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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64 n ANGUSJournal n July 2015 Reduce stress to increase proft Preconditioning programs aim to reduce the number of stressful situations a feeder calf has to deal with as it is moved from the ranch of origin to the feedlot. Trucking and exposure to new animals is unavoidable in most situations, but other known stresses can be managed. Preconditioning programs have been designed by universities, pharmaceutical and biological companies, marketing groups, and integrated production chain alliances. The overall target of decreasing the risk of BRD and other diseases is the same among different preconditioning programs, yet specifc requirements can vary widely. For example, preconditioning programs for cattle entering an all-natural program may differ from programs for cattle in a traditional management scheme. Other examples include the utilization or prohibition of specifc vaccines, dewormers, growth implants, feed additives and feed ingredients. Castration and dehorning have been shown to severely decrease feed intake and gain and to increase the risk of disease when done at the feedlot. If these stresses can be done earlier in life (younger than 2-4 months of age), the negative effects are greatly reduced. Castration prior to shipment is one of the oldest and most common components of preconditioning programs. Bull calves that are not castrated until they arrive at a feedyard or stocker facility have a higher risk of illness or death and decreased performance relative to comparable steer mates. Whether bull calves have been castrated is easy to tell, and castrated calves typically garner higher prices than comparable intact bull calves. Because viral diseases such as infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and bovine viral diarrhea (BVD ) are associated with BRD, vaccination programs to decrease the risk of infection with these viruses are key components of preconditioning programs. Vaccines directed against bacteria associated with BRD such as Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Haemophilus somnus are included in some, but not all, preconditioning programs. The challenge in developing the best vaccination strategy is to select the correct vaccines and deliver them in the best fashion at the correct times to create a response that will protect the calves. Starting on feed Weaning on the ranch of origin for 30-45 days is a component of some preconditioning programs. Calves in these systems face relatively low levels of disease challenge because they are not trucked or commingled with new cattle during the stressful period immediately following separation from their dams and tend to have comparatively low risk of becoming sick. Preconditioning programs may also require that calves become accustomed to grain-based feeds fed in a feedbunk. The greatest risk for BRD occurs soon after arrival at the feedyard, and adequate nutrition in the frst weeks is critical to allow the animal to overcome stress and disease challenges. Satisfactory feed intake during the arrival period is believed to be strongly infuenced by familiarity with feeds other than grass or hay and by feeding behaviors other than grazing. Inclusion of a period allowing cattle to understand the procedure for eating from a bunk in the low-stress environment of their home ranch is a valuable component of a complete preconditioning program. Feeder-calf nutritional status is diffcult to evaluate visually, but body condition is often used as a gauge of previous management. Preconditioning programs that incorporate weaning and feeding for a period of time may result in cattle with good fesh scores at the time of sale. Fleshy cattle may be viewed as healthier, yet still garner a price discount because buyers will be unable to capture compensatory gains. The goal is to fnd a balance between healthy calves with adequate nutritional status and the potential for rapid, effcient weight gains after the calves leave the ranch. Recapture value Adding management such as dehorning and castration, vaccinating, weaning and starting on a grain-based diet are designed to reduce the risk of disease once an animal has left the ranch of origin, but these activities will increase costs for cow-calf producers. To beneft from these expenditures, producers must increase the income they receive for their calves. Preconditioned calves routinely earn a higher price than similar calves that have not been preconditioned, but net income includes the total weight sold and costs incurred, as well as the price received. Producers considering a preconditioning program should consider the issues of cost and value of weight gain. Before determining the economic risks and rewards of preconditioning, several factors, including marketing method and Vet Call @ by Bob Larson, Kansas State University MANAGEMENT Precondition as a marketing strategy Cattle producers who manage newly weaned feeder cattle recognize that calves castrated and dehorned, trucked, commingled with new penmates, and given a completely new diet — all near the time of weaning — are at high risk for bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Pneumonia or bovine respiratory disease can be caused by a combination of several factors. These factors are stress (shipment, mixing with new cattle and diet change), viral infection and bacterial infection. BRD is generally considered to be a disease of stocker or feedlot cattle trucked to a feeding facility, commingled with new animals, and exposed to new feed and water sources. Age is also a factor, with recently weaned calves and light stocker calves at higher risk of sickness and death than yearling cattle. 35 Keys to Success Marketing Commercial Cattle Bull calves that are not castrated until they arrive at a feedyard or stocker facility have a higher risk of illness or death and decreased performance relative to comparable steer mates.