Preconditioning calves is one way that a farm or ranch can really add value, whether those cattle are staying on the farm or moving into a stocker or feedlot scenario. The producer implementing a preconditioning program may receive a higher premium. No matter where the calf goes after that, the opportunity for improved health and performance should be adding value from that program.

In times of high cattle prices, it’s not uncommon for producers to want to capitalize on prices as quickly as possible.

And, it’s no different for this year’s valuable calf crop. Producers are gearing up to cash in on their investment in producing and raising a healthy calf, but there are a few reasons to slow down and evaluate if this is the most profitable path. Could waiting a few months longer realize additional payoff?

Preconditioning cattle, which commonly includes a vaccination, nutritional and management program to help calves through a stressful timeframe, can be an investment, but it can be an investment with potentially bigger payoffs down the road.

Here are four reasons preconditioning calves makes ‘cents’:

1. Improved calf health

As many producers know, weaning can be a very stressful time for calves. Stress may cause them to go off feed, become immunocompromised and more susceptible to disease, or even result in death.

Calves that are preconditioned with an effective vaccination program and started on a high-quality nutrition program may be better equipped to handle this period of stress.

Research shows that preconditioned calves may have a significant reduction in treatment costs, as much as $29.50 per head, as well as 3.1 percent lower mortality rate in comparison to non-preconditioned calves.¹ Investing in animal health with preconditioning can help cattle get through a stressful period, meaning potentially less treatment cost and more calves down the road.

2. Additional calf weight gain and increased feed efficiency

Selling calves at a later date that have gone through a preconditioning program (45 days or more) will have added weight versus calves that are sold at weaning.² Additionally, research shows that calves that have gone through preconditioning have 7.2 percent better feed efficiency.¹

Another study shows that preconditioning can add up to $61 per head to the value of heifers or $11.04 per hundredweight to the initial weaning weight.³

3. Seasonal market payoff

Preconditioning may provide an opportunity to sell calves in a more favorable market. In many instances, spring-born calves are weaned in October and are either sold at that point, or they are preconditioned to be marketed roughly 45 days later in November or December. Seasonal price indicators show that it may be more profitable to wait for higher prices in November or December, but that it varies based on market scenarios.⁴

Market prices for cattle can really fluctuate, and it’s important to have tabs on the market value at any given time, in comparison to what you’ll be investing in a preconditioning program. Cattle producers should always have a goal in place before starting a program.

4. Management premium

Despite the additional costs of vaccination and nutrition, research shows that conservatively, preconditioning may capture $50 to $75 per head of additional value.³ Whether you keep the set of calves on your operation for further development, or are looking to sell those calves to a stocker or feedlot operation, this added value can mean potential profit in the form of healthier animals and the resulting premiums.

When considering a preconditioning program, there are several critical management elements to keep in mind. Make sure preconditioned calves are acquainted with feed bunks and water troughs. Fresh, clean water should be offered at all times. In addition, calves should be offered a high-quality, balanced diet with the appropriate amount of energy, protein, minerals and vitamins.

Does your nutrition program stack up? Find out by visiting J & N Feed and Seed.

Article brought to you by Purina and Chris Forcherio, Ph.D. Beef Research Manager.

¹Urban, R. & Grooms, D.L. (2012.) Prevention and control of Bovine Respiratory Disease. Journal of Livestock Science. 3:27-36. Retrieved March 16, 2015 from http://livestockscience.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/Bovine_Respiratory_Disease.pdf.

December Garden Tips

Working in your garden is an excellent escape during the holidays. It’s a great time of year to do some of the heavy work in the landscape as opposed to sweating it up in the heat of the summer.

Don’t put up the mower yet. Although turf grasses have stopped growing, you can use the mower to chop up and recycle the leaves back into the lawn or for a compost pile.

Prepare gas-powered engines for winter. The owner’s manual is the best guide to winterizing a lawn mower, tiller, garden tractor or other power equipment.

Drain and store garden hoses and watering equipment in a readily accessible location. Lawns and other plants may need an occasional watering during a prolonged dry spell.

In general, once the weather gets and stays cold, pruning of deciduous plants (ones that lose their leaves) can be safely done. Evergreen hedges can be sheared or cut back in the winter also. Wait until February to prune your roses. Remember – Do Not Top your Crapemyrtles! Simply prune to remove seed heads and shape.

Prepare for the cold weather before it hits! One of the best things you can do for your landscape plants is to provide a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch. Mulching is necessary year round but during the colder periods, it provides a layer of insulation for the roots. Water your landscape well before a cold spell. A drought-stressed plant is more susceptible to freeze damage. For more tender plants, purchase frost cloth for extra protection. Cover the plant completely allowing the edges to come all the way to the ground, utilizing the heat which radiates from the ground.

December is a perfect time to plant trees and shrubs so they can develop a strong root system for next Spring. Cool weather color such as Pansies, Snapdragons, Cyclamen, Flowering Cabbage and Kale add splashes of color to your landscape. Spring flowering bulbs can be planted now once they have been properly chilled.

Make your home beautiful for the Holidays with a stunning assortment of floral quality Poinsettias, Cyclamen, freshest greenery and Christmas Trees. Add a mix of new indoor and tropical plants to energize your home décor.

Remember to provide food and water for the birds this winter. You can attract just as many birds with a bird bath as with food, especially during the dry spells. To draw a diversity of birds provide a variety of seeds, like sunflower, thistle, safflower, and millet; plus suet. Once you begin putting out bird food, continue feeding them through the springtime.

Save 10% off Traeger Wood Pellets this month at J&N Feed and Seed

We’re full-on into the holiday grilling/smoking season, so get ready and stock up and save on your favorite Traeger Pellets. Bring unrivaled wood-fired flavor to the table, unlocking your food’s true potential. We stock a variety of pellets including Apple, Mesquite, Hickory, Cherry, and Pecan.

These premium wood pellets are made from 100% natural, food-grade hardwood. Traeger pure wood pellets grant the perfect burn for optimal wood-fired flavor. Made in the USA and overseen from sawmill to shelf, Traeger provides the cleanest, healthiest fuel source available with endless flavor combinations.

25% off all in-stock Yeti products, while supplies last! We’re closing out our remaning inventory of Yeti products and passing the savings on to you. When they’re gone, they’re gone for good.

Pick up the Yeti coolers and drinkware at J&N Feed and Seed. We’re your headquarters for YETI Coolers, drinkware, and accessories in Graham, Texas. Unlike ordinary coolers, which are essentially disposable, YETI® Coolers are made to last! We carry the full line including the Tundra, Roadie, Hopper, and the new Yeti V Series Hard Cooler. We’ve also got a great selection of Rambler series of drink-ware. Pick up the Yeti Colster, 20 & 30 oz tumblers, bottles, colsters, and Yeti kid’s bottles made for the lunchbox.  We also carry a good assortment of Yeti accessories including caps, icepacks, cable locks, and more!  Not sure what you need? Let our knowledgeable staff help you find the Yeti that’s right for you!

Tundra Coolers 
The original and still the best heavy-duty cooler around, the YETI Tundra is a rugged, all-purpose, large cooler that comes in a variety of sizes for wilderness expeditions, hunting, fishing, tailgating, and more.

NEW Tundra Hauler
Our first-ever YETI cooler on wheels is the answer to taking Tundra’s® legendary toughness and unmatched insulation power the extra mile. And nothing was sacrificed in the making of this cold-holding powerhouse, ensuring the Haul™ lives up to the Tundra name. The Tundra® Haul™ is now the toughest cooler on two wheels.

Yeti V Series Hard Cooler
Vacuum insulation in our drinkware keeps your water ice cold and drinks piping hot for longer than you can believe. Now, this technology comes in the cooler form. Our Yeti V Series has thinner walls for more room inside.

Roadie 20
Small but mighty, the YETI Roadie is the best personal cooler you’ll ever find to protect your drinks from the heat. Built with the same hardy one-piece construction and ice-retaining insulation as our Tundra ice chests, this small personal cooler is equipped with a heavy-duty stainless steel handle for better portability.

Hopper & Flip
Ordinary soft-sided coolers are flimsy, frail, and only slightly better at cooling beverages than just leaving them in the shade. But the YETI Hopper is a portable cooler of a different color. No matter where you carry it or how you handle it, the Hopper won’t leak or break. And just like all YETI Coolers, it’s over-engineered to keep ice for days.

Rambler Series
YETI Ramblers are advanced personal drink coolers made from 18/8 stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation. Rambler Tumblers will keep your soda or mixed drinks cold twice as long as plastic cups, and make an excellent YETI coffee mug. The Rambler Colster locks in the cold of cans and bottles using a heat-mocking ThermoLock™ Gasket. Available in 20 and 30-ounce sizes.

Rambler Bottles
This stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulated Rambler will keep your beverage as cold as science allows. YETI bottles are extra-durable and come in a range of sizes that fit in your pocket, in your bar drawer, and even in your cooler. Available in 18, 36, and 64-ounce sizes.

Accessories
Security Cable Lock & Bracket, Beverage Holder, Drain Plug Hose Connection, T-Rex latches, Bottle Opener, Bottle Key, Locking Brackets, Hats, Shirts and MORE!

Stop by J&N Feed and Seed, and see our selection of Yeti coolers, drinkware, and accessories.

October Garden Tips

Usher in the autumn season with creative displays for indoors and out! Transformation quickly occurs with pots of mums, pansies, cabbages and ornamental peppers when combined with pumpkins, gourds and bales of hay.

Create a spectacular vignette in your landscape with bales of hay, a scarecrow or two, multiple sizes of pumpkins and gourds, pots of garden mums, corn stalks and for more texture consider adding old tools, a set of antlers or birdhouses. The autumn color palette offers a myriad of wonderful colors from which to choose; purples, rusts, gold’s, yellows, oranges, deep greens and browns can be used. Whether you are mixing colors or working with only one, use color abundantly to create massive appeal. Create a pyramid of pumpkins and gourds by selecting different colors and stacking them one on top of the other. Simply displaying a “pile” of pumpkins in the same color palette and different sizes will draw ones eye and interest to an area of your landscape.

Color Creations filled with blooming or colorful foliage plants can be used on patios and porches. Freshen up existing containers by nestling an interesting pumpkin or gourd in amongst the plants. Fill a favorite basket or pot with a mixture of produce for a simple, impressive look. Add a bit of nature into your containers with branches, corn husks, berries and other materials to enhance the overall look.

If you did not apply a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn in September; apply it by the first two weeks of October. You should also fertilize your St. Augustine or Bermuda lawns no later than the first week of October.

October is bulb buying month. They are in fresh supply and will provide welcome late winter and early spring color for the landscape. Refrigerate Tulips and Hyacinth bulb for at least 45 to 60 days to provide enough chilling to bloom properly. Plant them in late November or early December.

September Gardening Tips

September is a pivotal month for your landscape, with the official arrival of Autumn later this month, and hopefully, a return to cooler and wetter weather. It’s the gateway month between summer and fall gardening, so get outside and improve your landscape.

September is the time to apply lawn fertilizer to keep the grass healthy and growing up to the first frost. Always follow the directions on the package and avoid over-fertilizing, which will only damage your lawn. Fall-fertilized lawns are better equipped to make it through the winter and resume growth next spring than lawns that receive no fertilizer.

Double check your sprinklers carefully to make sure they are applying all that you expect in an even, uniform pattern.

Think back to last spring. Did you have lawn weeds in February and March before the grass started growing? Those were cool-season weeds, most of which germinated last fall. A pre-emergent herbicide applied in September will help reduce the recurrence of the same weeds next spring.

Sow Spring Wildflowers (like Bluebonnets) seeds now. For more reliable, uniform seed germination of our State flower, purchase acid-treated Bluebonnets seed. This treatment pits the seed coat, allowing nearly 100% germination in one to two weeks.

Need to add new shrubbery or trees to your landscape; this is a great month to do that. Fall landscaping done now will be well-rooted by next Spring and Summer.

Plant your fall vegetable garden. Plant cool-season vegetable garden with transplants of Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Chard, Collards, Lettuce, and Kale. Water your new vegetables and lightly top-dress with mulch to discourage weeds.