Assessing the Role of Systems Thinking for Stocker Cattle Operations

Simple Summary Stocker cattle operations are challenged with complex economic and environmental conditions often culminating in the increased risk of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Innate to stocker systems is the interconnectivity of erratic intrinsic and extrinsic conditions resulting in the inability to identify viable long-term solutions to solve BRD. Animal health professionals may consider the discipline of systems thinking as an alternative approach to address the complex nature of multifactorial disease manifestations, i.e., BRD. This article provides the framework to understand the essentials of systems thinking and apply key fundamentals. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is recognized as a complex multifactorial disease often resulting in significant economic losses for the stocker industry through reduced health and performance of feeder calves. Conventional approaches to manage BRD in stocker production systems can be challenged with a restricted view of the system, most importantly the structure, which drives the behavior of the system and fails to anticipate unintended consequences. The translation and implementation of systems thinking into veterinary medicine can offer an alternative method to problem-solving. Fundamental to the success of the systems thinker is the conceptualization of the Iceberg Diagram intended to identify root causes of complex problems such as BRD. Furthermore, veterinary and animal health professionals are well-positioned to serve as facilitators to establish creative tension, the positive energy necessary to identify high-leverage strategies. The interrelationships and interconnected behaviors of complex stocker systems warrant an understanding of various archetypes. Archetypes provide the systems thinker with a decision-making tool to explore tactics in a nonlinear fashion for the purpose of recognizing short- and long-term outcomes. Developing literacy in the discipline of systems thinking will further equip professionals with the skillset necessary to address the multitude of challenges ingrained in complex stocker cattle systems.