Cattle Chat Research Update, Pinkeye, A.I. Calving
Sep 19, 2025
A guest shares intriguing research on the economic impacts of metaphylaxis, emphasizing that mortality drives decisions more than costs. The panel dives into the complexities of pinkeye, highlighting its genetic factors and the importance of management over mere culling. They also discuss the advantages and challenges of artificial insemination in cows, weighing genetic benefits against the additional feed costs and logistical hurdles. Tune in for valuable insights on these critical cattle management topics.
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Mortality Drives Metaphylaxis Value
- Metaphylaxis economic value depends more on mortality reduction than on price swings or input costs.
- Use mortality risk as the primary metric when deciding whether to metaphylax a high-risk group.
Prices Matter Less Than Health Outcomes
- Modeling across a 10-year market window showed input prices (corn, wet distillers) had little effect on metaphylaxis decisions.
- Market volatility matters less than herd health outcomes for this specific choice.
Prioritize Identifying Mortality Risk
- Prioritize developing methods to identify cattle likely to die from respiratory disease because mortality drives the economics.
- Focus monitoring and triage systems on predicting mortality rather than only counting morbid events.