The “pure” stocker operator

Compared to other operation types, “pure” stocker operators — those devoted exclusively to stockering cattle — are more likely to:

• Have an off-farm job.

• Run cattle year-round.

• Rely on stocker cattle for a larger portion of their annual gross income.

• Run lightweight cattle.

• Run cattle in Texas, Oklahoma or Kansas.

• Buy cattle from the Southeast.

• Be more risk tolerant.

• Handle higher-risk cattle.

• Rely on visual evaluation to assess bovine respiratory disease (BRD) risk.

• Process cattle the day of arrival or the day after.

• Implant.

• Place into grass traps before moving to pasture.

• Place directly on pasture.

• Feed a free-choice ionophore.

• Use injectable antibiotic for mass treatment.

• Use a veterinarian only in an emergency or once/year.

• Collect group weights at arrival/processing, between arrival/processing and shipping and at shipping, as well as group morbidity rates.

• Pull more cattle in the first month for BRD.

• Have more death loss in the first 90 days due to all causes.

• Treat for a broader range of illnesses.

• Limit feed.

• Forward-contract, use in-state and out-of-state order buyers and send direct to a feedlot.

• Rely on USDA reports, order buyers and other stocker producers for market information.

• Buy high-quality cattle, forward-contract inputs and outputs, to manage market risk.

Compared to other operation types, pure stocker operators are less likely to:

• Farm row crops.

• Run cattle intended for value-added marketing.

• Require certified verification via QSA or PVP.

• Test pre-shipment for persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus.

• Use nonsurgical castration.

• Feed a complete receiving ration.

• Consult with a veterinarian once/month or on every load of cattle.

• Collect cost-of-gain and feed-efficiency data.

• Receive carcass data, regardless of retained ownership.

• Utilize retained ownership to manage market risk.

Survey partners

The landmark 2007 National Stocker Survey is the product of an inestimable investment of time and expertise from a number of individuals. They include:

• Dale Blasi, Kansas State University

• Bruce Bye, Elanco Animal Health

• Kevin Dhuyvetter, Kansas State University

• Terry Engelken, Iowa State University

• Scott Grau, Penton Media

• Greg Highfill, Oklahoma State University

• Max Irsik, University of Florida

• Wes Ishmael, BEEF Magazine

• Bill Mies, Elanco Animal Health

• Vern Pierce, University of Missouri

• Matt Poore, North Carolina State University

• Walt Prevatt, Auburn University

• Justin Rhinehart, Mississippi State University

• Jason Sawyer, Texas A&M University

• Nevil Speer, Western Kentucky University

• Matt Sutton-Vermeulen, CMA

• Ron Torell, University of Nevada

Special thanks to Elanco Animal Health, whose sponsorship made the National Stocker Survey possible.