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Preconditioning programs add value to calves
A technical services veterinarian for Merck Animal Health says investing in a preconditioning program can increase the value of calves at auction. Dr. Tim Parks tells Brownfield that weaning and vaccination programs are critical. “To make sure that those cattle that are bought are healthy coming in and have a chance to be able to weather the disease challenges they come up against,” he says.
Parks says calves are exposed to diseases when moved through production cycles. “Having that animal prepared is what producers are looking for,” he says. “Immunologically, where they can help prevent disease, but also help recover when they do come in contact with it and if they have to be treated.”
Other management decisions, like implanting calves, may not change the price received for calves, but it could add weight. “When we can see anywhere from basically 20 to 25 pounds added weight but not affect the price per pound, we’re still gaining value in those calves at that time frame,” he says.
Merck Animal Health, Superior Livestock Auction, and Kansas State University evaluated management decisions, programs, and health protocols that drive the price per pound paid by buyers. In 2023, nearly 900,000 calves were sold with an average weight of 571 pounds. The average price nationally was $2.63 per pound.
AUDIO: Dr. Tim Parks, Merck Animal Health
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