Page 16 - MWC 8-6-20s

The Midwest Cattleman · August 6, 2020 · P16
Don’t Stop Managing Now:
Preconditioning Pays
By Garth Ruff, Extension Educator OSU Extension
As we approach fall, now is nue from each practice.
the time to maximize the value Weaning. Across the indus-
of your spring calf crop. Cattle try, a standard for many pre-
buyers have placed a premium conditioning programs is to
on preconditioned cattle, and have calves weaned for at least
as preconditioning becomes 45 days. CattleFax in their May
more of the norm across the 2020 Cow-Calf webinar report-
U.S., un-weaned, un-castrated, ed that calves weaned over 45
and un-vaccinated cattle are days had an average value of
receiving greater discounts. $898 compared to calves that
Here in the Eastern Corn- were sold right off the cow at
belt where cow herds tend to $800. That said, calves that
be smaller, the number one were “trailer weaned” had an
barrier to preconditioning average increased value of $46
calves is often a lack of facili- dollars per head than calves
ties to wean, vaccinate, and to short weaned at 28 days or less.
feed calves. Even for smaller Weaning is a stressful event
herds the cost of workable fa- and those short-weaned calves
cilities can prove to be a sound have yet to recover from that
investment with the increase stress and are often immuno-
in value of a calf crop compromised. The net gain of
Here we will look at the dif- 45+ day wean vs. un-weaned
ferent processes involved in calves equals $98/head.
preconditioning calves and the Started on Feed. Having
potential for increased reve- calves started on feed has a
threefold benefit at the time of
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sale. The first of which is that fection. Looking at return on
they are already used to eating investment, over an 8-year pe-
out of a feed bunk. Believe it riod in Kentucky (2010-2017)
or not cattle have to be trained 550 lb. steers outsold bull
on how to eat out of a bunk, as calves by an average of $11 per
they come out of pasture and cwt for a net gain of $60/head
are weaned. A second benefit Vaccination Program.
to having calves started on Vaccinating feeder calves is
grain is that when they switch something we have been dis-
to a higher energy diet it mit- cussing in Extension for my
igates some of the stress and entire career, and more so with
acidosis risk upon first enter- the concerns regarding antibi-
ing the feed yard. Another ben- otic use. Similar to castration,
efit of having calves started on having workable handling fa-
feed is the additional weight cilities makes this task much
gained at the time of sale. more palatable. In the same
Starting cattle on a higher CattleFax survey previously
energy diet does have an in- referenced, cattlemen indicat-
creased feed cost. The key to ed that by vaccinating at least
starting cattle on feed, is to not twice, cattle averaged $869
have cattle over conditioned per head compared to $784
in the fall. Over conditioned and $699 for calves that had
feeder cattle are more likely to a single round of vaccine, and
be discounted at auction, than unvaccinated calves respec-
are cattle of appropriate condi- tively. For an effective vacci-
tion for their age. nation program, a common
Castration. This is one recommendation is two rounds
management piece that some of modified live vaccine. Work
smaller producers may strug- with your veterinarian to de-
gle with due to the lack of facil- velop a vaccination protocol.
ities or a lack of experience in Weaning calves at least 45
performing castration. Produc- days prior to sale, creates a
ers can either use elastrator window of opportunity to com-
bands or surgical castration plete two rounds of vaccina-
using a knife. tions and nets $170/head com-
In a commercial cow-calf pared to unvaccinated cattle.
setting castrating calves earli- Summary. A calf that has
er is typically better. Younger been weaned for 45 days, cas-
calves are easier to constrain trated (if a male), bunk broke
and seem to experience less with having received two
stress. For producers who rounds of modified live vac-
prefer to castrate groups of cine, should be towards the
cattle, running all bull calves top of the market report, pro-
through a chute at less than viding they are the right type
three months of age is accept- and kind. That said, if a pro-
able. As a rule of thumb during ducer does all or just one of
a hot summer day is not a good those practices, the next step
time to castrate calves due to is to market those practices to
fly problems and potential in-
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