text: Way to maximize the value of your 2011 calf crop | TSLN.com
  Way to maximize the value of your 2011 calf crop
  Courtesy photoMany producers will be making calf marketing decisions soon. Sale prices almost always are higher for large groups of high-quality, uniform calves.
  "For producers to capture the most value from their calf crop, they need to follow a carefully planned marketing strategy," said Carl Dahlen, North Dakota State University Extension Service beef cattle specialist.
  "Implementing a sound herd health program is the easiest way to add value to the calf crop, but it has to be done correctly," Dahlen advised. "Calves must receive the correct vaccines at the correct time."
  The type of vaccine cattle receive also can impact the price. Cattle feeders are looking for calves that have received a modified-live vaccine. Many feeders are not happy with the protection from a killed vaccine.
  Recent sales have shown price swings of $5-$8 per hundredweight for the same quality of calves, depending on vaccination status, with higher prices paid for vaccinated calves. Consult with your veterinarian about the vaccination strategy appropriate for your herd.
  "However, 2011 is a different story," Dahlen said. "This year may prove to be the most beneficial year to date for producers who age- and source-verify their calves. As long as Japan restricts imports to less than 21 months of age, the demand for age- and source-verified calves will remain strong. But the process for verifying calves does not happen overnight."
  Producers should be proactive, initiating and following through with the age- and source-verification process. They need to have records in place and start the paperwork well in advance of the sale to properly verify the age and source of calves. Dahlen recommends producers talk to a third-party certification agency to learn if their calves and records qualify for age and source verification.
  "I encourage producers to spend time evaluating production costs and returns to ensure that they are obtaining a sufficient premium when marketing under a natural or organic label, compared with managing and marketing calves in traditional markets," Dahlen said.
  Auction market representatives can be great resources for producers with questions about improving the value of their calf crop. The market representatives deal with questions about feedyard preference for calves, status of calf supply and demand, whether feedlots are running at capacity and the latest market trends daily, whereas many cow-calf producers evaluate these questions once a year.
  "No silver bullet will make you consistently top the sale each time you sell calves," Dahlen said. "Concentrate on creating a uniform set of calves with cows that work in your environment. Manage your herd with good BQA practices, vaccinate in a timely fashion, age and source verify if the market is rewarding the effort, and remain flexible with marketing strategy and dates."