The Link
To market, to market.
To market, to market to buy a steer … not quite the right words for this nursery rhyme, but marketing this year has not exactly had much of a rhyme to it either. Many farmers and ranchers are trying to figure when there will be highs and avoid the lows. That in itself is not much different, but this year’s rhythm is different.
The early video sales are showing calves enrolled in value-added programs out in front when it comes to price and interest. Calves enrolled in the AngusLinkSM Global Animal Partnership (GAP) bundle, which includes Age and Source, Non-Hormone Treated Calves (NHTC), NeverEver 3 (NE3) and GAP, averaged around $10-$15 more per hundredweight (cwt.) than commodity calves. Calves enrolled in NHTC, and other AngusLink programs appear to be selling above the same calves not enrolled in any value-added programs. If you haven’t enrolled before in AngusLink, now is the time.
AngusLink has a variety of optional Process Verified Program (PVP) claims for you to consider when you enroll. One of the lesser-known claims is Calf Management. However, as we all know, calves that have been vaccinated always seem to bring more money on sale day.
AngusLinkSM has a variety of optional Process Verified Program (PVP) claims for you to consider when you enroll. One of the lesser-known claims is Calf Management. However, as we all know, calves that have been vaccinated always seem to bring more money on sale day.
Like many issues in the world today, there are two camps. There are those who think vaccinations pay for themselves and earn the money back, and there are those who think they do not receive a premium comparable to the cost of vaccinations, labor, time and shrink. Producers definitely need to put a pencil to their own operation to determine what is best for their operation and the market they use.
The other side of the coin looks at whether vaccinations also help the calves gain better. This could and should go into your calculation to evaluate whether vaccinations fit your operation. Additionally, vaccinations could reduce the use of antibiotics and decrease the mortality rate in your calf crop.
I found some recent data that showed calves that were not vaccinated received $85 per head less on sale day compared to calves that had one round of shots. Calves that received their second round of shots increased by an additional $85 per head, making the total increase $170 per head.
We recently vaccinated our calves. The first round of shots cost just under $6 per head, while the second round was around $9 per head. This does not include any deworming. If you take a moment to check prices and costs across the United States, this will be comparable. The return without any labor, time or deworming for our operation would be about $155 per head.
Many producers who enroll their calves in AngusLink do not realize we have a Calf Management claim. Producers at minimum have to give at least one round of vaccinations to their enrolled calves. The administrator will collect documents, calendars and receipts to support the claim.
Next time you enroll your calves in AngusLink, ask your administrator about the Calf Management claim. Remember, the NHTC and the NHTC/NE3 claims require an on-site visit prior to marketing.
Video sale season is really heating up. Call your AngusLink administrator today to get started on your path to value-added marketing!
Editor’s note: Ginette Gottswiller is the director of verification services for the American Angus Association.
