AN increase in the turnoff of younger cattle has seen a rise in the prevalence of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), a condition which is estimated to cost the Australian beef industry $60 million each year.
In WA, key sectors of the cattle industry are banding together in an effort to promote the benefits of yard weaning in reducing the risks of BRD.
According to industry statistics, BRD is estimated to cause 70 per cent of all sickness and deaths in feedlots.
The main cause is stress and there is a higher prevalence of the disease in young cattle subjected to sudden weaning, trucking and intensive gathering.
The ideal management approach is to combine good cattle husbandry and pre- vaccination programs, with good cattle husbandry relating to the style of weaning.
WA Lot Feeders Association (WALFA) chairman Ivan Rogers said given BRD was such a big issue for the sector, WALFA had adopted a position on the preparation of cattle for feedlot entry with a key driver to reduce the incidence of BRD.
"It's been on our agenda and it's been on everybody's agenda for a long time, but what we're wanting to do as an industry is show as a group that we're all behind this," Mr Rogers said.
"More importantly, we're going to be working with other end users, specifically the WA Live Exporters Association (WALEA) and WA Livestock Salesmen Association (WALSA).
"We've spoken to them and they've both been very supportive.
"What we really want is an industry approach in regards to preparation of cattle for all end users."
Mr Rogers said the implementation of yard weaning practices combined with vaccination programs had been mixed, with an estimated 10pc-20pc of cattle sold as weaners in southern Australia prepared using the approach.
"If we prepare our young cattle better, then the risk of BRD is greatly reduced," Mr Roger said.
"From a lotfeeders' perspective, it's something the industry has struggled with for years.
"The fortunate thing about it is that good research has been done and good strategies have been developed for reducing the incidence of BRD, which refer to weaning practices and pre-vaccination.
"That is the two-pronged approach which we support."
Mr Rogers said he anticipated that extra time and effort put into younger cattle to avoid BRD would result in premium pricing from buyers, similar to existing auditable programs.
He said the industry's strategy was to try to increase the awareness of BRD and BRD management techniques and to follow up with skills workshops.
The industry position has also been made aware to the Beef Council, of which Mr Rogers is a member.
According to research conducted by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), yard weaning with hay or silage for 10 days can add an estimated $25 a head value.
The research concluded that the best group of feeder cattle was one socially established at yard weaning and the worst was one thrown together from multiple sources at feedlot induction.
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