A good nutritional program supports the growth and performance of calves during the preconditioning period. During this time, calves undergo the transition from a forage and milk-based diet to a forage and concentrate-based diet. Training calves to use a feed bunk or watering trough should also be accomplished during the preconditioning period. Training can be accelerated by placing feed bunks with high-quality palatable hay top-dressed with supplement perpendicular to fence lines so that calves can easily find feed when they walk the fence. Calves should have between 1.5 to 2 feet of bunk space per head to prevent crowding. Water troughs should be clean, highly visible, and accessible. Small watering troughs may be more attractive to weaned calves because they can hear it being refilled quickly and the water supply may turn over more quickly in small troughs, keeping the water clean and cool.

Rations for weaned calves can vary and may consist of grazed/conserved forages with or without supplemental feed. Collecting weights at weaning can help producers estimate weight gain goals during the preconditioning period and better formulate a suitable nutrition plan. It is important to have realistic expectations for weight gain during this time period. Weaned calves often lose weight during the first week postweaning due to the stress of the weaning process and acclimation of the rumen microbes to a new diet, but will slowly begin to regain weight within a 2- to 3-week period. Conduct a forage analysis to determine the type and level of additional feed supplementation needed to reach projected weight gain goals during the backgrounding period. Calves receiving supplemental feed should undergo an appropriate acclimation period to maintain proper rumen health. Begin by providing 0.5 percent body weight in feed and increase to the needed amount by 2 to 3 pounds every 3 days. Calves should also have free-choice access to grazed or conserved forage to support rumen health. Provide access to a free- choice mineral or mix mineral into feed supplements to help meet micronutrient requirements and provide more consistent mineral delivery in the diet.

Nutrition plans should also be economically feasible to create value by cost-effectively adding weight to calves. Careful consideration should be taken to evaluate the weight gain goals, time constraints of the producer, forage quality, and feed options. The best way to evaluate the economic feasibility of feed programs is by considering the cost of gain vs. the value of gain. Cost of gain is calculated by dividing the total cost by the pounds gained. Value of gain must take into the different prices normally associated with different cattle weights, and in the case of preconditioning must consider any added premiums obtained. If the value of gain is less than the cost of gain, serious consideration should be given to alternative feeding options.

Marketing

Preconditioning calves is advantageous for the industry because it has been observed to help produce healthier, better performing calves that can adjust quicker and perform more efficiently during subsequent grazing and/or finishing phases of production. However, producers should carefully consider the effects preconditioning will have on his or her farm, particularly from an economic perspective. Preconditioning calves will cost a producer time and money and could present cash-flow issues. After considering the cost involved, producers can work to develop a marketing plan that will help increase potential profits gained from preconditioning calves.

Selling preconditioned calves without prior advertising or communication with a local livestock barn may not achieve the best possible return on investment. However, even without any added marketing efforts preconditioned feeder calves can have greater value when sold due to a reduction in shrink loss associated with transport from the farm to the point of sale when compared to calves that have undergone abrupt weaning. Generally, unweaned calves that are transported directly to the point of sale may have between 7 to 9 percent shrink loss, whereas preconditioned calves transported to the point of sale may have 5 percent shrink loss or less. Shrink loss is highly variable and dependent on time of feeding prior to transport, transportation stress, time spent in holding pens prior to sale, and environmental conditions, which influences calf body weight at the time of sale. Producers should consider revenue gained from diminished shrink in preconditioned calves when calculating their value of gain.

Where and/or how cattle are sold will have a direct impact on whether preconditioning will make or cost the producer money. Because of the expenses associated with preconditioning (feed, labor, land, machinery, initial weight loss, etc.), it is important to maximize the opportunity to recapture some of that investment. Feeder cattle are marketed several ways in Alabama, but the majority are marketed individually (or in small groups) through local livestock auctions. One of the keys to capturing the value of preconditioned feeder calves is to assemble groups of these calves to market collectively. This can be accomplished through traditional livestock auctions or by marketing through board sales or video/internet marketers. Assembling calves of one sex, similar size, and uniform quality into truckload sized groups (48,000 to 50,000 pounds of total weight) provides the greatest marketing potential. Even smaller groups (five head or more) marketed at local stockyards can command premium prices when sold together. Small cattle operations should consider working with neighbors and their local livestock auction to market preconditioned cattle together when large groups can be assembled. Communication with livestock auctions is key for small producers. Traditional livestock auctions can work well if they have time to communicate with buyers and market the cattle prior to sale.