WHY PRECONDITION
CALVES?
Preconditioning increases the economic value of cattle moving through the beef industry chain and enhances your reputation for producing high-quality calves.
Why should you consider a preconditioning program like SelectVAC® for your calves?
Studies have shown many benefits of preconditioning:
- Better animal health and productivity on the ranch 1
- Increased profitability 2
- Demonstrated premiums on sale day 3-5
- Better performance in the feedlot 1
Tips for making preconditioning work for your cattle
Capture the premium
Participate in a proven preconditioning program like SelectVAC®, which has strong buyer recognition and buyer confidence
Make buyers aware that your calves have been preconditioned
Control backgrounding costs
Feed costs are the single largest expense for preconditioning cattle.
Reducing feed costs, either by using forage or byproducts such as wheat mids and barley, can significantly decrease backgrounding expenses
Optimize cattle performance during backgrounding period
Minimize weaning stress (eg, fenceline weaning)
Analyze forage and balance rations
Maintain sound cattle health program
Manage supplemental feeding
1Data on file, Study Report No. 3933R-60-03-342, Zoetis.
2Seeger JT, Grotelueschen DM, Stokka GL, et al. Comparison of the feedlot health, nutritional performance, carcass characteristics, and economic value of unweaned beef calves with an unknown health history and of weaned beef calves receiving various herd-of-origin health protocols. Bov Pract. 2008;42(1):1-13.
3Data on file, King ME. The effect of SelectVAC® calf health programs on the sale price of beef calves sold through Joplin Regional Stockyards during the fall of 2003 and winter of 2004. Final Report, Zoetis.
4Data on file, King ME. Effect of certified health programs on the sale price of beef calves marketed through a livestock videotape auction service from 1995 through 2012. Final Reports, Zoetis.
5Data on file, The effects of special management programs and preconditioning programs on the sale price of beef calves marketed through Western Video Market January 2014-December 2015. Final Report, Zoetis.
“Preconditioned calves are healthier and require less treatment, producing a better-quality product on the carcass end.”Bob Sager, DVM, MS