Benefits of Preconditioning Calves for Sale

Making a profit is the ultimate goal in any operation, including farming. Profit will be what keeps you in business and how much you make largely depends on marketing your calves for sale.

Many farmers precondition their cattle before taking them to sale. Preconditioning is a program that is often considered to be vaccinations, weaning, castration, dehorning and starting them on a high energy diet. These programs may vary depending on the farmer and what they choose.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations help us prepare our animals for the next phase with their health, well-being and for production. Vaccinations have been thought to help improve the immune system of the animal but at least should reduce the baseline illness.

Weaning

Weaning thirty to forty-five days is typical, but some choose 60 plus days. If calves are abruptly taken from the cow and sent to the feedlot, they are much more likely to get sick and gain less weight.

Castration

Castration is a valuable part of the program and most vets recommend it be done at an early age. Several studies show castrating at birth has no impact on weight gain when compared to calves castrated at weaning. However, if weaned at the feedlot there is a drastic increase in death loss.

Benefits

There are three main advantages from preconditioning your cattle. The first would be the additional weight gain during the preconditioning phase. This allows farmers to sell heavier calves (more pounds) than if they would at weaning. Second would be marketing calves at a potential higher seasonal price after preconditioning than at weaning. Third would be the potential premium price associated with preconditioning practices applied at the farm. The buyers will often spend more for a healthier and better-conditioned calf.

In the end, the farmer needs to make a decision on what parts of the preconditioning program make the most sense and money for them and their operation. Even if a producer isn’t seeing a price premium for raising preconditioned calves for sale, they should see more weight and more overall dollars at the livestock auction.