the feedlot. Grid(s) before being returned to the home At times, the packer is responsible A method of pricing slaughter cattle pen. Also see Sick Pen. for transporting the animals to the that offers premiums and discounts slaughter facility. Also see In the beef. for cattle. Cattle that are leaner and In the Beef have a higher quality grade receive Method of sale that refers to selling Liver Abscesses the premiums. Grids generally have the cattle on a carcass weight basis Disease condition of the liver in which other specifications for carcass rather than live weight. Usually rumen microflora infect the liver due weight and dark cutters as well. carcass weight times carcass price to breaks in the rumen wall caused by with no discounts for Choice or Select. acidosis. In severe cases, liver function Grow Yard Also see Live. is impaired and performance reduced. An operation that grows or back- grounds cattle for a period of time Ionophore Long Yearlings before they enter the feedlot for Antibiotic that enhances feed Yearlings that have had an extended finishing. May be used to wean efficiency in cattle by altering period of grazing. Usually placed calves because the operations ruminal fermentation. (Rumensin, on feed in the fall following a full generally have a higher ratio of monensin; Bovatec, lasalocid; and summer grazing season. Fed for employees to cattle and can give Cattlyst, laidlomycin propionate are 120 days or less. Also see Short sick calves extra attention. the Food and Drug Administration- Yearlings or Yearlings. approved ionophores used in Haylage diets for finishing cattle). Melengesterol Acetate (MGA) Forage that has been ensiled for A steroidal feed additive that is used the purposes of preservation. Inventory Gain/Loss to suppress estrus or cyclic activity A variety of forages may be The amount of gain or loss in feed in feedlot heifers. classified as haylage, including inventory due to storage, milling alfalfa, oats, rye, triticale and wheat. and processing feed. Metaphylaxis or Haylage typically is harvested by Mass Medication swathing or windrowing, allowing Limit Feeding The practice of treating a whole herd the forage to dry to 45 to 60 percent Limiting feed intake to achieve or pen of cattle with antibiotics if they moisture, chopping with a forage a desired rate of gain during the are at risk of suffering an outbreak harvester and storing in an growing period. Used in growing of infectious disease due to exposure oxygen-limiting silo. and backgrounding situations to have to pathogens or unfavorable host cattle ready for market at a specific or environmental conditions. point in time. Also see Programmed See prophylaxis. Feeding.

4 • AS1161 Cattle Producer’s Guide to Feedlot Terminology Micro Machine Pencil Shrink Put-together Cattle Machine that adds micro ingredients An arithmetic deduction of weight Cattle that have been assembled such as ionophores, antibiotics and from the live weight of an animal by an order buyer from small lots. other ingredients to the diet in a to account for fill, usually 3 percent water-based slurry. for cattle off pasture and 4 percent Quality Grade for off-feed weights of fed cattle. A grade placed on each carcass by Mill Man Also see Pay Weight. the U.S. Department of Agriculture Employee in charge of the feed mill. inspector at the packing plant. Pit Corn Quality grade is based on the degree Missing the Call High-moisture corn that has been of marbling and degree of maturity. Making a mistake in reading the bunk. ground and stored in a bunker or Color, texture and firmness of lean Also see Bunk Call, Feed Call. pit silo. Also see High-moisture Corn. also are used in the final quality grade determination. Modified Wet Distillers Processing Grains Plus Solubles Vaccinating, treating for internal and Rail-out (MWDGS) external parasites, ear tagging, and A carcass that has been placed on a A byproduct of the dry milling other procedures such as implanting, special rail in the packing plant so that (ethanol) industry. Commonly dehorning and castration that are done the USDA inspector can make a more used as an ingredient in feedlots soon after cattle arrive at the feedlot. detailed inspection of the carcass. in proximity to dry milling plants. Can be produced from a variety of Programmed Feeding Railer(s) grains (corn, milo, barley, wheat). A feeding routine that is used to Cattle that fail to respond to treatment. Contains approximately 50 percent achieve a specific rate of gain and Also see Chronic or Realizer. moisture. Also see Byproducts or limit feed intake. Used in growing Coproducts. and backgrounding situations to have Realizer(s) cattle ready for market at a specific Cattle that fail to respond to treatment. NPN date. Also see: Limit Feeding. Also see Chronic or Railer. Abbreviation for nonprotein nitrogen. Urea is a common source of NPN. Projections Receiving Also see Liquid Supplement. Projecting the days on feed, cost of Getting new cattle into the feedlot. gain and breakeven for a particular Overeaters pen of cattle. This is done when the Reimplanting Cattle that eat too much on a pen is placed in the lot. Generally, Giving cattle their second implant high-grain diet. this is the responsibility of the (usually done only with calf-feds manager or assistant manager. or long-fed yearlings). Pay Weight Shrunk live weight of an animal at Prophylaxis Respiratory the time of sale. Usually 4 percent. Treating an individual animal A death resulting from pneumonia Also see Pencil Shrink. for a disease condition or injury. or related respiratory disease. See metaphylaxis. Pen Deads Roughage or Forage Dry Cattle that are found dead in the pen. Pulls Matter Cause of death is usually unknown. Cattle that have been pulled from The amount of roughage or forage their home pen for treatment. included in the diet on a dry-matter Pen Rider Also see Pulling Cattle. basis. Employee who rides through the pens to look for sick cattle. Pulling Cattle Short Yearlings Removing cattle from the pen for Cattle placed on feed after being treatment. Also see Pulls. weaned. Usually placed on feed March through July. Fed for 120 to 160 days. Also see Yearlings or Long Yearlings.

5 • AS1161 Cattle Producer’s Guide to Feedlot Terminology Show List Storm Diet Wet Corn Gluten Feed The pens of cattle the manager is A diet fed during periods of stormy A byproduct of the wet corn milling offering for sale to packer buyers weather to help keep cattle on feed. industry that is made by blending corn during a particular week. Usually contains more roughage. bran and corn steep liquor. A common ingredient in finishing rations in Iowa, Shrink Surfactant eastern Nebraska, southeastern South See Pencil Shrink or Inventory Gain/Loss. An additive used to aid in grain Dakota and southern Minnesota. processing. Also see Byproducts or Coproducts. Sick Pen Pen where sick animals and animals Terminal Implant Window Wet Distillers Grains recovering from treatment are kept. The days between when the final Plus Solubles Also see Hospital Pen. implant is administered and the A byproduct of the dry milling day the cattle are marketed to the (ethanol) industry. Commonly Slicked Up slaughter plant. used as an ingredient in feedlots Refers to the fact the cattle have in proximity to dry milling plants. cleaned up their feed or “slicked Trenbolone Acetate (TBA) Can be produced from a variety of the bunk.” Cattle have “slicked the Active ingredient in some implants grains (corn, milo, barley, wheat). bunk” with saliva. Bunks that are approved for use in feedlot cattle. Typically contains 65 to 70 percent “slick and wet” have just been water. Also see Byproducts or Coproducts. slicked. Bunks that are “slick and Veterinary Feed Directive dry” have been slicked for some time. (VFD) Yardage Also see Bunk Management or Clean The veterinary feed directive is a set Charges incurred each day that the Bunk Management. of rules recently implemented by cattle are in the feedlot. These charges the Food and Drug Administration. vary depending on the lot. Usually Soggy Cattle The rules govern the use of on a cents per head per day basis. Cattle from a backgrounding or grow- feed-grade antibiotics in food animals. ing operation that are fleshy or overly Among other things, the VFD Yearlings conditioned. Also see Green Cattle. requires a valid veterinary client Cattle that are placed on feed at patient relationship to be in place greater than 1 year of age. Generally Steam Flaker prior to prescribing antibiotics. Visit fed for 80 to 150 days. Also see Calf-feds, Grain processing method in which https://tinyurl.com/UnderstandingVFD Short Yearlings or Long Yearlings. grain is subjected to steaming before for more information on the VFD. rolling or flaking. Yield Grade Warmed-up Cattle A numerical grade placed on each Step-ups Cattle that have been grown in a carcass by the USDA inspector at The rations used to acclimate cattle backgrounding yard prior to being the packing plant that estimates to high-grain diets. Length of time placed on feed. differences in the yield of boneless, that cattle are fed these diets varies. closely trimmed retail cuts from the Generally, the amount of concentrate Wet Corn round, rib, loin and chuck. Factors is increased gradually. The first week See High Moisture Corn or Pit Corn. determining yield grade include fat in the feedlot, the cattle may be fed a thickness at the 12th rib, rib-eye area, 45 percent roughage diet, the second hot carcass weight, and the amount week a 35 percent roughage diet, etc., of kidney, pelvic and heart fat. until the cattle are on the final finisher. Lower yield grades (1) indicate leaner carcasses, while higher yield grades (5) indicate fatter carcasses.

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