Study shows preconditioning beef calves pays

Monday, December 11, 2006 12:19 PM MST

NEW YORK n Findings from an 11-year study published on Nov. 1 in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) show producers who precondition beef calves at the ranch of origin consistently receive more per hundredweight for their calves than producers who do not precondition.

In fact, calves in the most intensive certified health program received premiums ranging from $2.47 per hundredweight in 1995 to as high as $7.91 per hundredweight in 2004. According to the study sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, data compiled by Colorado State University and collected through Superior Livestock Video Auctions shows that beef calves in the two most intensive certified health programs sold for significantly higher prices than similar calves that were not in a certified health program, had not been vaccinated against respiratory tract viruses and were not weaned before delivery.

“Producers have long asked the question, ‘Does preconditioning pay?’” said Jon Seeger, DVM, Pfizer Animal Health. “The information collected at Superior Livestock Auction over the past 11 years shows that it does, and Pfizer is proud to have collaborated on this peer-reviewed study which brings producers the assurance that their investment in preconditioning indeed can provide a positive impact on their bottom lines.”

In addition, the study shows that the trend toward preconditioning has increased steadily over time. The percentage of lots sold in which calves received the highest level of preconditioning increased from 3 percent in 1995 to 26.8 percent in 2004, an eightfold increase. Not surprisingly, the percentage of calves not receiving a vaccine against respiratory tract viruses prior to leaving the ranch of origin decreased from 44.7 percent in 1995 to only 3.9 percent in 2005.

Many preconditioning programs exist; however, the most thorough, such as the WeanVAC level of SelectVAC from Pfizer, include several management aspects to help reduce the incidence of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in calves between weaning and slaughter. These programs do so by enhancing calves’ immunity and reducing stress on the calves before, during and after shipment from the ranch of origin. Programs often require that calves have been weaned for at least 45 days, trained to eat from a feed bunk and drink water from a fountain or trough, been treated for parasites, vaccinated against clostridial and BRD pathogens, dehorned and the males castrated.

The study evaluated the sale price of more than three million beef calves in more than 26,500 lots sold through the Superior Livestock Video Auction from 1995 through 2005. It was co-authored by Michael King and M.D. Salman, Colorado State University; Tom Wittum, Ohio State University; and Ken Odde, North Dakota State University, and made possible through the support of Pfizer Animal Health and Superior Livestock Auction.

Pfizer Animal Health, a business of Pfizer Inc, is a world leader in animal health, committed to providing high-quality, innovative health products, including pharmaceuticals and biologicals, for livestock and companion animals. For additional information on Pfizer cattle vaccines and other cattle health products, visit www.pfizerah.com.

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