Nar  Gurung, Frank  Abrahamsen, 
    Benefits of Preconditioning Beef Calves Compared to the Traditional
Marketing Practice,
    Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances,
    Volume 18,Issue 5,
    2019,
    Pages 169-174,
    ISSN 1680-5593,
    javaa.2019.169.174,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2019.169.174)
    Abstract: Preconditioning is a management practice used by beef farmers on the farm for enhancing health
and nutrition of beef calves. It has the potential to bring higher economic returns for cow-calf producers from
feeder calves if preconditioning is cost-effective. The objective of this study was to find out the price
differences between traditional marketing and value added marketing (preconditioning or board sales) of beef
calves in the state of Alabama from 2012-2016. The sales data were collected from the USDA-AMS
(Agricultural Marketing Service) field office at Montgomery, Alabama, for both traditional marketing
(auctions) and value added marketing (board sales). There were 21 locations for traditional marketing while
board sales data were collected from 3 locations. Of the total calf sales, only 23% calves were sold through
board sales. Sales data were collected from 585 lots representing 118,125 head of calves sold between January
2012 and December of 2016 at different auctions and board sales. The data consisted of auction types, gender,
muscle scores and average weight (range: 250-386 kg), however, the breeds of feeder calves were not
considered. Data were analyzed using the general linear model procedures of SAS (SAS Inst., Cary, NC) to
determine the price difference associated with sales type including all variables listed above. However, the
economic values of preconditioning were not determined. The results showed that beef calf prices differed
significantly (p<0.05) between market types (auction vs. board sales), years, gender, muscle scores and average
weights. The overall yearly price averages were $2.64, $3.00, $4.62, $4.51 and $2.75 kg<sup>-1</sup> of live weight for
years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively. When values for market types (auction and board sales)
were combined, the average prices for Muscle Scores (MS) were $3.58, 3.67, 3.47 and 3.29 kg<sup>-1</sup> for MS 1, MS
1 and 2 combined, MS 2 and MS 3, respectively. The year 2014 was the best year for beef calf prices in
Alabama regardless of auction types. The results of this study suggest that there are price differences between
the traditional marketing and board sales (preconditioning) of calves. However, the net profits due to marketing
strategies needs to be investigated further to demonstrate the economic benefits of preconditioning calves,
especially to small producers.
    Keywords: Preconditioning;traditional marketing;beef calves;economic return;demonstrate;enhancing