Whether their opinions are rooted in science-based facts or popular perception, consumers are demanding to know more about where their food comes from, how it was grown or raised and what inputs were used.
One result has been an increase in the demand for antibiotic-free, natural meat.
Meanwhile, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is ironing out details for its Animal Disease Traceability program that will likely impact farm-level management at some point.
These trends indicate that cow-calf producers will have to use more preventative health care measures and provide more documentation regarding individual animal health records.
Taking a more proactive approach to animal health by preconditioning calves and preventing bovine respiratory disease (BRD) has significant animal welfare benefits throughout a calf’s life.
Although the term “preconditioning” was coined in late 1967 at the Preconditioning Seminar at Oklahoma State University, many calves are still not preconditioned with appropriate vaccinations and management practices, putting animal health and well-being at risk.
At a time when calf prices are high and inventory is low, it’s more important than ever to produce thriving, healthy calves.
Research confirms considerable premiums for preconditioning. A University of Arkansas study indicated that preconditioned calves demanded a $5-per-hundredweight (cwt) premium above calves that weren’t preconditioned, while preconditioned calves in the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network demanded a range of premiums from $6.54 to $9.23 per cwt since 2009.
Vaccinate to prevent respiratory disease
The greatest impact ranchers can make in the battle against BRD is to vaccinate against common respiratory viruses such as infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), parainfluenza-3 (PI3), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), along with bacterial infections Mannheimia haemolytica and Haemophilus somnus.
However, cow-calf producers often miss these crucial vaccinations, and BRD alone costs the industry two to three billion dollars annually and causes 29 percent of all calf death losses in the U.S.
The Beef Quality Assurance program’s “Cattle Industry’s Guidelines for the Care and Handling of Cattle” recommends vaccinating “against respiratory disease prior to weaning.”
This is sound advice since most BRD vaccines take two to three weeks to build immunity against pathogens.
Some BRD vaccines require an initial injection that primes the immune system and a booster dose to fully develop immunity. Your veterinarian can help establish a vaccination schedule to optimize immune response.
Vaccinations around weaning time often coincide with heat, humidity, drought or dusty conditions that can leave calves vulnerable to respiratory disease.
Processing calves early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day reduces stress and improves vaccine effectiveness. If possible, avoid working cattle in temperatures above 85ºF with more than 40 percent humidity or at higher temperatures with lower humidity.
Reduce weaning stress to minimize BRD
BRD thrives on compromised immune systems. Disease risk elevates when you compound greater exposure to infectious agents at weaning time with shipping, which can cause dehydration, fatigue and appetite loss.
This challenge presents an opportunity for producers to reconsider weaning procedures and adopt methods to minimize BRD risk.
For example, cattlemen can work calves with low-stress handling techniques such as minimal noise, movement and arm waving, as well as give calves recovery time from procedures such as castration and dehorning.
Fenceline weaning, where calves remain in sight of dams and are gradually separated by increased distance with electric fencing, is another method to reduce weaning stress.
According to a study at the University of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Station, calves tended to show higher average daily gains (ADG) using this method, and ADG is a key determinant in preconditioning profitability.
Fenceline weaning also alleviates forage challenges some producers have when preconditioning calves in drylots.
Marketing is vital to preconditioning success
Effective alliances are helping some producers recoup costs and get the most out of their preconditioned calves.
Teaming with neighbors to use weaning facilities or collaborating together for special preconditioning sales can add value to the calves, as will simply grouping similar preconditioned calves together in larger loads.
A veterinarian’s third-party verification of health programs also adds worth to calves. Extension educators can be a good source for help with other area cattlemen partnerships.
In the future, stocker and feedlot operators will likely demand stronger health initiatives from cow-calf producers in efforts to reduce BRD.
Preventative health care and traceability have value for today’s cattleman in building a more accountable, reputable calf welfare program for tomorrow.
Visit Respiratory (Cattle) for more information on respiratory disease. 
Dr. Douglas Scholz, DVM graduate of Purdue University, manages professional services staff at Novartis Animal Health.
References omitted due to space but are available upon request. Click here to email an editor.
