APPLICATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS AND SUMMARY OF RESEARCH NEEDS - BUD-BRITTON-MEMORIAL-SYMPOSIUM ON METABOLIC DISORDERS OF FEEDLOT CATTLE

Updated research findings with acidosis, feedlot bloat, liver abscesse s, and sudden death syndromes were presented at the Bud Britton Memori al Symposium on Metabolic Disorders of Feedlot Cattle. Possible indust ry applications include the need to establish guidelines for use of cl ostridial vaccines in feedlot cattle, further assessment of the relati onship between acidosis and polioencephalomalacia, examination of the effects of various ionophores on the incidence of metabolic disorders, and evaluation of the effects of feed bunk management and limit- and restricted-feeding programs on the incidence of metabolic disorders. A multidisciplinary approach among researchers, consulting nutritionist s and veterinarians, and feedlot managers will be required for effecti ve progress in research and in the application of research findings. A reas suggested for further research include 1) assessment of feed cons umption patterns and social behavior of cattle in large-pen, feedlot s ettings; 2) evaluation of the relationship between feed intake managem ent systems (feed bunk management programs, limit- and programmed-feed ing) and the incidence of metabolic disorders, including delineation o f the role of variability in feed intake in the etiology of such disor ders; 3) efforts to improve antemortem and postmortem diagnosis, and t o establish standardized regional or national epidemiological database s for various metabolic disorders; 4) ascertaining the accuracy of dia gnosis of metabolic disorders and determining the relationship of prev ious health history of animals to the incidence of metabolic disorders ; 5) further defining ruminal and intestinal microbiology as it relate s to metabolic disorders and deeper evaluation of metabolic changes th at occur with such disorders; 6) continued appraisal of the effects of grain processing and specific feed ingredients and nutrients on metab olic disorders, and development of new feed additives to control or pr event these disorders; and 7) application of biotechnology to develop grain varieties with altered nutrient degradation profiles that decrea se the propensity for disastrous acid loads in the rumen, feed-grade e nzymes and probiotics that modify nutrient digestion or microbial prof iles in the rumen and intestine, and specific strains of ruminal bacte ria and protozoa that alter ruminal and metabolic conditions that may precipitate metabolic disorders.