OQBN Value Added Calf Sales Scheduled to Begin Fall 2024

Paul Vining, Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences,

Oklahoma Quality Beef Network Coordinator

 

Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) Vac-45 are scheduled to begin in November 2024. The OQBN Vac-45 Program is a calf preconditioning program designed to improve the health and performance of beef calves and therefore contributing to an increase in calf profitability.

 

Benefits of OQBN Vac-45 Certification:

  • Improved Calf Health and Performance: University studies show that preconditioned calves gain between 0.40 to 0.77 pounds more per day than non-preconditioned calves during the feedlot phase. Preconditioned calves also demonstrate up to a 90% reduction in respiratory illnesses, which not only leads to healthier animals but also reduces the need for medical treatments.
  • Greater Marketability and Premiums: Healthy calves that perform better in the feedlot and require less medical intervention produce higher-quality carcasses. Thus, there are increased market premiums for OQBN-certified calves. In 2023, OQBN-certified calves received average premiums of $18.41 per hundredweight (cwt). Over the past 10 years, the average premium for certified calves has been $14.04/cwt, making OQBN certification a valuable investment for producers.

 

 


 

 

 

 

What is Required for OQBN Certification?

 

Many producers are already implementing practices like those required for OQBN Vac-45 certification. The program involves preconditioning calves for 45 days post-weaning, including vaccinations, weaning management, and other health protocols designed to reduce stress and promote calf welfare.

 

Specific Requirements

 

OQBN Vac-45 Certification Requirements:

  • All calves must be:
    • Raised from the ranch of origin
    • Bull calves must be castrated and healed
    • Dehorned and healed
    • Weaned a minimum of 45 days
    • Vaccinated with 2 doses of a 5-way respiratory vaccine
    • Vaccinated with 2 doses of at least a 7-way clostridial vaccine (blackleg)
    • Vaccinated with 1 dose of Pasteurella/Haemolytica (shipping fever)
    • Identified with an OQBN program ear tag
    • Must follow one of three vaccination protocols
      • Branding (2-4 months of age) and Weaning
      • Preweaning (2 to 5 weeks preweaning) and Weaning
      • Weaning and Post-Weaning (2 to 4 weeks after weaning)

 

New for 2024: BigIron Online Auction Option

 

To facilitate the marketing of OQBN-certified calves, a new online auction opportunity is available through BigIron Auctions. This new feature offers producers a broader platform to market their preconditioned calves to a large audience of buyers.

 

How to Get Started:

 

OQBN provides a pathway for beef cattle producers to improve their operation’s profitability while contributing to the production of healthy, high-quality beef for the market.

 

Paul Vining, Oklahoma Quality Beef Network coordinator, has updates for the OQBN program on SunUp TV from August 24, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hya8KDwPpY

 

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