Fact Sheet Written by:
David Lalman, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist
Robert Smith, Extension Veterinarian
And Provided by
Oklahoma State University
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, to precondition is to condition, train, or accustom in advance. There is no standardized definition for this term as it applies to beef calves prior to, during, and/or after the weaning and shipping period. However, preconditioning is generally used to indicate management practices implemented around the time of weaning that are intended to optimize the animal’s immune system and nutritional status while minimizing stress. The outcome of this process is added value to the entire beef production system. This added value is realized through reduced
incidence and associated costs of sickness, improved performance in terms of weight gain and feed efficiency, a reduction in drug use and the labor required to treat and manage
sick cattle, and improved beef product quality. Cow/calf producers benefit through the development of a reputation for high quality cattle, utilizing management skills and feed resources to add further value to home raised calves, and the opportunity to capture a larger portion of the revenue in cases where some level of ownership is retained.
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