What are management principles in feedyards focused on?

The focus of management principles in feedyards primarily revolves around ensuring that animals have access to clean feed and water, as well as effective pest management. These principles are foundational for maintaining animal health and well-being. Clean feed and clean water are crucial because they directly impact the nutrition of the livestock, prevent disease, and improve overall growth performance. Ensuring that animals are not stressed by pests contributes to their health and productivity.

While concepts like meat quality, animal comfort, and feed conversion rates are important, they are more outcomes or metrics of effective management rather than core principles. Management principles prioritize the basics that create a safe and healthy environment for livestock, ultimately supporting better animal welfare and production efficiency in the long run.