Producers Can Add Value to Calves

By Donald Stotts

STILLWATER, Okla. - In the low margin industry that is the cow-calf business, producers ignore the advantages of calf de-horning, de-worming, castration, implantation and vaccination at their own risk.

Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension livestock specialist, said one experienced sale barn employee put it this way: just about the dumbest thing a rancher can do is to bring a horned bull calf to a sale.

"It's about perception of commitment to quality," Selk said. "Calves that have been castrated and de-horned and healed-up from these operations suggest to buyers that the rancher is proud of the product he or she markets."

Surveys conducted in eastern Oklahoma in 1997 and 1999 revealed that horned calves were discounted $3 to $3.50 per hundredweight, or $15 to $17.50 per 500-pound steer calf. The advantage in heifers was about half as much.

"De-horning calves at an early age or doing so genetically using a polled bull can help avoid discounts at sale date," Selk said.

Castration of bull calves at an early age is another easily done step toward improved sale price. Data collected at 14 eastern Oklahoma sale barns during 1997 indicated that the average discount in price was $3.56 per hundredweight for bull calves of similar breed and weight to steers.

"More recent surveys in Arkansas suggest even greater discounts, some $4.50 per hundredweight for bull calves," Selk said.

Some producers may be tempted to sell bull calves because bulls grow faster than steers and therefore weigh more at weaning.

"While there is no question that bulls generally are heavier at weaning time, research has repeatedly shown that steer calves - given growth promoting implants at about two months of age - will weigh the same as the intact bull and consistently receive the higher selling price per pound," Selk said.

The recommendation is clear: castration and implantation promote better value.

De-worming spring-born calves the first week of June is another management practice that can return more dollars than it costs. Calves de-wormed at OSU's Eastern Research Station near Haskell weighed 21 pounds more at weaning than calves that were not de-wormed.

"Added weight gain is routinely valued at $0.55 per pound; de-wormed calves sold for an average of $11.55 per head than calves from the same herd that were not de-wormed," Selk said.

Nor does the list of value-added management procedures end there.

"Blackleg vaccines routinely cost about $0.50 or less per dose if the producer administers the vaccine," said Kent Barnes, OSU Cooperative Extension area livestock specialist. "This is extremely inexpensive insurance against a disease that is present in the soil of many areas in Oklahoma."

The cost of one calf lost to blackleg potentially is the purchase price of 800 to 1,000 doses of the vaccine.

"Cattle producers obviously should perform recommended management procedures," Barnes said. "The hours of hard work are certainly rewarded at calf marketing time."

Still, OSU Cooperative Extension educators and specialists recognize that not every cow-calf operator has the facilities, physical ability or time away from other employment to perform all the procedures.

"Producers who can't do the procedures themselves should contact their local veterinarian," Barnes said.

A survey of eastern Oklahoma veterinary clinics found that castration, de-horning, implanting, blackleg vaccinations and de-worming could be done for $14 to $19.50 per horned bull calf. Less expense is needed if the calves are heifers or genetically polled.

"Research shows that implanted, de-horned, de-wormed, castrated steers are valued at $40 to $46 more per head than if they had been left as wormy, cutter bull calves," Selk said. "It's really just a question of whether or not a producer enjoys putting more money in his or her pocket than is taken out. It's that straightforward."

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