Predictive Models for Weekly Cattle Mortality after Arrival at a Feeding Location Using Records, Weather, and Transport Data at Time of Purchase.

ABSTRACT: Feedlot mortality negatively affects animal welfare and profitability. To the best of our knowledge, there are no publications on predictive models for weekly all-cause mortality in feedlot cattle. In this study, random forest models to predict weekly mortality for cattle purchase groups (n = 14,217 purchase groups; 860,545 animals) from arrival at the feeding location (Day 1) to Day 42 and cumulative mortality from Day 43 until slaughter were built using records, weather, and transport data available at the time of purchase. Models were evaluated by calculating the root mean squared error (RMSE) and accuracy (as defined as the percent of purchase groups that had predictions within 0.25% and 0.50% of actual mortality). The models had high accuracy (>90%), but the RMSE estimates were high (

SUBMITTER: Wisnieski L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9024862 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature