If they are unacceptable, they should be reloaded or the seller should be notified immediately for a price renegotiation. Calves should be batch weighed on arrival to determine shrinkage. Shrinkage of 7 to 8 percent or more is generally indicative of problem cattle. They probably will require more intensive management during the observation period. Once accepted, calves should be placed in small drylots with free access to good quality grass hay and fresh water and be allowed to rest overnight.
Processing can begin at daylight the next day.
All newly arrived stocker calves need to be vaccinated for diseases to which they will be exposed. If the calves originated from a direct sale, they may just need booster vaccinations. The majority of backgrounding calves need to be vaccinated against IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV, Haemophilus somnus, Pasteurella , blackleg, and leptospirosis. BRD Bovine respiratory disease, or BRD, commonly refers to infections of the lungs caused by bacteria that normally inhabit the nose and throat of cattle. Healthy lungs will have adequate resistance against the bacteria.