The Angus Journal® is a monthly magazine known for in-depth coverage of American Angus Association® programs and services; the Angus business; herd management; and advertising reflecting genetics and herd philosophies.
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50 ■ ANGUSJournal ■ July 2015 Feeder-calf Basics S ending weaned calves to the feedlot, whether for backgrounding or developing breeding stock, can be a stressful experience — for both calves and producers. That annual calf crop is a producer's paycheck and investment in the future. As a producer and custom feeder, Marty Shepard understands both sides of the equation. Here he shares his experiences to help ensure a successful feedlot outcome. 30-plus-year history Shepard founded 4S Cattle Co. in Wheatland, Wyo., in 1978. Through various expansions through the years, the facility has grown to accommodate 8,500 head, with a primary focus on heifer development. A typical year will include developing about 6,000 heifers and 500 bulls, with the balance being feeder calves. 4S Cattle Co. has USDA's Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certifi cation and follows protocols for "all- natural" programs. The family operation includes his older sister, Debbie Shepard, who manages the bookkeeping and billing, as well as loads and feeds as needed. In addition to the livestock enterprise, Shepard also farms about 1,000 acres of corn and alfalfa, and includes soybean and beets as part of his crop rotation. Winter wheat CONTINUED ON PAGE 52 How can cow-calf producers ensure their calf crop performs in the feedlot? This Wyoming feeder shares suggested strategies for a successful experience. by Kindra Gordon, fi eld editor Honing in on heifer development Mention developing replacement heifers in the feedlot, and Marty Shepard acknowledges that many producers often panic at the thought because of the misconception that heifers get too fat for successful breeding rates in that scenario. Shepard underscores that quality replacement heifers can be developed to an appropriate breeding weight in feedlot settings when a plan and open communication are put in place between the cattle owner and the feeder. "Getting heifers too fat can happen if you're not careful," he acknowledges. "I have cows of my own, so I know. Our end goal for customers is always to develop heifers to get as many bred as possible." At his Wheatland, Wyo.,-based feedlot, 4S Cattle Co., Shepard will develop an average of 6,000 replacement heifers annually. He offers these tips for developing heifers in confi nement. @ Communicate with the feeder what the target breeding weight goal is, and when you want to breed the heifers. Then a ration can be developed accordingly. Shepard says 750 to 800 pounds (lb.) is a realistic target that represents about 60%-70% of the mature weight of a 1,300-lb. cow. "If ranchers would weigh their cows, they'd fi nd most are bigger than 1,100 pounds," he notes. "The average cow is probably more like 1,300 to 1,500 pounds." Shepard says he usually focuses on breeding condition scores (BCS) more than weight. He notes that a BCS of 5 or 6 is a good target. "If they have too much fat or condition, they won't breed," he adds. @ What does feedlot development cost? Shepard says the fi rst question he's often asked by producers is the cost of gain to develop replacement heifers. His answer: "I don't do cost of gain with replacement heifers. We are talking higher-roughage rations, which are more expensive. The average cost to develop heifers at 4S is $1.40-$1.50 per day. That's feed and yardage. The cost to treat sick cattle is over and above that." He adds, "Heifers that come to us average 435 pounds out of 6,000 head, so we have to put a lot of weight on them in 200 days." @ Administer prebreeding shots. "I'm a believer in those," says Shepard. He adds, "Prebreeding shots and following AI (artifi cial insemination) protocols is of the utmost importance." AI protocols What's his preferred protocol? "I like the MGA protocol the best," he says. He reasons that it's an inexpensive protocol that can be followed fairly easily — feeding 0.5 mg every day for 14 days, then a prostaglandin shot given 19 days after that. (He notes it used to be 17 days, but now is 19.) "We see 90% of heifers come in heat in 72 hours after the shot," says Shepard, reporting a 66%-70% settle rate. The total cost for feeding MGA and administering the prostaglandin shot at his feedlot is $5.69. MGA pellets can't be fed as a topdress because aggressive eaters will get it, and passive heifers won't, he emphasizes. "It needs to be premeasured and premixed in a feed truck and fed with bunk space for all." If customers request it, Shepard will use CIDR ® inserts, but he notes they are more expensive and more labor intensive — requiring cattle to move through the chute three times. He estimates the cost for using CIDRs at about $17-$20 — about a $14 difference over MGA. He acknowledges, "One advantage of using CIDRs is time. It's a full 33 days for the MGA protocol, with the CIDR [protocol] you can have heifers bred in 10 days. Producers need to decide what works best for them based on cost and time." He concludes, "No matter what protocol you use, you have to be thorough." Interestingly, Shepard has all heat detection in his feedlot done on foot. He will use heat patches if customers request it. Heifers in standing heat are sorted into groups every four hours — from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 5 p.m. to dark — and bred accordingly. Shepard allows customers to come to the feedlot and breed their own heifers or help with processing if they prefer. 35 Keys to Success Marketing Commercial Cattle 35 Keys to Success Developing Seedstock