cattle were backgrounded?

[Torsten]

Hi,

Could you please take a look at this phrase and tell me what exactly "backgrounded" means?

- majority of cattle were backgrounded for 30-60 days prior to feedlot entry from June 2005 (hence the impact on ADG)

Thanks a lot,
Torsten

TOEFL listening lectures: A lecture by a professor of Sociobiology

[Mister Micawber]

.
An area of particular interest over recent years has been that of preconditioning and/or backgrounding cattle between weaning and entry into the feedyard. Backgrounding describes a management system where recently weaned calves or yearling cattle are grazed or fed a high fiber ration for a period of time before they are placed in the feed yard. After they reach a desired size, or at the end of the "grazing" season, they are sorted into uniform loads or pen-size lots and placed in a feedlot. Preconditioning is a process requiring a shorter period of time (usually 30 to 60 days) where freshly weaned calves are brought into a preconditioning facility, adapted to a feedbunk, waterers, and the lot environment. They are given a ration usually high in fiber products (hay, cottonseed hulls) and balanced to meet their nutrient needs (protein, energy, minerals, vitamins) in preparation for being transported to the feedlot.

(With heartfelt thanks to CATTLE TODAY)
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Torsten]

Hi Charles,

Many thanks for that defintion, I had found a similar one and now I'll have to think of a German equivalent as I'm translating a text on cattle farming....

Talk to you soon,
Torsten

TOEFL listening lectures: Which fact is true of Edward O. Wilson?

[Englishuser]

Hi Torsten,

[Torsten]

Nope, not often.

TOEFL listening discussions: A conversation about toys

[Englishuser]

Hi Torsten,

Do you enjoy what you are doing (translating)?

All the best

EU

[Torsten]

Well, sometimes it's good to do something different but I don't want to do translation work on a regular basis. It's much better and effective to show people how they can learn to read and understand in the original version.

TOEFL listening lectures: A university lecture by a professor of History