Page 14 - MWC 10-26-2023s

PRECONDITIONING ducer retaining ownership and The Midwest Cattleman · October 26, 2023 · P14
continued from page 7 to a buyer purchasing cattle along with practicality. Ques- in deciding if preconditioning
for placement in a feedlot. Re- tions producers need to ask is something to include in your
Benefits searchers in Texas evaluated themselves include: program.
Preconditioning has benefits feedlot closeouts and found - Do I have the pasture or pen
for those looking to sell their that calves that had been pre- space to keep calves an extra The Bottom Line
calves and to those retaining conditioned for 45 days or lon- 45 days or more? Preconditioning is not a one
ownership. On average, pre- ger had: - What does my feed size fits all program. Produc-
conditioning can cost the pro- -7.2 % improved feed efficiency availability look like? ers need to find the precondi-
ducer $35 to $60 dollars per - $29.47 per head lower - Can my facilities handle tioning program that best fits
head. This number is subject to medicine cost bunk breaking calves? their operation. This includes
change due to a variety of fac- - 3.1 % lower death loss Do I have the equipment examining labor needs, vacci-
tors; however, this is a general available? nation costs, feed availability,
cost to expect. The increase in Oklahoma researchers found - Can I handle the increase and space. There are many pre-
input cost can result in a pre- that preconditioned calves had in labor and the extra time conditioning programs that are
mium received at the sale barn. a 22.4 and 2.9 percent lower commitment? certified at the sale barn. Sale
These premiums are variable. morbidity and death loss re- - Can I handle the extra barns and video auction plat-
Previous research indicates a spectively when compared to costs that come with forms have different ways of
range of $3 to $5 per hundred- calves with little to no health preconditioning? reporting vaccination and pre-
weight (abbreviated as cwt), management history. conditioning status. Talk with
but premiums of as high as $8 Depending on the answers your local sale barn or video
per cwt have been reported. Considerations to these questions, precondi- auction provider to determine
Promotion of calf growth Preconditioning is not a “one tioning may be an economical the process they follow or if
and improved health status size fits all” for operations. The option for a producer. A re- they offer a special precondi-
are benefits both to the pro- benefits need to be considered view done by F. A. Thrift found tioned calf sale.
that return on preconditioned Additionally, building rap-
LIFE and stack the hay in the old calves sold ranged from -$89.92 port with buyers by providing
high-quality calves may result
continued from page 5 chap’s lean-to barn, pulled to $53.71 per calf. The decision in return buyers more willing
should not be taken lightly and
When I asked him if he home my new purchase, and should be discussed thoroughly to pay higher prices knowing
would sell it to me for $0.50 paid my dad $30.00 for the to evaluate the pros and cons the level of care that goes into
per bale, he replied, “I like to fifty bales of hay. I could tell that may be experienced. The the animals. As always, consult
see you dickering, but no, it’s that Dad was less than im- seasonal patterns of the cat- with your local veterinarian to
$0.60 firm.” pressed with my tractor, but, tle market and price slides on determine the best vaccines to
The next day, on my bicycle, nonetheless, he helped me heavier calves also need to be utilize for your herd and geo-
I rode up to the elderly man’s clean it up, change the oil, included in the conversation graphical area.
place and checked out the old plugs, and points, and even-
tractor. It was a crank-type, so tually get it running…..for a
I quickly discerned that the while.
engine was not frozen. I also Intermittently, the old
borrowed the old man’s hand machine ran approximate-
pump and inflated all four ly ten hours over the next
tires, and could hear no hiss- several months, until I sadly
ing. Thinking that I possessed surrendered and parked it be-
some mechanical skills, I of- side one of our barns, where it
fered the guy 50 bales of my sat and resumed rusting and
newly purchased hay for his collecting dust. My dad held
tractor, and much to my sur- a farm auction a few years
prise, he accepted—if I agreed later, when I was off at college,
to deliver it. and sold the Allis-Chalmers,
Over the next day and a Model B….again for $30.00.
half, I borrowed my dad’s trac-
tor and hay trailer to deliver

7th Annual Fall Highland

Cattle Auction

Saturday, December 1, 2023 • 10 AM

New Location: Springfield Livestock Marketing Center,
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Selling Registered, Unregistered and Crossbred DVAuctions
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bidding
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417.345.0575 • text 417.733.3201

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Highland Cattle Registry
Heartland Highland Cattle
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Open Registry for Foundation Highlands
For more info and a free information packet
417.345.0575 or text 417.733.3201
heartlandhighlandcattle@gmail.com
hhcaregistry@gmail.com