When it comes to ferreting out the stocker potential of bull calves compared to steers, John F. Currin, DVM, a professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, says the real question boils down to figuring out the post-purchase cost of the bulls.

According to Currin, the extra costs associated with buying bull calves include:

• The cost of castration.
  
• Decreased weight gain post-castration.
  
• Increased likelihood of getting shipping fever (BRD).
  
• Increased likelihood of calf loss to death (from BRD or castration complication).