University of Illinois

In Beef Cattle Feedlot and Cow-calf Production Systems, Structural Conformation and Mobility Are Important Contributors to Profitability and Animal Welfare. While Beef Producers Have Always Understood the Importance of Structural Conformation, No Improvement Has Been Made in This Area Due to Challenges in Accurately and Consistently Assessing Structure. the Central Hypothesis Is That a Novel, Video-based Approach Will Characterize Structural Conformation in Cattle and Serve as the Basis for Lameness Prevention, Management, and Greater Longevity in Beef Cattle Systems. First, a Robust Gait Analysis System Will Be Developed for the First Time in Beef Cattle to Describe Structural Conformation of Beef Steers. Subsequently, We Will Validate the Gait Analysis System in an On-farm Implementation Using a Large Group of Beef Steers. in the Objective Focused on Educational Activities, High School Students, High School Teachers, and Undergraduate Students Will Be Directly Trained in Precision Livestock Management and Image Analysis to Become the Next Generation of Animal Scientists. Expected Results Include a Robust System to Evaluate Structural Conformation in Beef Cattle in Addition to What Aspects of Structural Conformation Are the Most Important for Cattle Profitability and Mobility in a Feedlot Production Setting. Long-term Impacts Will Include Improved Structural Conformation in the Us Beef Herd That Will Result in Greater Animal Productivity and Longevity.