Sometimes a real wreck occurs when calves have not been properly vaccinated and lack the immunity to ward off the challenges of respiratory infection. If the weather and other stress related conditions work against you, it is not uncommon for 30 percent or more of the calves to require treatment. You could even incur some death loss. Granted, the QA calves command a little higher, but it's a win-win situation for both buyer and seller. Buyers get what they pay for.
All calves eventually have to be vaccinated and weaned.
The cost will be absorbed either before or after purchase. If vaccination and weaning takes place before the sale and before shipping, the return on the dollar and risk reduction will be realized in improved performance and minimal health-related problems. All calves in the QA sale are vaccinated in the neck region, subcutaneously if possible to avoid carcass blemishes. An objective of the QA sale is to offer genetically superior calves with predictable performance. The young sire evaluation programs, such as the Wardensville or the Southern Bull Test are good sources of performance advantage sires.