Preconditioned calves can provide benefits to beef producers, such as added value at sale time and reduced risk of sickness or death loss as the calf moves through the marketing chain.
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VAC 45 is a value-added calf program which provides vaccination and management guidelines for preweaning, weaning and post weaning.
Gill recommended administering a modified-live viral vaccine for respiratory diseases, preweaning, and a 7-way blackleg vaccine for clostridial diseases. He said a pasturella vaccine is optional.
He added that deworming calves is another health management option.
Gill said the basic premise of preconditioning calves is to minimize the impact of stress on a calf's immune system at weaning, help calves disassociate from nursing and have them consuming feed after weaning.
Preconditioning calves is part of the herd management program at Circle X Land and Cattle Co. in Bryan. The ranch is a registered Brangus and commercial cow-calf operation.
"We precondition every calf that hits the ground. When we wean our calves, we retain everything and background them and give them all their shots -- get them straightened out," said Steve Densmore, cattle manager.
The ranch's heifers are kept for replacements and the commercial steers are sold to feedyards.
Densmore gives preweaning shots at four to five months of age. These vaccinations include a pasturella, 7-way blackleg and a 4-way leptosporosis vaccine. Steers also receive growth implants during this time.
When weaned at six to seven months of age, calves are given their second round of shots -- 7-way blackleg and 4-way leptosporosis, Dens more said.
Calves are held overnight at weaning and then turned out into pastures. Densmore said this practice has reduced respiratory problems because calves aren't in a pen breathing dust.
As yearlings, cattle get immunization booster shots and every year thereafter until they leave the ranch.
"Our benefits by preconditioning these cattle and straightening them out -- the cattle get on their feed faster and gain weight faster," said Densmore.
"That's one of the things that has really helped us over the years. The same people have been buying our cattle over the past eight years and taking them to the feedyard," he said. "Sickness has basically been little or nothing at the feedyards."
He said preconditioned cattle pay all the way through the supply chain to slaughter.
"Anytime you're messing with cows and calves, it's very important that the first and foremost thing you do if you're new in this business is that you have a good health program," Densmore said. "I would encourage everybody to work closely with their veterinarian or a pharmaceutical rep -- somebody that can guide them through what they need to do to get off to a good start."
Premiums are available for calves managed under a VAC 45 program, Gill said.
He cautioned that producers need to ensure they aren't spending more on feed input costs during a 45-day preconditioning program than they can recover in added value at sale time.
Preconditioned calves at sale time also tend to take less of a financial hit for shrink, or weight loss. This is because they're already eating feed and drinking water, compared to freshly weaned calves that stand and bawl for their mother.
"Even on truckload lots, they don't shrink those preconditioned calves but 2 percent, versus 3 to 4 percent for fresh weaned calves," Gill said.
"A lot of times you can pay preconditioning costs on shrink management. It's particularly important when going to an auction facility."
Beef producers who precondition calves also have greater marketing flexibility. If the sale date has to be pushed back a couple weeks, it's not a big deal because calves are still eating and gaining, Gill said.
David Fowler, co-owner of Sulphur Springs Livestock & Dairy Auction, has held precondition sales since 1998 for the Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization, or NETBIO.
"It's just an added value all the way around. Cattle will gain weight while being weaned and preconditioned. It's a lot more attractive to the buyers," Fowler said. "You don't have to worry about cattle going through sickness."
Fowler said the majority of the buyers at NETBIO sales are feedyards. He said preconditioned cattle that will be put out on grass or wheat also are sold during the sale.
"It's a pretty good incentive for those that want to graze cattle to buy those cattle that are already straightened out and ready to go," Fowler said.
He said premiums for grazing cattle can be $5 to $10 cwt over the normal sale price. He said these premiums tend to be paid on grazing cattle versus feedyard cattle.
"I think as time goes by, preconditioned cattle will get bigger and bigger. Feedyards and places these cattle go don't have the help to treat sick cattle like they used to, so they want cattle already preconditioned and on feed as soon as they get there," he said.
• E-mail Beverly Moseley at beverly.moseley@theeagle.com.
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