Stocker operations. They are the middle step of the cattle production cycle. The cow-calf producer raises the calves up to weaning. After a few months of growing and developing those calves, the backgrounder will ship them to the feedyard. There, they will finish maturing, put on finish and muscle before going to their final destination.
Every phase of the production cycle comes with its unique set of challenges and opportunities. However, unless you are retaining ownership, the stocker operator often gets those calves when they are at their most vulnerable. They are usually fresh-weaned, just taken from their mamas, put into a new environment, and their diet changes from milk-based to forage-based.
At BioZyme®, our motto, care that comes full circle, means that if we care for the animals, they in turn will take care of us. We strive to provide care to every animal every day. We know that with the proper cattle production and management resources, stocker operations can reduce stress in their calves and grow healthy, productive calves.
That is why our Gain Smart® team created this blog. We want to be a resource for those producers who specialize in the middle step. Gain Smart is a line of vitamin and mineral supplements for stocker cattle that promotes healthy, economical pounds.
Cattle Production and Management Resources
Producers have many different production and management resources available from which to select. From record-keeping systems to scales and vaccination protocols to facilities, literally 100s of choices exist. We are not going to get into the nitty-gritty and select choices for you. We are going to give you a 30,000-foot view of what you need to consider if this is your first time getting in stockers.
Know the Source
According to John Jeffrey, BioZyme Director of National Sales, knowing the information on the calves you are about to buy is one of the most important management tools you can employ. Discovering their breed and genetic make-up and what kind of management they have had in the past will give you a better sense of how to care for them. Other history you might want to find out includes any vaccination or health protocol that was used and how long they have been weaned.
“Knowing if you’re getting in high risk or low risk calves, and the overall history of a source of cattle can help a backgrounder out. This basic information helps you determine how you can best handle the cattle moving forward,” Jeffrey said.
Facilities are Key
Having a facility that is calf-friendly is vitally important. We often think of stocker calves out grazing on lush, wide, open pastures. While that is true most of the time, there are still some things to consider when preparing facilities for stockers.
You’ll want to have a receiving pen with a loadout chute, where calves can unload from the semi and load up when it is time to go to the feed yard. The receiving pen should be large enough to hold calves for an adjustment period to get them used to their new environment. It should have a fresh water source and provide a quality vitamin and mineral supplement.
Additionally, ensure that there is a fresh water source big enough to service the cattle in the pen. Access to clean, fresh water at this stage of their life is vitally important to their overall health and performance.
Furthermore, your facilities should have a working chute, where you can process cattle upon receiving or if you need to treat a sick one. Jeffrey said one really nice processing perk is having a scale underneath your processing chute, which allows you to more accurately dose your antibiotics and vaccinations to weight.
“When every penny counts, being able to provide dosage to the animal’s weight, and manage your medicine inventory is just one way to provide yourself more income,” he said.
Finally, make sure the fence line is secure, and that adequate bunk space is available if you are feeding your calves grain.
Animal Health, Nutrition
Animal health and nutrition work synergistically. They are a critical component to any producer’s cattle production and management resources. Jeffrey encourages every stocker operator to have animal health and animal nutrition protocols. Those start with building trusted relationships with livestock nutritionists and veterinarians who understand your production goals. Maintain records of every treatment and vaccination you give your animals, and find a record-keeping system that works best for you.
Perhaps the most important way to ensure that your animals stay healthy is to get them started right with the 3-step approach from Gain Smart.
“If we can get Amaferm into their diet and keep it in their diet early on, it will help those calves maintain a healthy stomach. They will feel better, grow better, have overall better water intake and go to the feedlot growing and gaining more efficiently,” Jeffrey said.
Gain Smart Program is a Smart Cattle Production and Management Tool
Step 1: VitaFerm® Cattle Drench
VitaFerm® Cattle Drench is the first step to successfully receiving your calves. This drench for cattle is designed to support digestive health before, during and after challenges. It contains AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility. Cattle Drench also contains MOS (mannan oligosaccharides) to help normalize the gut microflora and supports the immune system and enzymes to generate a more rapid digestive response.
Using this drench as you process the calves at receiving helps keep their gut healthy and functioning. We know that 70% of the immune response starts within the digestive system, so a healthy gut will lead to a healthy animal.
Step 2: VitaFerm® Stress Tubs
VitaFerm Stress Tubs help eliminate stress of being in a new environment when offered to calves the first 14 to 21 days post-receiving. This tub for cattle is designed to support digestive health and intake and contains Vita Charge Technology including Amaferm and MOS. It also contains a probiotic to help restore the gut microbiome. The Stress Tubs are not minerals but can work along with your mineral program.
The Vita Charge Technology, found in the Cattle Drench and Stress Tubs, is comprised of a unique blend of ingredients. These ingredients help support animal health before, during or after the stress. Every product with Vita Charge Technology contains an exact amount of B vitamins, vitamin E, potassium, zinc, MOS and Amaferm.
In addition, a precisely defined salt-to-sugar ratio was developed and incorporated into the technology to support hydration. This combination provides an undeniable impact to livestock under stress
Step 3: Gain Smart
Gain Smart® is a line of free-choice vitamin and mineral supplements for stocker cattle that promotes healthy, economical pounds. With four different formulas based on your management scenarios, this mineral is designed to maximize efficient gain.
Gain Smart contains Amaferm, organic copper, iodine and zinc for maximum bioavailability and hoof health. It also provides nutritional support for a healthy immune system. It can be fed as a loose mineral or mixed into a ration.
Keep your Calves Healthy with Gain Smart
Have we convinced you that Gain Smart powered by Amaferm is a great cattle production and management tool? We hope so! Now that you know about Gain Smart, you can give your stockers healthy, efficient pounds today.
Gain Smart is available at one of our local BioZyme Dealers. Locate the dealer nearest you.
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