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How the Programs Works

Producers consign minimum of five, 500 – 800 lb, steers to the CVD Program. Cattle will be fed in an accelerated finishing program at Vander Wal Yards, Bruce, SD. The Cottonwood Experiment Station near Phillip, SD, will be designated as a collection point for interested producers. The Calf Value Discovery Program will provide transportation from Cottonwood Station to Vander Wal Yards.

Cattle will be weighed by ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ personnel periodically and cattle owners will be sent performance updates and copies of their individual feed bills.

Feed, yardage and veterinary bills will be financed, and expenses accrued for cattle that die during the feeding period will be averaged across the cattle in the project,

Groups of cattle will be sold in truckload lots beginning approximately May 1. All cattle will be sold on a grid price system.

Preshipping Management

The cattle MUST be dehorned, castrated and healed prior to feedlot arrival. Cattle that must be dehorned or castrated at the feedlot will be processed at the owner’s expense.

NOTE: Calves DO NOT need to be weaned or pre-conditioned to participate; however, we do ask that you let us know if the calves will be weaned or not prior to arrival. All calves should receive a full series of vaccinations prior to arrival at Vander Wal Yards.

We encourage calves to arrive at our facility with sufficient vaccination against important disease issues. The success of vaccinating calves at arrival is less than optimal. We consider sufficient vaccination as:

• 5-way viral (BVD-1, BVD-2, IBR, BRSV, PI3) vaccine
  • At least 2 doses of a killed 5-way; or
  • At least 1 dose of a MLV 5-way
• Mannheimia haemolytica vaccine: 1 dose
• 7-way Clostridial vaccine: 2 doses

Important: We reserve the right to refuse any steers that are outside the weight range or that have not been dehorned, castrated, and healed!!

Data provided

• Feedlot performance
• Carcass data

Program Costs

• $20/head registration fee
• Transportation to Vander Wal Yards or to the Cottonwood Experiment Station (owner’s responsibility)