Maybe I misunderstand somewhere, but isn't "pre-conditioning" more a matter of weaning (for at least 45 days), castrated and healed and all shots up to date then a matter of feeding grain?
There is a Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) "Preconditioned" calf sale in December that I received a flyer on recently and have been considering selling a few calves at as an experiment. Some folks in WI are pooling to come up with a potload(s).
The required "preconditioning" is just as above: weaned 45 days or more, bunk broke, castrated/healed and all shots. No mentioning nor requirenment of grain, other than "bunk broke" which mine are with their gentling grain once a week or so.
The logic here is that if preconditioning saves the buyer from losing even one of a potload, or reduces the stress weight loss by weaning or shots keep from getting sick, then Preconditioning warrants a significantly higher price than calves taken from mama and put on the trailer, maybe uncastrated, passing and picking up various illnesses....
I think these will be just 45 days past weaning or about 700-800 lb range. It will be interesting to see what price they bring. Fenceline weaned in mid Oct, fall booster shots in Oct. Most cut in May and long since healed.
Mine will get whatever best pasture I have left in Nov and/or the best hay, no grain and no purchased grain expense to offset any price advantage. It would be interesting to see if we can get into the 1.10 or 1.20 range for some very good near 800 lb preconditioned CHB steers.
Jim