With calf prices at historic highs, beef producers have an unprecedented opportunity to maximize herd profitability. To find out exactly which management protocols drive the highest premiums, Merck Animal Health, Superior Livestock Auction and Kansas State University evaluated a 2025 dataset of 860,433 calves averaging 572 lb., with the average national price was $3.78 per lb.
Below, Dr. John Hutcheson, Merck Animal Health cattle technical services director, answers some key questions and explains data-backed strategies that can help producers capture top dollar at sale:
How Much Value Does a VAC45 Preconditioning Program Add?
Selling calves through a certified VAC45 program adds an average of $9.03/cwt., or $51.65 per head, compared to calves weaned at shipping that only received a single round of shots.
“Buyers vote with their dollar on the practices they want to see for weaned calves, and preconditioning is a clear winner,” Hutcheson explains. “Preconditioning boosts the immune system and increases weight, helping equip weaned calves to thrive in a stocker, backgrounder, or feedyard phase.”
To qualify for the VAC45 premium, calves must:
- Be weaned at home for a minimum of 45 days before delivery.
- Receive two doses of a clostridial vaccine.
- Receive two doses of a five-way modified live viral (MLV) vaccine.
- Receive at least one dose of Mannheimia haemolytica and/or Pasteurella multocida vaccine.
Do Implants Lower the Price per Pound at Auction?
No. Analyzing nearly 5 million head of cattle over the last five years reveals no difference in the price per pound paid between implanted and non-implanted calves.
However, implants consistently increase average daily gain by 20%, adding an average of 23 extra lb. to calves implanted at 2 months of age or older.
“Applying current calf prices to those additional pounds gained equates to an almost $85 per head advantage over calves that were not implanted,” Hutcheson explains. “By combining a VAC45 program with strategic calf implanting, you can potentially add an extra $136 per head.”
Is NHTC Enrollment Better Than Implanting?
It depends on your cost of production. While marketing calves through verified non-hormone treated cattle (NHTC) programs brought an extra $20 per head, the sheer weight gain from implants — $85/head value — often yields a better return on investment.
“Unless the premium of marketing your calves in an NHTC type of program outweighs the productivity and efficiency of gains from implants, calves destined for finishing and sale to a terminal market should be implanted to capture increased revenue,” Hutcheson advises. “Always weigh the administrative and operational costs of participating in these programs against your actual return.”
What Other Factors Drive Premiums at Calf Sales?
According to the 2025 dataset, buyers paid significantly more for specific physical traits and marketing choices:
- Hornless Calves ($38/head premium): The value of dehorning or selling polled calves more than doubled, rising from $18 per head in 2024 to $38 per head in 2025.
- Fleshing Score ($48/head premium): Lots described as “light-medium flesh” brought $48 more per head than unclassified or “other” lots.
- Uniformity ($24/head premium): Buyers paid a premium of $4.28/cwt ($24/head) for “fairly even” lots. Conversely, “very uneven” lots suffered a $4.28/cwt discount.
“A tighter calving season can make a major difference in producing uniform calves,” Hutcheson notes. “Using a heat synchronization program paired with natural service, or utilizing a single shot of prostaglandin four to five days after bull turnout, can dramatically shorten your calving interval and yield heavier, more uniform calf crops.”
This article is part of Drovers’ Weaning Strategies and Preparation Week — the week of Aug. 17. Weaning is a high-stakes milestone when herd health, nutrition and marketing strategies must align perfectly. Throughout the week, the Drovers team will share expert-backed tips to minimize stress on your calves — and your bottom line. Bookmark our weaning resource hub to stay updated.
