Using Feedlot Operational Data to Make Valid Conclusions for Improving Health Management

Feedlot operational data can be useful for monitoring cattle health and performance outcomes and evaluating associations between these outcomes and potentially important cattle population or management factors. Operational data are inherently relevant to clients; however, there are potential limitations that need to be considered to make appropriate conclusions. Assessing data quality, potential for bias, data distributions, and multiple health outcomes can provide a more thorough understanding of feedlot cattle health and factors that may affect health management systems. Accurate and useful information is derived only when the advantages and limitations of the data and the analysis process are fully understood.