beef cattle test 3

yearling stocker

cattle fed and managed for growth prior to going to feedlot, for lightweight calves (<500), steers and heifers after weaning

profitability depends on

cost and availability of grass/forage, calves/yearlings, health management

top states for yearling stockers

texas, kansas, and oklahoma

different types of ownership in yearling stocker

cattle change hands several times between weaning and harvest, cow-calf retain ownership

retain ownerhip

cow-calf producers still own but yearling stocker provides service

USDA feeder cattle grades

predict feedlot weight gain and harvest weight endpoint

what are the USDA feeder cattle grades

frame size, muscling, thriftiness

frame size

large (6+), medium (4-5), small (3<)

muscling

1,2,3,4

thriftiness

how healthy the animal is

large frame size

steers: >1250

heifers: >1150

medium frame size

steers: 1100-1250

heifers: 1000-1150

small frame size

steers: <1100

heifers: <1000

market prices in yearling stocker

buy low and sell high, greatest effect on profit, prices are seasonal

considerations when purchasing

moderate condition, healthy, light forage, moderate or better for muscle and frame

pasture costs

pasture leases— per acre, per lb of gain, fixed ratio per head; costs— own land, demand for land use, land productivity; responsibilities— differentiate between cattle owner and stocker, checking in on cattle, maintain fences and water

management considerations

health and nutrition

stressors

weaning, sorting and comingling, transport, handling, process and vaccine, weather, dietary changes

high risk in cattle

fresh weaned and light cattle

least risk in cattle

weaned 30-45 days before shipping, castrated with in 90 days of age, polled or dehorned prior to 90 days of age, free of internal and external parasites, vaccinated

what is the best way to prevent stress

know the origin of cattle, one owner cattle

what is the most crucial time at yearling stocker

first part of feeding period because stress still high, symptoms may not show up until later

what is greatest health problem

respiratory disease, caused by virus and bacteria and stress

nutrition for receiving cattle

consume hay and water especially if you don’t know what was fed, high in roughage with high quality hay and a starter ration/top dress

rate of gain

not a lot in beginning because still adjusting, 1.5 pounds or higher ideally, faster gain means more profit, growth implants

breakeven price per pound formula

(weight * sale price) - (weight * bought price) / weight gained

total cost of gain formula

(weight * sale price) - (weight * bought price)

breakeven sale price formula

(total gain cost of gain) + ( weight * bought price) / sale weight

preconditioning

weaning calves at least 45 days before a sale, training calves to feed from a bunk and drink from a water trough

what does preconditioning include

castration, dehorning, vaccination

pros of preconditioning

get reputation for healthy cattle, add value to home raised calves, increase income through retain ownership

cons of preconditioning

more labor, expense for cow-calf

what is the major expense of preconditioning for cow calf

having the proper facilities

what is the bottom line in management decisions

get paid for your work

marketing for yearling stockers

ad management, relationships with buyers, organized feeder calf markets

requirements for organized feeder calf markets

herd health documentation, calf weaning records, certification forms, owned by one owner for a minimum amount of time, form of ID