According to Gill, buyers purchasing properly weaned cattle can also skip much of the medical expense typically associated with stocker cattle. We conducted a couple of studies over the past two years in an attempt to determine which vaccination program would provide for the best post-weaning health and performance of calves. Our studies did not show an advantage to any vaccination program on performance or health of the calves during backgrounding or when they were sent to the feedlot. The key to the success of backgrounding and post-weaning performance continues to look toward the length of time weaned prior to shipment and overall cow herd nutrition. Gill said this year's cheap corn prices, especially that with aflatoxin problems, offers an added profit opportunity for those with wheat grazing prospects.
Corn is cheap, especially that which has tested 'hot' for aflatoxin.
The toxicity is diluted by the wheat pasture. The recommendation on feeding affected grains to stocker cattle is to not exceed 100 parts per billion of aflatoxin in the total diet. Gill said the corn-wheat combination makes for very efficient gains if initial inputs are low. The partial grain diet also helps guard against bloat. I know it's usually hard to buy properly weaned calves right, but this looks like the year to do it.