Ask the Vet
Calf Preconditioning Vaccination Program Recommended
READER QUESTION:
What are the benefits of following a preconditioning vaccination program on calves? Should I get the paperwork when I take them to the sale barn even if I have a small group?
DR. MCMILLAN'S ANSWER:
Disease prevention is in everyone's best interest. Every level must be profitable for the industry to prosper. Healthy animals help stockers, feedlots and packers control costs and produce the highest quality product. This is a "hidden" payback to a preconditioning program.
At the producer level, a well-designed and implemented herd-health program will decrease the incidence of disease, increase weaning weights and maximize the genetic potential of the cattle, increasing profitability to the producer.
Marketing for smaller producers for maximum return is a different issue. If you market cattle directly to a sale barn, documentation of a preconditioning or vaccination program may not increase the price you receive. Order buyers do not look at your group of calves as much as they look at a load of cattle. So, your cattle, while preconditioned, may end up with others that are not, and this may not translate into an economic benefit for the buyer.
A better option for small producers is to use a cooperative marketing program. The goal is to group truckload numbers of uniform cattle that have a similar preconditioning and weaning program and offer them for sale. Many times, these cattle are sold and picked up from the farm, eliminating stress and disease exposure in a stockyard.
Alternatively, many states offer retained ownership programs for small numbers of calves. They will set rules and assemble truckload lots to be shipped to the feedlot. You retain ownership of the cattle all the way to the rail. This can allow you to capture more of the profit on your cattle and get real carcass data back that can be used to help with culling decisions on cows and bull selection to improve the genetic quality of your cattle.
So, should you precondition your calves? Absolutely. But, to capture the maximum value requires a marketing plan so that buyers know and are willing to pay for the value you added to your calves.
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Editor's Note: Please contact your veterinarian with questions about the health of your herd or other animals. Every operation is unique, and the information in this column does not pertain to all situations. This is not intended as medical advice but is purely for informational purposes. Email Dr. Ken McMillan at vet@dtn.com
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