Preconditioning programs show momentum
Sep 4, 2007 10:06 AM
Superior Livestock Auction, the nation’s largest marketer of cattle via satellite and the Internet, gave SelectVAC®, the largest branded preconditioning program in the industry, a major boost when it announced a 5-year exclusive partnership with Pfizer Animal Health. The partnership names SelectVAC® as the only branded preconditioning program recognized by Superior Livestock Auction and allows the over 1.5 million head of cattle sold annually through Superior to be identified as SelectVAC/Superior-designated calves.
In a similar announcement, the American Angus Association, representing the largest breed of cattle in North America, said they were forming a marketing alliance between their AngusSource®, an age-, source- and genetic-USDA Process Verified Program and Pfizer’s SelectVAC®.
Those two announcements suggest the cattle industry is accepting preconditioning programs in growing numbers. In fact, the number of enrolled animals has been accelerating over the past two years, according to Pierre Bertrand, Senior Marketing Manager, Pfizer Animal Health.
Bertrand says the number of animals enrolled had been steady since its inception 12 years ago, reaching more than 2.5 million enrollments in 2006. “Last year, though, the number enrolled exploded, and this fall we will reach an important milestone by registering our 3 millionth calf.”
Pfizer plans to recognize the milestone with a special award. “In addition to earning premiums of up to $29 or more per head, the producer who enrolls the 3 millionth calf will win a year’s worth of Pfizer SelectVAC products – up to $5,000 in value”.
Preconditioning programs work by managing the health of a herd in a responsible, provable way and rely on third party verification. By vaccinating calves using the protocols established by a well-managed health program, producers can deliver a healthier animal to buyers, reducing their treatment costs, time and labor.
According to research published by Iowa State University in 2006, preconditioned calves earned approximately $18/head premiums versus unvaccinated, unweaned calves. Calves that were preconditioned through a certified program, such as SelectVAC, earned almost double the premium, more than $30/head, demonstrating the value of not only preconditioning, but choosing a recognized, certified program. For more information visit the SelectVAC® Website.
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