The measure of a calf's profitability begins at weaning. To ensure a good start, focus on health and nutrition.

Weaning is a time of stress and anxiety for calves. It's a time when exposure to adverse weather, with wide outdoor temperature swings, will take a toll on calves. Disease will visit, too. During these times, your calves need extra protection in the form of "body fuel" (nutrition) and "body armor" (immunity).

Some weaning "programs" focus only on health. Veterinarians know the importance of adequate immunity to resist stress and fight off disease. But, for an immune system to be in top-notch condition, it requires consistent, good quality nutrition.

Your best shot at capturing that smooth-working efficiency comes when nutrition and a good vaccination program work together. Our numbers show, on farm after farm, that a standardized nutrition program containing sufficient energy and protein makes this happen.

Does it really matter?
A recent Western Kentucky University study compared three different weaning scenarios. One set was non-vaccinated, trailer-weaned calves purchased at auction market. A second set of calves was enrolled in the Kentucky Gold program (that program includes one set of vaccinations for IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, 7-way Blackleg, and Pasturella). The third set was enrolled in Kentucky's Certified for Preconditioning and Health (CPH) program (two sets of vaccinations, given 2 to 3 weeks apart).

All cattle were sent to a Colorado feedlot. None of the groups received any standardized nutrition program--only the health programs. See the graph above for the respective sickness and death loss rates incurred. (The Kentucky Cattlemens Association has since discontinued the one-shot Gold Tag program due to its ineffectiveness.)

Make the comparison
Compare these results against the records of 21,096 calves in MFA's Health Track Beef Alliance, which requires 14 to 21 days of Cattle Charge (with AS700, Bovatec or Deccox) followed by a recommended MFA feeding program that may include TrendSetter.

The economic difference is huge, especially when you consider that there are increased treatment costs ($8 to $10/head), more labor/time involved and more stress on sick calves. Plus, there will be decreased performance as the calves move through the marketing chain. They will spend more days on feed, have decreased marbling and quality grade, and a reduced overall animal value.

Cash left behind
The money "left on the table" by the producer can be staggering. As cow/calf producers, the biggest loss may be forfeiting the roughly 2 lbs./day gains that are possible under this 45-day nutrition program. With 500-lb. calves selling for $1/lb., the difference is a significant boost for your pocketbook. Moreover, using this program to market healthy, vigorous bunk-broke calves that will do well at the next stop in the market chain will enhance your farm's reputation. In the long run, with the coming advances in animal identification and traceback, that alone may separate winners from losers in the beef business.

Timing works
In 10 of the last 11 years, the lowest sale prices for nonweaned calves have occurred during September and October. When you consider that Health Track calves garner a considerable premium ($8 to $12 per cwt.) over nonweaned calves and the fact that participating in the Health Track program could move your calves into a higher market month as well, there is no risk in pre-conditioning calves in Health Track.

Plus, there is no other program that also offers electronic identification (EID) source verification tagging

with data management, including herd record keeping as part of basic participation.

If you want to take advantage of every possible opportunity to increase your profits, a hard look at being a part of a Health Track commingled sale would be time well spent. Our goal is to make sure that participating in Health Track will guarantee preparedness for the direction the industry is heading.