Higher Selling Prices and Increased Profits for BVD-PI Negative Calves
Reduce expensive health costs and realize greater returns on investments
Animal Profiling International’s message to livestock owners regarding BVD has remained the same since our beginning nearly a decade ago: diagnostic testing enables you to reduce expensive health costs and realize greater returns on your investments. Recently, information has been published supporting our understanding of BVD’s effects on herds and the financial gains realized by having BVD-free operations. Below, I will recap these articles, hoping that they illustrate what the industry is up against with regard to economic loss as a result of infectious disease.
In the December 2013 issue of Herd Mentality we discussed the industry recognition of the value of BVDv-PI test negative calves. A quick recap:
“Analysis of a subset of the Superior Livestock 2012 sales data released this summer confirms that cattle buyers and feedlots fully understand the value associated with feeding BVD-PI negative calves. The data analyzed was from June through September 2012, 2,868 lots totaling 353,624 cattle were marketed. Forty one lots were identified as BVD-PI-negative cattle and brought a $2.42/cwt. premium compared to non-BVD-PI tested cattle. A $14.52 advantage on a 600-lb. calf returned a little over $10/head even after accounting for the testing and additional labor costs.”