Meat + Poultry - September 2008 - 108

FROM THE CORRAL

Handling feed additives with care
Careless use of beta-agonists pose animal welfare problems
By Dr. Temple Grandin
meatpoultry@sosland.com

attle feeders need to be careful to not use beta-agonists in a stupid manner that can cause lameness
and possibly downers in feedlot cattle. In a study
conducted at Colorado State Univ., one brand of beta-agonist
fed for 28 days at a daily dose of 200 mg per steer deﬁnitely did not cause lameness. I observed the cattle when they
were handled and they all walked normally. Producers have
to be careful not to push the animal's biology so hard to get
extra weight gain that serious welfare problems result.
Based on reports I am getting from the ﬁeld, there have
been some serious problems in some cattle fed certain
types of beta-agonists. Cattle buyers and yard managers
at plants have seen some groups of cattle that are very
stiff and sore, but have normal-looking feet. One feedlot
manager told me that recently the outer shell of a steer's

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September 2008

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hoof fell off and he did not know why. There have also
been reports of feedlot cattle just collapsing dead. Betaagonists are vaso-constrictors and they cause blood vessels
in the legs to contract and restrict blood ﬂow. They are
in the same class of drugs as asthma medicine. Problems
with lameness, heat stress and in extreme cases hooves
coming off, would all be caused by vaso-constriction. If
the products are used in moderation, the cattle would
probably be just ﬁ ne, but if cattle feeders overdo it, there
will be trouble.

Marketing systems
Cattle that are in marketing programs where there is a
premium for marbling and high-quality beef will not be
overdosed on growth promotants because they will get
docked for a lower quality grade. Where the problem is
occurring is in marketing programs where the cattle feeder
is ﬁnancially rewarded for lots of pounds of weight gain.
These programs encourage cattle feeders to do things they
should not be doing. I talked to several cattle feeders that
were in an area where many cattle were purchased based
on pounds of muscle. They have seen lameness and other
problems due to too much beta-agonists.
The packing plants have to take responsibility for some
of these problems. They need to modify their buying programs so there will be penalties for feedlot cattle that are
lame or stiff. I am a big believer in economic incentives.
Economic incentives can motivate good behavior and the
wrong economic incentives can motivate behavior that will
be very bad for our industry.
I have worked with feedlot cattle for more than 35 years
and they have always been ﬁt animals that can be transported and handled easily. Given all the concern about
downers and cattle treatment, it is inexcusable to create
problems by misusing feed additives.
Everything we do in our industry should be something
we could proudly show to our friends and relatives. There
is no way I could defend misusing feed additives, which
can cause lameness and other problems in feedlot cattle. I
certainly would not want my Christmas or wedding guests
to see a hoof come off a feedlot steer.
Dr. Temple Grandin operates Grandin Livestock Systems Inc., Fort Collins,
Colo., and is a faculty member in the animal science department at Colorado State Univ.
We would like to hear from you - to comment on this story or to request
reprints, contact us by e-mail at: meatpoultry@sosland.com.

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Meat + Poultry - September 2008

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