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My experience with preconditioning
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<blockquote data-quote="JRGidaho`" data-source="post: 709242" data-attributes="member: 13410"><p>In nearly 20 years of pasture weaning with over 200 hd of calves each year on one farm, we averaged about 1.5 to 1.6 lb/day in what was usually a 21-day weaning period. In a bad year they might only do .9 to 1 lb/day. In very good years we have hit 2lb/day. That is with no supplemental feed, just stockpiled pasture in October to early November. The calves were then ready to move into whatever backgrounding program we wanted to do or go ahead and sell them. </p><p></p><p>Over that time period with about 3800 calves going through the program, we had two sick calves. On a smaller farm with just 50 to 60 calves, we never had a sick calf at weaning. On that farm we did fenceline weaning.</p><p></p><p>Since most sales now require 45 days, thay can be run longer than the 21 days on the same program.</p><p></p><p>To meet the bunk-broke criteria, we have fed pellets on the ground under electric fence wires. The calves line up at the fence just like it were a feed bunk and they learn to eat feed. That only needs to be done for 10 to 14 days to have them trained, not the entire 45 days.</p><p></p><p>Calves that were to be sold were given two rounds of shots.</p><p></p><p>Bottom line for me is if you do the right things, preconditioning pays. Marketing the calves rather than just selling them is another one of the doing the right things. I recognize with smaller operations in areas with limited sale opportunities this might be more challenging.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="JRGidaho`, post: 709242, member: 13410"] In nearly 20 years of pasture weaning with over 200 hd of calves each year on one farm, we averaged about 1.5 to 1.6 lb/day in what was usually a 21-day weaning period. In a bad year they might only do .9 to 1 lb/day. In very good years we have hit 2lb/day. That is with no supplemental feed, just stockpiled pasture in October to early November. The calves were then ready to move into whatever backgrounding program we wanted to do or go ahead and sell them. Over that time period with about 3800 calves going through the program, we had two sick calves. On a smaller farm with just 50 to 60 calves, we never had a sick calf at weaning. On that farm we did fenceline weaning. Since most sales now require 45 days, thay can be run longer than the 21 days on the same program. To meet the bunk-broke criteria, we have fed pellets on the ground under electric fence wires. The calves line up at the fence just like it were a feed bunk and they learn to eat feed. That only needs to be done for 10 to 14 days to have them trained, not the entire 45 days. Calves that were to be sold were given two rounds of shots. Bottom line for me is if you do the right things, preconditioning pays. Marketing the calves rather than just selling them is another one of the doing the right things. I recognize with smaller operations in areas with limited sale opportunities this might be more challenging. [/QUOTE]
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