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PR 102: Backgrounding Cattle
Dr. Larry Hollis; Dr. Twig Marston,
Kansas State Univ.
Backgrounding Cattle
“Everything we do, has to go back to benefit the consumer,” said Twig Marston, of Kansas State University (K-State) in a presentation on backgrounding cattle during the Cattlemen’s College®. The educational event was sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, Wednesday, Jan. 28, prior to the 2004 Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in Phoenix, Ariz.
Marston, along with Larry Hollis, also of K-State, discussed the means and benefits of backgrounding cattle. “Backgrounding,” Hollis said, “is preparing cattle for the next phase of the production cycle. [It is] development of replacement animals, preparing purchased calves for the feedlot and preparing home-raised calves for the feedlot.”
When calves are preconditioned, cattlemen expect to see improved performance in average daily gain, death loss and feed-to-gain conversion, Marston said. A good backgrounding program can decrease both medical costs and costs of gain while improving carcass quality. The economic benefit can be $40-$60.
Hollis encouraged producers to structure, management programs of both cows and calves to meet the needs and demands of the target market. Vaccinations, parasite control, feeding, breeding and calving management are important to cow herd management, vaccinations, parasite control, implants, individual animal identification (ID) and weaning are important calf management considerations.
With the issue of country-of-origin labeling (sometimes referred to as COL or COOL) and a national ID program fresh on everyone’s mind, Hollis recommended producers keep good records on all cattle in preparation for the possible policy implementation.
— by Cara Bieroth