**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ANIMAL WELFARE CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY FOR CONSUMERS, RETAILERS AND PRODUCERS, WITH REFINEMENTS TO HUSBANDRY PRACTICES INCLUDING HANDLING AND PAIN MANAGEMENT. ONE UNEXPLORED AREA, PARTICULARLY FOR BEEF CATTLE, IS THE CARE OF COMPROMISED AND NON-PERFORMING (CHRONIC) CATTLE. CALVES PLACED IN THE HOSPITAL/CHRONIC PEN MAY EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN DIET, DISEASE EXPOSURE, MIXING WITH NEW CATTLE AND FINDING RESOURCES IN UNFAMILIAR ENVIRONMENTS. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INVESTIGATE ANIMAL WELFARE AND PRODUCTION OUTCOMES OF CALVES THAT ARE PULLED FROM FEEDLOT PENS INTO CHRONIC OR HOSPITAL PENS.IN THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROTOCOLS AND GUIDANCE RESOURCES, WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT SPECIFICCATTLE WELFARE RISKS MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH HOSPITAL/CHRONIC PENS, SUCH AS STRESS ASSOCIATED WITH FREQUENT MIXING WHEN INDIVIDUAL CATTLE ARE MOVED INTO OR OUT OF PENS, PROLONGED OR RECURRENT DISEASE EXPOSURE, UNDEFINED HUMANE ENDPOINTS FOR EUTHANASIA AND HANDLING OF NON-AMBULATORY CATTLE. DATA CAN HELP DETERMINE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY WHEN CALVES ARE PLACED IN HOSPITAL/CHRONIC PENS. OUR APPROACH INVOLVES MONITORING BEHAVIOR AND OUTCOMES OF CHRONIC CATTLE TO DEVELOP USABLE DECISION TOOLS FOR THE INDUSTRY.AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PROJECT WE EXPECT TO 1) CHARACTERIZE BEHAVIOR OF CATTLE IN HOSPITAL/CHRONIC PENS, 2) DETERMINE ANIMAL-BASED OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC CATTLE, 3) DETERMINE REALISTIC BENCHMARKS TO IMPROVE WELFARE OF COMPROMISED CATTLE, 4) DEVELOP GUIDELINES AND DECISION AID RESOURCES FOR COMPROMISED CATTLE. THESE OUTCOMES WILL PROVIDE FEEDLOT PRODUCERS AND VETERINARIANS WITH EVIDENCE TO INFORM HUSBANDRY PROTOCOLS AND TO BETTER DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE CLINICAL DECISION FOR CATTLE IN CHRONIC PENS.