Receiving cattle strategies

The old adage, “cattle never get over a good start or a bad one,” certainly applies when receiving and bringing cattle onto feed. Whether you buy cattle or feed your own, the first two weeks are critical in determining how cost-effectively feed is turned into carcass gain in the weeks ahead.

 Minimize disease and stress

        Minimizing disease and stress from the start goes a long way towards helping ensure calves come on feed and stay on feed. Data from the Texas A&M Ranch to Rail program continues to prove the value of buying and feeding healthy calves.

        For example, healthy steers on the 2000-01 program returned $151 more vs. their unhealthy counterparts, not to mention better feed efficiency and higher quality grades. Sickness added additional medicine costs and generally caused the less healthy steers to gain and grade less.

     With this data in mind:

        • Buy calves from verified sources with sound health programs, or know as much as possible about the origin and handling of  incoming cattle before they arrive. Secure a history of vaccinations and other pertinent information, if possible.  Also consider:

        • Disease and parasite problems are more apt to occur in calves under 400 lbs.

        • Commingling cattle from several groups is conducive to introducing and spreading diseases and parasites.

        • Preconditioned calves are usually less likely to develop disease.

        • Calves that have been creep fed 3-4 weeks prior to weaning will  likely get on feed easier.

        A big advantage with creep-fed calves is they know how to eat manufactured-type feeds out of a bunk-type environment before they’re weaned, meaning less post-weaning stress and better performance. Creep feed also supplies appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals for growth, maintenance and immune response; and feed additives, if used, can improve feed utilization and average daily gains [see sidebar].

 ASSESS INCOMING STRESS

        How you manage and properly start calves on feed depends on how incoming calves have been managed in the past. Are the calves you purchase preconditioned (weaned, fed for 30-40 days, given their initial round of vaccinations and boostered)? Unpreconditioned and purchased through sale barns? Freshly weaned off the farm or ranch? Have they been castrated, dehorned or vaccinated? And how much time have they spent in marketing channels and on trucks?

        Regardless of how calves have been previously handled, it’s smart to assess them yourself. Consider their: 1) level of immunity; 2) exposure to disease during marketing and transport; 3) degree of stress during marketing and transport; and 4) degree of stress after arrival in the feedlot. This can help you better determine how to place, watch and handle these calves.

        Compared to yearlings, calves that weigh under 600 lbs. will have little acquired or naturally occurring immunity. This can be bolstered, however, through vaccination or preconditioning before sale and transport. Calves are also more susceptible to stress, so the more procedures they’ve had prior to weaning, and the less time in marketing channels and transit, the better.

MANAGE INCOMING ARRIVALS

For all incoming cattle:

• Prepare arrival pens. They need to be clean and dry with plenty of  access to clean water and bunks. Be prepared to offer the selected  feed soon after arrival so calves can rehydrate, rest and eat prior  to processing.

• Have a processing plan. Kate Jackson, PhD, Manager of Beef  Technical Services, advises, “Have a program of processing laid out  before arrival. This program should be tailored to what we know about this particular pen of cattle.” Plan components should include  necessary resting time, vaccinations to be given, implants to be used,  and parasite treatment required.

• Don’t shortchange your starter ration. A palatable ration that includes digestible energy, protein and micronutrients can help eliminate sickness and re-pulls. Nutrient intake at good levels will prevent  treatments and save money. When the rumen functions  properly,  calves are able to more fully utilize nutrients from their feed. This  helps them better overcome stress, build their immune system, and  do better in the feedlot.

•  For stressed calves, especially freshly weaned, long-haul type cattle, Land O’Lakes offers Steakmaker Stress Care Supplement, a fortified dry supplement with yeast culture, vitamins and minerals.   The yeast culture enhances feed palatability and nurtures healthy populations of rumen microbes while the complexed trace minerals from Zinpro bolsters immune response [see sidebar].

•  Jeff Pastoor, Land O’Lakes Beef Consultant, recommends keeping calves in a little tighter quarters so the feed bunk is in front of them. And if pens are bedded, be sure the calves aren’t eating too much of their bedding.

• Don’t forget about facilities. Check over your working facilities  and make sure they minimize and reduce stress during handling and  processing for the calves as well as yourself. Minimizing stress and keeping the newly weaned and/or purchased calf eating and drinking  are important factors in disease prevention and feeding efficiency.

For more tips on starting cattle, consult your Land O’Lakes professional or see www.beeflinks.com.