Mortalidade de bovinos de corte em diferentes sistemas de confinamento

Abstract

In view of the increased demand for diagnosis of diseases in cattle kept in different feedlot systems in the area of influence of the Laboratório Regional de Diagnóstico, da Faculdade de Veterinária, da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (LRD/UFPel) this thesis sought to determine the main causes of death of feedlot cattle in this region, establishing its prevalence and forms of control. For this, a retrospective study of diseases diagnosed in feedlots in the LRD / UFPel area of influence was carried out. This study was based on a survey of laboratory necropsy protocols from January 2000 to December 2017. A prospective study between January 2018 and August 2019, following up the beef cattle feedlot in the region also was conducted. Practices of sanitary management, feeding management and category of cattle used in each one of them were verified. This study included live cattle exports feedlots and finishing feedlots. Based on the results it can be observed that ruminal acidosis, bloat, pneumonia and cattle tick fever were the main causes of death in beef cattle feedlot in the studied region. Mortality was significantly higher in feedlots to finishing than feedlots to export live cattle. Adaptation of cattle to the highly fermentable carbohydrate-rich diet offered in feedlots was generally effective in preventing deaths from acidosis and bloating. The chemoprophylaxis was efficient to control outbreaks of cattle tick fevet in feedlots. This thesis also included a brief literature review on the main causes of death that occur in beef cattle kept in different feedlot forms. The economic losses resulting from these diseases and their control were also described. Diseases associated with the respiratory and digestive systems were the most frequently observed. In addition to cattle tick fevet, described in the Southern region of Rio Grande do Sul, it has been described occasional outbreaks of botulism and necrotic enteritis that caused considerable economic damage when they occured. It was concluded that technical assistance and good sanitary and food management can make the difference in better performance and productivity in feedlot cattle, regardless of its purpose.