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Southwest OK | I would say stockers have a higher death loss than most other segments. When you buy 350 lb. calves for a week, co-mingle them, ship them 23 hours by truck, and they are so stale when they arrive they have no bawl left in them a 5% death loss is acceptable. The same cattle at 650 lbs. treated the same way I would expect a 3% death loss. Usually had a 2.2 to 2.5, but had enough wrecks to always pencil in 3%. Local cattle, ( from barns within 100 miles) I could usually pull a 1.5%. Sometimes a 0%, but always penciled a 2%. I calved out 180 heifers this spring and lost 7 calves and one heifer. Had 108 mature cows calve and lost 0. I don't expect that to happen again, but it sure was nice. I do expect to lose at least one calf before weaning. One will surely find some new and innovative way to commit suicide. | |
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Death loss percent.
