High-quality beef starts with high-quality care. Beef producers have long understood the importance of being diligent with animal care in their operations. Not only is it the right thing to do, but healthy animals, cared for in a low-stress environment makes for a more profitable operation.
Feedlot operators have many tools and methods to keep the animals under their watch healthy and safe. Nutrition programs and veterinary care ensure healthy and sustainable growth of the animals. Good management practices, such as low-stress handling, vaccines, and antibiotics all ensure that animals are comfortable in their pens and that they receive the appropriate care when they become ill. No matter which tool feedlot operators use, all feedlot practices are science-based, regulated, and good for the animal and the consumer.
HerdWhistle is a new agtech solution that has been added to the mix of animal care tools on the feedlot. HerdWhistle monitors cattle feeding and drinking behaviour 24/7 to help feedlot operators manage illness, injury, and distress of their animals. Consumers expect high-quality protein from responsible caretakers, and HerdWhistle helps to ensure the highest level of care during the animals stay on the feedlot.
Animal care begins with proper nutrition. The cattle must be fed a nutritious diet and provided a sufficient volume each day. Their meals should arrive at consistent times each day. Changes in the feeding schedule can create stress, and ultimately injury or illness. HerdWhistle watches over each individual animal and can detect when potential issues arise. If an animal’s eating behaviour changes, feedlot operators are alerted so they can provide proactive care to the animal and correct the problems that are causing the animal stress.
When cattle get sick, often the visual symptoms don't appear until the disease has progressed for a few days. At this point it becomes more severe and harder to treat. The earliest sign of illness can be seen in the animals eating and drinking behaviour. When the cattle’s eating and drinking behaviours shift below average, it is often due to illness. The HerdWhistle system catches the early, subclinical signs of illness and alerts the proper staff so they can provide early treatment. Treating them earlier improves their recovery and reduces the amount of deceased animals on the feedlot. The animals spend less time suffering from the illness and get back to regular health much more effectively.
When HerdWhistle is in place on the feedlot, it helps feedlot operators to provide an elevated level of care. Consumers can be sure that HerdWhistle monitored beef has come from a responsible caretaker and is a high-quality product.
