title: Using Feedlot Operational Data to Make Valid Conclusions for Improving Health Management.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Outcomes Research and Education, Kansas State University, Mosier Hall J 118, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors.forename: Miles E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Theurer
authors.affiliation: Center for Outcomes Research and Education, Kansas State University, Coles Hall 309, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. Electronic address: drenter@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Renter
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, Mosier Hall Q 211, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors.forename: Brad J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000191:economics*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003625:Data Collection; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006285:Health Planning; D014730:Veterinary Medicine
keywords: Data; Distribution; Epidemiology; Feedlot