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Backgrounding Cattle

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cattle feeding at a hay troft
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NDSU
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Backgrounding cattle is a management and feeding program in which cattle are fed for a period of time after weaning and before they are placed in finishing feedlots. Backgrounding calves are similar to stocker cattle except in the northern tier states, where snow covers the ground in the winter and cattle are fed a forage-based ration instead of being sent to “stocker” grazing.

Backgrounding does several things. It provides time for calves to get through the stress of weaning and develop immunity through vaccines recently administered. Backgrounding adapts calves to a feeding bunk and totally mixed rations that may include grains, silages, distillers grains and hays. Backgrounding also delays marketing of calves for 35, 90 or more days after weaning.

 

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2024 Backgrounding Cattle Videos

View videos on YouTube playlist 

Previous Playlists

  • 2023 Backgrounding Cattle 
    • Market outlook - What to Expect and Price Protection
    • Budgets for Different Classes of Cattle
    • Rations, Feed Cost and Cost of Gain
    • Implants - What to Use and Value
    • Calf health - What to Do After the Vaccinations
  • 2022 Backgrounding Cattle 
    • Calf Health Issues - Managing to Prevent the Preventable
    • Cattle Price Situation and Outlook
    • Economics of Backgrounding and Finishing
    • Weaning Considerations for Healthy Calves
    • Feeds, Alternative Feeds, and Cost of Gain
  • 2021 Backgrounding Cattle
    • Backgrounding feeds and rations
    • Calf health issues
    • Cattle Feeding Scenarios
    • Calf Market Outlook
    • Rations and Backgrounding
  • 2020 Backgrounding Cattle 
    • Backgrounding Budgets and Profits for Cattle
    • Market outlook for backgrounding calves
    • Feed and rations for backgrounding
    • Health Concerns for backgrounding calves

Sources and Prices for selected Co-products produced in North Dakota

As of November 14, 2024

Commentary –   spot Corn Prices, $ per bushel

  • 3.77     Blue Flint Ethanol, Underwood 
  • 3.77     Red Trail Energy, Richardton 
  • 3.82     Tharaldson Ethanol, Casselton  
  • 4.04     Hankinson Renewable Energy, Hankinson/ Guardian Energy 
  • 3.62     Harvestone Dakota Spirit, Spiritwood 

Corn price sets the value of co-products.

Dr. Karl Hoppe
Area Extension Livestock Specialist
NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center
701-652-2951

Coproduct Feeds 2022 (xx means no price quote available)