Page 6 - MWC 9-15-2022s2

The Midwest Cattleman · September 15, 2022 · P6
Prepare for Marketing Calves this Fall

By Derrell Peel - Oklahoma State University
With Labor Day behind us, weaning, devel-
it is a good time to prepare op better health
for marketing calves this fall. and immunity,
The majority of beef calves and to learn to
are spring born, which typi- eat from bunks.
cally leads to a large fall run Basic calf
of calves. Auction volumes management
have been larger than usual such as cas-
this summer as the drought tration and dehorning were
in many regions has forced hopefully done at branding, adds value to calves and the part of a general trend of
early calf sales. Neverthe- but any late calves missed at value of all the practices com- higher cattle prices. That
less, significant numbers of branding should be done well bined in a complete pre-con- trend is expected to contin-
calves will be marketed be- ahead of marketing time. ditioning program is higher ue and is reflected in Feeder
fore the end of the year. Deworming at weaning may than individual practices. Cattle futures prices. Table 1
Weaned calves bring a sig- also be indicated depending Even more value may be cap- shows Feeder Futures prices
nificantly higher price than on location and pasture con- tured if calves are enrolled in for the coming months from
bawling calves at auction. ditions. Two rounds of clos- a certified pre-conditioning October to August 2023. The
Although 30 days is consid- tridial and respiratory vac- program that provides doc- futures prices show a rough-
ered a minimum for wean- cinations should be given. umentation and assurance ly $14/cwt. uptrend in prices
ing, buyers strongly prefer If calves were vaccinated at to buyers that these practic- in the next year. When ad-
calves to be weaned at least branding, a booster can be es have been properly done. justed for Oklahoma City
45 days. Recent data and given at weaning, otherwise The Oklahoma Quality Beef basis (local cash minus feed-
preliminary analysis suggest vaccinations can be done Network (OQBN) is one such er futures price), the expect-
that weaning periods of 60, pre-weaning and weaning or program. ed prices for 450- and 750-
75 and up to 90 days or more weaning and post-weaning. Typically, calf prices reach pound steers for the coming
bring additional premiums. Vaccination for Pasteurella the seasonal low around Oc- months are shown in Table 1.
Longer weaning periods pro- at weaning is also recom- tober. However, calf prices For example, the Novem-
vide more time for calves to mended. have moved counter-season- ber Feeder futures price in
recover from the stress of Each of the above practices ally higher this summer as continued on page 14

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