Pasture Preconditioning Calves at a Higher Rate of Gain Improves Feedlot Health but Not Postweaning Profit

Over 2 yr, 132 calves (218 ± 12 kg initial BW) were used to compare a low- and high-input pasture preconditioning method to evaluate performance and profit during the preconditioning (weaning to 49 to 53 d) and finishing (end of preconditioning to slaughter) phases. At weaning (d 0), steers were randomly assigned to low-input or high-input treatments during preconditioning. Steers were fenceline-weaned for 7 d beginning on d 0 and were then transported to their respective pastures (d 7). The high-input steers had ad libitum access to a self-fed corn- and wheat middlings-based pellet, and low-input steers were supplemented with a 32% CP range cube delivered 3 times/wk to average 0.57 kg/d. At the end of preconditioning, high-input steers were 19 kg heavier (P < 0.01) and had a $20/steer greater final value (P < 0.01), but feed and total costs were $42/steer higher (P < 0.01). During preconditioning, low-input steers had a net income advantage of $20.54/steer (P < 0.01). After preconditioning, steers were finished at a commercial feedlot. During finishing, there were no differences in ADG, final BW, or carcass characteristics (P ≥ 0.28). Morbidity during finishing was 16.7 percentage units higher (P = 0.01) for low-input steers and resulted in a $6.63/steer greater (P = 0.05) medicine cost than for high-input steers. There was no impact (P = 0.49) on finishing net income or on profit from weaning to slaughter (P = 0.90). In conclusion, pasture preconditioning steers at a higher rate of BW gain can improve finishing health but may not increase postweaning profitability.