Mortality causes and treatment patterns in a commercial feedlot in northwestern Argentina
The intensification of cattle finishing systems in Argentina has increased productivity but has also introduced new health challenges. This study analyzed mortality and treatment patterns in a commercial feedlot in northwestern Argentina during 2022. A total of 426 necropsies were performed, corresp...
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Artículo revista |
| Lenguaje: | Español |
| Publicado: |
Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
2026
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/vet/article/view/9104 |
| Aporte de: |
| Sumario: | The intensification of cattle finishing systems in Argentina has increased productivity but has also introduced new health challenges. This study analyzed mortality and treatment patterns in a commercial feedlot in northwestern Argentina during 2022. A total of 426 necropsies were performed, corresponding to an annual mortality rate of 1.67%, and 2,463 therapeutic treatments were recorded. The main causes of death were non adaptation syndrome (17.8%), respiratory diseases (16.4%), anemia-inducing diseases such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis (11.7%), digestive disorders (10.7%), traumatic injuries (8.9%), localized inflammatory processes (8.9%), neurological disorders (8.9%), genitourinary disorders (4.9%), and heat stress (4.9%). Mortality was significantly associated with season (p<0.001), with higher rates observed during winter and summer. Most deaths (80%) occurred in purchased cattle weighing less than 180 kg at entry; these animals were seven times more likely to die than farm-born cattle. Respiratory disease was the leading cause of treatment (1.51%), followed by babesiosis (0.43%) and digestive disorders (0.46%), both showing marked seasonal patterns. Necropsy findings frequently included fibrinous or suppurative pneumonia, acute rumenitis, bloat, peritonitis, pericarditis, and polioencephalomalacia. These results highlight the multifactorial nature of mortality in feedlot cattle and emphasize the need for preventive strategies adapted to local conditions, focusing on stress reduction, nutritional management, and improved biosecurity to mitigate respiratory and hemolytic diseases. |
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