This year there will be one Cattlemen's Stocker Sale on Saturday October 20, 2001 at Galetta. It is an All Vaccinated Sale for the 2001 calf crop. Only calves born this year may be consigned. They must meet the vaccination requirements, be properly castrated and dehorned. No other cattle will be accepted.
The committee that organizes this sale is made up of cattlemen appointed by County Cattlemen's Associations from Eastern Ontario. As part of the Northern Cattle Sales Network it means cattlemen working for cattlemen. We felt the changing trend in Ontario's cattle industry is towards this type of sale. If we didn't grow with the industry we could be left behind.
The University of Guelph Research Report on Health and Price from fall stocker sales found there was both a health and price advantage to prepare your calves for sale. It states, once calves got to the feedlot approximately 30% of treatments were eliminated in prevaccinated calves and 85% of treatments were eliminated in preweaned calves. Price premiums on prevaccinated calves varied depending on weight range, sex and sale. At one sale barn where eight special sales were held, the overall weighted average premium was 7 cents per pound for steers and 9 cents per pound for heifers. Not all calves will command that premium but it is becoming more evident cattle feeders prefer calves that are vaccinated correctly as well as being properly castrated and dehorned. Some cow/calf producers felt they received two to three times return on investment. Variations depended on quality of genetics, parasite control and other management factors.
Cattle prices are strong and the industry is hungry for good quality calves that are well managed and ready to go once they reach the feed lot. That's a tall order, but in Eastern Ontario we can continue to deliver that calibre of stocker. Only calves meeting the sale requirements will be accepted.
Thank you for your support over the years and we look forward to working with you this fall. For more details and information contact the Vaccinated Stocker Sale Committee is Peter Ferris 613 256-2507; Bill Gagan 613 432-6525; Alec MacGregor 613 283-8054.
From the Archives:
OMAFRA Update 3, August 2001
