Cindy Mansfield’s surprising article title made me read her review of the value cattle producers receive when committing the time, effort and expense to pre-condition their cattle. She reviews the economics, importance of vaccination, timelines and benefits to a producer’s reputation as advantages from preconditioning. Source: Progressive Cattle, July 4, 2024. Link. Also … [Read more...]
Search Results for: preconditioning
Preconditioning starts when the calf hits the ground
Opinion Stocker operators and feedlots want matched sets of calves that are weaned, castrated, dehorned, familiar with water and feed sources and immunocompetent. Calves born now will be weaned in seven months, but could be weaned much earlier <Link>. Therefore, the colostrum intake first 48 hours after calving could be considered the first step to having … [Read more...]
Preconditioning, premiums and the real value of vaccines
Cow doc Jake Geis, DVM, discusses preconditioning calves, getting a better return on your vaccine and parasite control investment in the entire herd, not just calves. Cattle buyers place the most preference in a preconditioning program for the number of days weaned. . . because they know it means the cow-calf producer took on the risk of doing the actual job of weaning and … [Read more...]
Preconditioning STILL pays
Too many cow-calf producers still ignore the benefits of preconditioning. For as long as I can remember discussing cattle production health topics, pre-conditioning has been near the top of the list of economic factors. As animal health pros, we believe we’ve told the benefits to producers dozens of times. But, as with vaccination compliance, preconditioning is still not … [Read more...]
Tips for a successful weaning/preconditioning program
Planning now for spring calf weaning and preconditioning makes sense before producers are taxed with the work of calving. Weaned and preconditioned calves can bring more dollars at sale time. As veterinarians meet with producers for VFD consultations, preconditioning is a topic that adds value to the compliance visits. Source: Beef, September 7, 2017. There are numerous … [Read more...]
Preconditioning basics pay off
Cow-calf producers need not worry that their preconditioning program isn’t a mirror image of what’s described in textbooks. Fact is, there is no single definition of a preconditioning program to fit every operation, according to Brad White, DVM and interim director of the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University. Source: Drovers, August 2016. If we properly prepare … [Read more...]
Proper vaccination at the right time increases calf welfare and value
Administering appropriate respiratory vaccines before sale and commingling is crucial for providing immunity during the stocker and feedlot stages of the beef supply chain. Summarizing research on beef calf preconditioning programs, Paul Vining says proper vaccination against BRD-related pathogens during calfhood establishes robust immunity. This enhances calf welfare and … [Read more...]
Preweaning protocols during a strong cattle market
Weather and vaccine choice play roles in calf health response, writes Heather Smith Thomas. She interviewed Daryl Meyer, DVM, and Chris Chase, DVM, PhD, who shared their experiences with video sales, preconditioning vaccines, optimal nutrition and weather interference during processing. In calves over 3 months of age, most of the injectable vaccines you’d give will not have … [Read more...]
Health management of early weaned beef calves
Many producers are facing rapidly disappearing forage resources. Additionally, available forage may have decreased nutritional value. Both factors are considerations in early weaning decisions shares Terry Engelken, DVM, MS, who urges producers to proactively plan to ease the transition for younger, lighter weight calves. Early weaning can be a profitable way to stretch … [Read more...]
Feeding behavior during the first week in the feedlot
Studies have shown preconditioning weaned calves results in less morbidity and mortality, improves post-weaning performance and higher carcass quality versus ranch and auction-derived calves. However, there is limited research assessing the impacts of commingling preconditioned and auction-derived calves at the feedlot and if the proportions of preconditioned to auction-derived … [Read more...]
Impacts of commingling preconditioned and auction-derived beef calves with BRD
Commentary Cattle science continues to study ways to decrease morbidity, mortality and reduce use of antiinfectives as cattle move around the country. The study referenced reinforces the value of preconditioning and addresses the effects of comingling auction-derived calves with the preconditioned ones. Preconditioning reduced BRD and antimicrobial use in the feedlot, in … [Read more...]
BRD during weaning, backgrounding adds long-term costs
Duh! Over and over we study, measure and see the production costs associated with bovine respiratory disease. Yet the health of cattle arriving at backgrounders and feedlots continues to be a major issue despite better products, management methods and improved genetics. Health and performance will continue to be a problem for calves sold after simply removing calves from dams … [Read more...]
7 things to think about when it comes to BRD
Bovine respiratory disease remains the costliest disease in the U.S. cattle industry. Despite research and years of work trying to manage for the disease, the industry struggles to address it. Rhonda Brooks, Bovine Practitioner editor, assembled experts to offer seven ways to help manage BRD. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, August 25, 2022. Link. Here are seven factors – from … [Read more...]
Act now to add value to spring calves
Opinion It has taken 30 or more years for calf preconditioning to become a household phrase. For any producer, preconditioning may have a different meaning than his neighbors’. Veterinarians and representatives working with producers must continue to discuss, educate and fine tune preconditioning programs for individual operations. Preconditioning’s value has been proven … [Read more...]
Weaning beef calves: higher feed costs but short-term savings may affect long-term profits
Opinion The story seems to repeat year after year. There’s always something to question. This year cow-calf producers face higher feed costs and extended drought in some areas which will likely raise questions about preconditioning expenses. Wesley Tucker shares his perspectives on investing in preconditioning protocols. His tips can help cattle producers sharpen their … [Read more...]
Bovine respiratory disease remains a threat economically and to the herd itself
Bovine respiratory disease is still a serious threat to the economics of beef production accounting for $800 to 900 million in losses from death loss, treatment cost, and reduced production, writes Paul Beck. Better antibiotics, better genetics and better feeding practices help, but BRD seems to hit the best cattle in the later days of finishing, including those from … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 24, 2022
Last week’s most read post Preconditioning starts when the calf hits the ground. Link. Last week’s AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin, Thursday, March 17, 2022. Link. =================================== Click here for a free 7-day trial --> Link #TalkatooTerry Your dog can go vegan – but cats are natural born killers Source: The Guardian, … [Read more...]
Scheduling castration for bull calves
For bull calves, there’s no good time for castration. In today’s market however, producers use castration as a key component to any preconditioning program. Neutering can greatly influence market price premiums or discounts. Despite common perceptions, numerous studies have shown weaning weights are similar for bulls and steers. 62 percent of commercial cow-calf herds used … [Read more...]
24 years, 25 million cattle prove what affects prices
The biggest value-added protocol in calf health is weaning, not vaccination. This, according to 24 years of big data generated from 25,000 million cattle by Superior Livestock Auction. Ken Odde, Kansas State University animal science professor, revealed which calf health programs, premiums and genetic breeds have on prices during the recent National Red Angus Conference. . . . … [Read more...]
Weaning basics keep calves healthy
Heather Smith Thomas is bringing a series of articles about ranch management basics to help educate those new to the beef industry and dust off the knowledge of long ime cattle producers. These basics are especially important as we seek to gain value from preconditioning programs. She reviews two lower-stress weaning methods: fence-line weaning and nose flaps. There are many … [Read more...]
The calf-fed conundrum
Calves are weaning heavier, often at weights where they go from the ranch to the feedyard without a growing phase in between. The conundrum? For as long as 90 days following placement, these cattle can show health issues later in the feeding period rather than when they first go on feed. From a health standpoint, we continue to go backward,” says Miles Theurer, DVM. “The … [Read more...]
The numbers are clear: weaned calves bring a premium
New research provides important insight to the long-debated value of weaning and preconditioning programs. Bottom line: Data from Superior Livestock Auction show that calf buyers will pay premiums for calves that have been weaned at least 45 days, even after accounting for differences in preconditioning programs. Source: BEEF, August 23, 2018. Link. When calves arrive at the … [Read more...]
Teaching calves to eat: 5 benefits of creep feeding
Calves encounter a variety of challenges throughout life. Cody Schneider offers perspectives on using creep feeding to help calves prepare for what’s next. He says there are five benefits: Post-weaning performance Fewer health problems post-weaning Control coccidiosis Increase weaning weight Insurance for consistency Much like preconditioning, creep feeding … [Read more...]
Value-added calves are the result of good pre-conditioning
According to survey numbers, the value of pre-conditioning or back-grounding calves post-weaning is growing rapidly. Since its inception, the Beef Quality Assurance program has given beef producers a template on how to do things right. More than one-third of producers are BQA certified according to the survey results. Source: Beef, October 2017, page 22. Dan Thompson, DVM, … [Read more...]
Precondition beef calves regardless of weaning time
Preconditioning calves helps ease the stressful transition from being with mama cows to being with peers in the feedlot. North Dakota State University’s Kris Ringwall offers some pointers. Source: Drovers Cattle Network, August 7, 2017. No perfect preconditioning program, no perfect time to vaccinate, no perfect time to market exists, but producers, with the help of good … [Read more...]
Preconditioned calves are profitable
Proactively managing calf health pays dividends. We’ve been beating this drum for decades. Like BVD management, a critical component of pre-conditioning, we still have a long way to go, asserts Greg Henderson, editorial director. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, May 2016, page 31. Preconditioning your calves is a no-brainer. It makes money for everybody in the chain and … [Read more...]
Death-loss still a conundrum in feedlots
Veterinarians today have access to better vaccines, better treatments and generally better overall cattle management than in the past, and yet the prevalence of feedyard death loss continues to run higher than just a few years ago. And with pressure continuing to end the use of some antibiotics for disease prevention, the industry will need to employ alternatives, beginning … [Read more...]