Livestock Management RANCHING
days after weaning or arrival, a general rule of thumb is that a healthy calf will consume feed equivalent to about 1.5 percent of its body weight, while an unhealthy calf will consume about 1.0 percent of its body weight. So a 500-pound calf will normally eat 7.5 to 8 pounds
of feed a day — not very much to begin with — while an animal that is under the weather will only eat 5 pounds of feed. Neither calf will gain, but the healthy calf will be able to maintain its body weight during those crucial fi rst 7 days away from the cow or on its new premise, whereas the calf that is eating incorrectly will actually lose weight. Hutcheson says it usually takes 6 to 8 weeks for
healthy calves to achieve rates of gain in line with their genetic potential. By then they are consuming up to 3 percent of their body weight daily, so a 500-pound calf will consume about 15 pounds. However, the calf that was sick during the 6- to 8-week period will only consume 10 to 12 pounds of feed, and will not achieve a good rate of gain as a result. Calves that are gaining at the rate of their genetic
potential can achieve daily gains of 3 to 3.5 pounds during this period, while the calves that were sick or unhealthy will be gaining about 30 percent less.
Livestock Co. “Where Live Competitive Bidding
Columbus
2000 Reese Lane, Columbus, Texas SALE EVERY THURSDAY
Determines Top Dollar for Your Cattle” Excellent Facility for Special Sales Brad Hauerland, owner • Offi ce 979-732-2622
Free Weekly Market Report and Sale Information at
www.columbuslivestock.com
Receiving Pens for Your Convenience at 5 Locations: Sealy
Industry
979-732-2622 Needville
979-793-6010 Wed. 4 p.m. – dark or Th urs. 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
We accept cattle in Columbus 7 days a week with feed and water pens available for early arrivals
HAULING ALSO AVAILABLE Come See the Diff erence at Columbus Livestock 46 The Cattleman July 2015
thecattlemanmagazine.com Pen Hours:
979-357-2404 Receiving
Weimar
979-732-2622 Ellinger
979-732-2622
Preconditioning pays Hutcheson is a fi rm believer in preconditioning or
value-added programs. They typically require calves to be weaned 45 to 60 days prior to their sale in order to decrease the effects of stress. He says, “The 45- to 60-day value-added program period prior to leaving the cow-calf operation produces a profi table, healthy calf for the next phase.” With the price of calves as strong as it is, he says
the calves must be kept healthy during this period so they continue to gain weight and achieve the best sale price for preconditioned animals. The programs also require vaccinations and other
processing to get the animals ready to perform in a pas- ture, on a growth ration or in a feedlot — before they leave the ranch. Hutcheson says, “Tremendous stress can occur when calves are weaned, and good stockman- ship with low-stress handling techniques needs to be practiced. Instead of hollering, shouting, running and chasing them, try to move them as quietly as possible into the weaning pens. There are several techniques for weaning, and whatever technique you’ve been us- ing in the past that works for you is a good technique. There is no one answer to this.”
FLOYDADA Livestock Sales
Floydada, Texas
Sale every Wednesday at 11 a.m. “Family owned and operated for 40 years” Special Sales in March and November
We specialize in fresh,
country cattle and serve the needs of all operators, big and small.
Barn: 806-983-2153 Don McCandless, Owner
806-549-0273 Cell
John Fortenberry, Owner 806-983-7394 Cell
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