Allied Industry A special ThankYou


to these Platinum Level advertisers for making the 2016 Bull Buyer’s Guide and


Ranch Services Guide a success. AerWay


Agridyne LLC


American Angus Association American Brahman


Breeders Association


American Gelbvieh Association American Hereford Association Arrowhead Ranch Barber Ranch


Beefmaster Breeders United BioZyme Inc.


Briggs Ranches


Caviness Packing Company Circle M Ranch


Circle X Land & Cattle Co. Clark Angus Ranch COBA/Select Sires


Collier Farms Beefmasters Double Creek Farms Estrella Ranch


Flying H Genetics HeartBrand Beef


Hogue Cattle Company Howard McElroy


International Brangus Breeders Association


Kenneth Airheart


King Herefords/Angus/Charolais Kirkes Black Angus Ranch Lesikar Ranch


Lone Star Angus McKellar Angus Moly Mfg.


Muleshoe Ranch Noack Herefords


Partin & Partin Heart Bar Ranch Pearson Livestock Equipment Redi Driver USA Inc. RJ Cattle Company Rusty’s Weigh


San Jose Cattle Company


Santa Gertrudis Breeders International


Schneider Brahmans Sexing Technologies Swiharts LLC


Swinging B Ranch


Synthetic Resources Incorporated Texas Hereford Association Triple L Ranch


Wickersham Angus 36 The Cattleman January 2017 thecattlemanmagazine.com R


ecent auction market sales data demonstrates the value ranchers can gain through preconditioning calves — as much as $72 more per


head if enrolled in SelectVAC®, compared with similarly preconditioned cattle not enrolled in SelectVAC. From cow-calf to feedlot sectors, preconditioning is the most consci-


entious choice producers can make for the betterment of their animals’ health. Preconditioning programs promote calf growth, enhance immune function and minimize stress, as calves move from their ranch of origin to the stocker or backgrounder operation and then to the feedlot. Preconditioning calves well ahead of stressors like shipment and com-


mingling allows time for calves to respond to vaccinations and helps avoid potential health risks, such as bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Combine preconditioning with sound weaning practices to best protect


your calves from infectious challenges they could encounter during their most delicate periods of early life.


Additional ways to promote calf wellness: • When working cows, handle calves with care to avoid unnecessary stress.


• Practice controlled separation strategies at pre-weaning to avoid abrupt weaning patterns for young calves.


• Better-orchestrated practices centered on branding and pre-weaning can decrease stressors at weaning. Selling cattle with a history in a verifi ed preconditioning program, like


SelectVAC, provides transparency to buyers because the program docu- ments which products were administered and when. With lower chances of sickness and death, feedyard operators purchas-


ing calves preconditioned with SelectVAC may no longer feel the need to administer antibiotics on arrival. Among growing consumer concerns over antibiotic usage, this benefi t becomes increasingly important. Producers who choose to precondition their calves know the decision


isn’t always driven by economics. It’s the best decision for the health of their calves, as well as the cattle industry at large. ❚


Preconditioning Pays By Che Trejo, DVM, Zoetis Beef Technical Services


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