Lil’ Bill, Calf Born Premature Defies the Odds At Mississippi State

Low prices and adverse harvest conditions often drive us toward alternative options that – if nothing else – are perceived to add value to a crop.

While some cattlemen have already started weaning spring-calving herds, October and November are prime times for feeder cattle marketing decisions. What is your weaning strategy this year?

Make weaning and preconditioning a worthwhile investment.

Value-added programs don’t necessarily add value to a set baseline price. Rather, they begin by removing some of the discount (risk) that buyers assume exist.

Hedging opportunities for cattle marketed into the beginning of next year are becoming more attractive.

Newly weaned calves are faced with the stress of separation from the cow, deprivation of feed and water during transportation, and adaptation to the feedlot environment.

Bunk space can vary depending on if calves were preconditioned or not prior to entering the feedlot.

Spring born calves have already been, or soon will be weaned to meet the 45 day requirement for value-added calf sales.

Most of the “Value-Added” calf sales require that the calves are weaned at least 45 days prior to sale date.

Completing a number of management techniques and vaccine protocols prior to the stress of weaning, comingling and transport will help assemble a calf crop more resilient to disease challenges.