By Derrell Peel and Kellie Curry Raper, Oklahoma Condition College Extension
Calves that are preconditioned at weaning are much healthier and additional resilient to endure the rigors of shipping and commingling prior to introduction in subsequent creation programs. Preconditioning can incorporate important worth to calves but calls for planning and administration.
The Oklahoma High-quality Beef Network (OQBN) is one application that makes it possible for producers to seize additional value for calves. Table 1 exhibits the OQBN profits scheduled for the remainder of 2023 and the connected weaning dates. A 45-day weaning time period is the minimum essential for calves to qualify for OQBN. However, investigation has verified a considerable high quality for slide-marketed calves weaned 60 days or extra.
Preconditioning adds worth to calves owing to the weaning, wellness and other management protocols that are involved in the packages. Certification provides supplemental value by offering assurance to prospective buyers that preconditioning plans have been wholly and appropriately applied. The price of just about every of the preconditioning software components has been verified by decades of details and investigation alongside with the further value of certification. More facts about OQBN courses, protocols and revenue is obtainable at Oklahoma High-quality Beef Community | Oklahoma Condition University (okstate.edu).
Table 1. 2023 Oklahoma High quality Beef Network (OQBN) Sales, Destinations, and Wean Dates
As with any economic final decision, producers should examine the expenditures and returns of preconditioning courses. Additional expenses of preconditioning fluctuate across operations and conditions and, though there is no warranty of favourable returns, the probability of favourable returns is higher and more steady in recent decades. Figure 1 reveals the regular premiums of OQBN calves in comparison to calves sold devoid of preconditioning. Over the prior 12 several years, OQBN rates have averaged $13.05/cwt. It is important to try to remember that OQBN calves market at a top quality to calves not preconditioned and, also at heavier weights as opposed to the beginning of weaning. Producers might come to feel that the present-day superior costs for calves will make the benefit of preconditioning much less, but Figure 1 demonstrates that the greatest average quality for OQBN transpired in 2014 at the time of the preceding history high cattle rates. For customers, the lessened possibility of animal morbidity and mortality thanks to preconditioning is far more important when the price tag of the animals is better.
Advertising calves for additional worth needs two steps: initial, full the overall health and management demands of the preconditioning software and 2nd, industry the animals in a method that buyers who demand from customers and value preconditioned calves will have the ideal possibility for acquire. OQBN sales are scheduled with husband or wife auctions to attract the volume of equally prospective buyers and certified preconditioned cattle to final result in improved marketplaces and worth for the calves.
Marketing and advertising calves for additional value calls for two methods: initial, complete the wellbeing and administration needs of the preconditioning application and second, market the animals in a fashion that buyers who need and benefit preconditioned calves will have the very best possibility for obtain. OQBN revenue are scheduled with partner auctions to bring in the quantity of both prospective buyers and certified preconditioned cattle to result in superior marketplaces and value for the calves.
