Welcome everyone to the latest edition of The News Feed Live Webinar #7
The high prices of calves in the current market have created a new set of dynamics for the financial risks of placing an animal on feed. The risk is magnified when stressed or sick animals result in a compromised herd health, affecting performance over the feeding period. Therefore, making the best management decisions possible to minimize that risk becomes increasingly critical given the current value of the cattle.
With this scenario in mind, preparing the new arrivals and starting them properly in the feedlot was the focus of the latest News Feed Live Webinar #7, held on October 30. Once again, the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Program and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness teamed up to produce an informative session that included Dr. Jacques van Zyl from Metzger Veterinary Services and three OCFB producers – Sarah Alton, Stephen Dippel, and Steve Eby. Brent Cavell, OCFB Quality Assurance Manager and Nutritional Feed Ingredient Specialist and Christoph Wand, OMAFA Livestock
Sustainability Specialist, guided the panel through the discussion. In addition to their participation as panellists, the producers were involved in the production of high-quality videos on their farms last year.
Dr. van Zyl kicked off the sessions, discussing management practices for new arrivals. He began by emphasizing the importance of hydration in preventing immunosuppression and lung infections in dehydrated calves. Of note, Jacques explained that water deprivation elevates cortisol, a stress hormone, and impairs lung clearance. Dehydrated calves also have lower mucous levels. This is important because a thick layer of mucous acts as a natural defense mechanism to help move bacteria and viruses away from the lungs. Emphasizing the need for clean water sources, he recommends one water bowl per 20 head of cattle or 10 centimetres of linear trough space per head. Jacques also advises flushing and cleaning water troughs regularly, especially during the first five to seven days after arrival.
His next point covered ventilation and how air flow is vital for preventing pathogen load and tissue damage. He said that humidity above 80 per cent and ammonia at greater than 10 ppm impair mucociliary clearance and extend bacterial survival.
Jacques cited research noting that calf barns with increased air exchange, from 1 to 4 air changes per hour (ACH), reduced pneumonia by 30 to 40 per cent. (Bates & Anderson, 1979; Lago et Al., 2006; Halbach & Robertson, 2021). He recommends targeting air changes per hour between two and eight ACH per hour, depending on outside weather and moisture conditions, maintaining relative humidity at less than 75 per cent and keeping pens clean, dry and dust-controlled.
Jacques shared lung culture results from 2024, showing the prevalence of Branhamella (Brd) bacteria, including Histophilus somni, Mannheimia hemolyctica, and Pasteurella multocida. He discussed the clinical signs and challenges of Histophilus somni, including its late onset and potential spread to the heart, brain, and joints.
He also presented liver biopsy results from 2023 and 2024, showing varying degrees of deficiencies in selenium, copper, manganese, and vitamin A in calves from different regions. Jacques noted the worsening of deficiencies over time, particularly in copper and manganese, and the impact on immune response and function. He suggested a copper and zinc injection on arrival for local, and particularly Western Virginia, and Holstein cross-calves. Jacques noted that local, Eastern and Virginia calves require selenium, and he added that a good-quality mineral on arrival is a necessity.
On the topic of conducting risk assessments on new arrivals, Jacques noted that appropriately categorizing the calves into low, medium, or high-risk categories is vital for setting them up for success. “We do work very closely with producers, and we do have different protocols for the different kinds of risk categories,” he said. “Not all calves are the same, and that even changes over the course of the fall.
He added that last winter was a prime example of how things can change quickly. “Calves that may not have started on the truck as high or ultra-high risk, and then all of a sudden, the highway is closed, and they’ve sat on the truck for an additional 24 hours (and) are coming in very dehydrated and stressed.”
In summarizing his key points, Jacques emphasized the continued vigilance in animal husbandry and recommended consulting veterinarians about available tools and options to adapt to changing health trends in Ontario. “
Producers weigh in on best management practices.
Sarah Alton from KenRuth Farms near Lucknow was the first producer featured in the webinar. She discussed their cattle feeding operations, noting their centralized management system, which consisted of three barns. Regarding management and health protocols, Sarah explained the importance of keeping each pen together for approximately 30 days to identify any health issues. Each pen has adequate bunk space based on the size of the cattle, and they are not overcrowded upon arrival.
Background checks are conducted, including assessments of pasture conditions, vaccine protocols and bunk training. The farm employs a slow starter program and closely monitors feed to ensure the cattle are comfortable and eating well.
Within 24 hours of arrival, the cattle are processed, including temperature checks and Lactipro supplement is administered. If cattle are bunk trained, they’re put on a higher grain diet. If not, they receive better quality hay. The farm monitors the pens closely during the first week, checking the manure for signs of health issues, such as coccidiosis. Electrolytes are given for the first week, and temperature checks are crucial for identifying sick cattle.
Additionally, Sarah mentioned that the farm utilizes a processing protocol book and ITS software to track records, treatments, feeding, pen closeouts, and cattle inventory. The software helps determine the top and bottom ends of a group of cattle for timely shipments. At the end of the year, the farm extracts all information to review with vets and improve arrival protocols.
Next up on the webinar, Stephen Dippel highlighted the operations of their cattle feeding barn near Ayton, emphasizing the importance of animal comfort, air quality, and efficient labour. In particular, they focus on cross-bred cattle which notably have higher energy feed requirements. Stephen discussed their criteria for purchasing calves, focusing on good condition and growth potential. Emphasis is placed on buying cattle that have been well vaccinated; however, he noted that they also vaccinate and treat animals upon arrival. They prefer to start animals in smaller groups to minimize mixing and
potential health risks. Since last year’s video, Stephen said there has been a shift to feeding mainly beef-on-dairy crosses. As a result, they’re using a higher energy feed ration and reduces a little forage requirement.
They primarily use three step-up rations, with additional rations for different types of cattle if needed. Another highlight is the farm’s migrating pack barn, where the cattle are bedded five times a week with a straw chopper. While acknowledging that five times a week may sound like a lot to some, Stephen said they have found that it results in less stress for the animals, as they have become accustomed to the process.
Steve Eby from Kincardine rounded out the producer side of the panel, leading with the farm’s management and care of cattle sourced from Western Canada. The typical pen preparation is weather- dependent, with straw and long-stem hay placed in the feed bunk. Upon arrival, the cattle are weighed off the truck and exposed to the long-stem hay in the feed bunk, which may also serve as their bedding, particularly in higher risk cattle. The transition to a grower ration is gradual, beginning with a high-quality feedlot starter pellet and gradually adjusting the rations over time. The farm uses 10 different
step-up rations, with subtle changes in ratios to enhance performance. Daily pen walks and temperature checks are conducted to manage health issues, with designated sick pens available for animals that require isolation.
Background information on cattle health, vaccination programs, and performance data is crucial for informed purchasing decisions. Annual review meetings with veterinarians, nutritionists, and feed reps to analyze data on cattle received, pulls, treatment success, and trends. Eby noted that the review is crucial for evaluating the previous year’s track record and making informed decisions.
Since the video, Steve has made a couple of changes, including reducing animal density to enhance performance and health, especially considering the high cost of cattle. They would typically run about 40 square feet per animal. However, this fall, they plan to reduce the number of animals per pen by about 10 to give each animal an additional three to four square feet of space.
These videos certainly outline the best management practices to be followed in helping to reduce risk in getting those high value replacement cattle off on the best start possible!
The News Feed Live Webinar #7 is good timing as a warmup for the Keynote Speaker presentation by Dr. Jessica Sperber – Extension Feedlot Specialist and Assistant Professor / University of Nebraska – Lincoln, at the Beef Industry Convention held in London on January 8th, 2026. Dr. Sperber’s presentation promises to very informative and practical, elaborating on critical management practices at the feedlot level.
Jessica had a very informative presentation earlier this year in February 2025, as part of the Beef Symposium 2025. A number of good management practices raised in Jessica’s talk were discussed in our Webinar #7 producers’ management practices and outlined in Dr Jacques van Zyl’s presentation as well.
Please view Jessica’s presentation from the Beef Symposium 2025 via the link below;
• Management practices for newly received calves – Dr. Jessica Sperber, University of Nebraska-Lincoln: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrhjXjPh1kk