Determinants of Feedlot Cattle Death Loss Rates

Death loss in feedlot cattle can have significant impacts on profitability. Not only does death result foregone revenue, but the operation still incurs costs to date associated with those animals. This study uses pen-level data from a private feed-lot Southern Great Plains. Both company- owned and customer retained ownership are included set. A Tobit model is used analyze pen characteristics’ influence cattle, including characteristics, source management treatment incidence. Results imply that several characteristics impact source, terms of both geographic location market type, has rate.